The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has announced the new membership of London’s Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP), which will boost jobs and support economic growth in the capital.
The new pan-London LEP, called the London Economic Action Partnership (LEAP), brings together the Mayor, London Councils and business leaders across all the city’s main sectors.
It will provide strategic oversight of the Royal Docks Enterprise Zone, which has the potential to deliver up to 40,000 jobs and 4,000 homes in east London, the London Growth Hub, the new online gateway to business support in the capital, and London’s European Structural and Investment Funds.
The Mayor will chair the new board, with the Deputy Mayor for Business, Rajesh Agrawal, taking on the role of Co-Deputy Chair alongside another Co-Deputy from the business community. The Deputy Mayor for Planning, Regeneration and Skills, Jules Pipe, will also sit on the board, with the remaining members drawn from the London boroughs and businesses. There is also a new place for a trade union representative.
The eight new business members – half of whom are women – bring a broad range of expertise in economic development as well as significant experience covering sectors from innovative tech start-ups to high-street retail, commercial land owners and creative industry.
The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, said: “This new business-led partnership provides a fantastic opportunity to ensure growth funding is invested in a way which makes a real difference to London’s economy.
“London is open for business and I look forward to working with the members of LEAP to take forward my new economic development strategy for the capital, generating the jobs and growth we need to keep London prosperous.”
Newly-appointed LEAP business member Natalie Campbell, founder of A Very Good Company, said: “I am looking forward to working alongside LEAP’s impressive line-up of entrepreneurs and business leaders to improve the lot for London’s small businesses.
“SMEs employ around 2.5 million people across the capital and it is therefore of vital importance to Londoners that the sector thrives.”
Fellow business member Simon Pitkeathley, CEO of Euston Town and Camden Business Improvement Districts and Camden Collective workspace, said: “I am delighted to be appointed to LEAP as we enter an exciting period for Local Enterprise Partnerships.
“Amongst all the initiatives LEAP oversees, its role in coordinating business support in London through the Growth Hub provides a huge opportunity to scale up London’s thriving start-up community”.
LEAP replaces the London Enterprise Panel and aims to be a more representative, streamlined, and business-led body. This includes an increase in the number of business representatives, of which half are now women. There is also greater representation from London’s entrepreneurs and small businesses, with one member nominated to represent and engage with the SME business community.
In addition to overseeing current growth funding, confirmation of the funding allocation to LEAP from the £492 million for London and the south east in the Autumn Statement will be announced by government in due course.
Notes to editors
- LEAP is one of 38 LEPs across England. LEPs are voluntary partnerships between local authorities and businesses set up in 2011 by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills to help determine local economic priorities and lead economic growth and job creation within the local area.
- The new board is due to meet for the first time on 1 February 2017.
- The 16 board members were appointed following an open and competitive recruitment process. They are:
- Sadiq Khan, Mayor of London (Chair)
- Rajesh Agrawal, Deputy Mayor for Business (Deputy Co-Chair)
- Jules Pipe CBE, Deputy Mayor for Planning, Regeneration and Skills
- Sir Robin Wales, Mayor of Newham
- Cllr Claire Kober OBE, Chair of London Councils and Leader of LB Haringey
- Cllr Peter John OBE, Deputy Chair of London Councils and Leader of LB Southwark
- Cllr Teresa O’Neill OBE, Vice-Chair of London Councils and Leader of LB Bexley
- Megan Dobney, Regional Secretary for South East Region TUC
- Natalie Campbell, business representative
- Dr Celia Caulcott, business representative
- Professor Greg Clark CBE, business representative
- Alexandra Depledge MBE, business representative
- Angus Knowles-Cutler, business representative
- John Newbigin OBE, business representative
- Colette O’Shea, business representative
- Simon Pitkeathley, business representative
Member biographies
Natalie Campbell
Natalie is a social entrepreneur, having founded A Very Good Company which is committed to helping big business deliver meaningful social impact. She is Trustee of UnLtd and The Foundation for Social Entrepreneurs and a Board Member of the Big Lottery Fund. Prior to starting A Very Good Company, Natalie led on the development and launch of Virgin Media Pioneers, a million-pound partnership between Enterprise UK and Virgin Media to set up an online video-sharing platform for young entrepreneurs.
Dr Celia Caulcott
Dr Caulcott was appointed as the Vice-Provost (Enterprise) at UCL in October 2015, responsible for delivering UCL’s Enterprise agenda with the greatest economic and societal impact. Prior to that, Dr Caulcott was Executive Director, Innovation and Skills at the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) where she was responsible for developing and delivering their strategy for innovation. Before that, she worked in and with the biopharmaceuticals industry (including Celltech Ltd, ICI Pharmaceuticals, the Wellcome Foundation and a range of UK early stage biotechs).
Professor Greg Clark CBE
Greg is a renowned economic strategy expert specialising in global cities with extensive expertise in infrastructure. He was recently appointed to TfL Board, was a former member of the London Enterprise Panel, and is Chairman of the London Stansted Cambridge Consortium, Member of the UK Ministerial Smart Cities Forum, Member of the Crossrail 2 Growth Commission and the West Anglia Task Force.
Alexandra Depledge MBE
Alex is an entrepreneur in residence at Index Ventures. Prior to this, Alex founded, built and sold UK based domestic cleaning marketplace start-up, Hassle.com - one of Tech City’s biggest successes. Alex is currently chair of the Coalition for a Digital Economy (Coadec) and founding board member of the government backed Sharing Economy UK trade body SEUK. In 2016 Alex was awarded an MBE for services to the Sharing Economy.
Angus Knowles-Cutler
Angus is Vice Chairman of Deloitte and also serves as their London office Senior Partner. In his London role, Angus works with businesses, policy makers and opinion formers. He has a particular interest in how the city maintains and grows its global leadership in high skill sectors, with a focus on the need to attract talent to London.
John Newbigin OBE
John is the Co-founder and Chair of Creative England. He was previously the chair for RSA network Screen England and is a freelance journalist and strategic consultant for the creative industries. John also serves on a number of boards including Culture 24, an online gateway to the UK’s cultural sector. He is a Visiting Professor at the University of East London and other international universities and a member of the British Council’s Advisory Board for Arts and Creative Industries.
Colette O’Shea
Colette is the Managing Director for Land Securities’ London portfolio comprising 6.2 million sq ft of London offices, leisure, retail and residential property both in development and asset management. She has also led a major development programme in the City and West End, including the transformation of Victoria. Colette is the Immediate Past President of the British Council for Offices and a non-executive director of Genesis Housing Association.
Simon Pitkeathley
Simon is the CEO of Euston Town and Camden Business Improvement Districts, Governor of a large London FE college and CEO of Camden Collective workspace. Simon has extensive knowledge of the issues affecting SMEs and previously served on the London Enterprise Panel’s SME Working Group, He also chairs the London European Structural Funds (ESIF) Committee and co-chairs the Mayor’s Open Workspace Providers Group.