UPDATE ON SY LEP BOARD MEMBERSHIP

Published 4 February 2022 at 12:50pm

Lucy Nickson, Interim Chair of South Yorkshire Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP), the Board responsible for representing private-sector businesses and setting strategic direction for economic growth in the region, has announced the following changes to the membership of the Board:

• Neil MacDonald OBE has been appointed as Interim Vice Chair of the LEP Board.
• Dan Fell has been appointed as Interim Co-Chair of the Education, Skills and Employability Board.
• Nigel Brewster has stepped down from the LEP Board.
• Karen Beardsley has stepped down from the LEP Board.

Lucy Nickson, Interim Chair of the LEP, said:

“I’d like to thank Neil MacDonald and Dan Fell for stepping up at this important time for the region - their support and leadership stand us in good stead as we work together to drive recovery from covid and deliver the region’s Strategic Economic Plan. The broad mix of expertise and skills on the LEP reflects the diversity of South Yorkshire’s business community and the strength of our partnership approach.  

“I’d like to take this opportunity to thank Nigel Brewster for his efforts over the past ten years. His work on the skills agenda included overseeing a number of major deals with government to improve the local skills system - ensuring that the needs of businesses and better job opportunities are at its heart. 

“I’d also like to thank Karen Beardsley for her important work as LEP Board member and as a lead member on the South Yorkshire Transport and the Environment Board. Karen has helped to shape policies and priorities which will transform South Yorkshire's economy and society for people, businesses and places.”

Neil MacDonald OBE has been appointed as Interim Vice Chair of the LEP. Neil has been a LEP Board Member for over four years and is currently Co-Chair of the Business Recovery and Growth Board and private sector lead on the Assurance Panel.

A qualified Chartered Accountant, Neil spent most of his executive career as CFO of Firth Rixson, the international engineering group.  He is currently a trustee at United Learning, the large multi academy trust, and chairs the Local Governing Body at Sheffield Springs.

He is also Chair of St Luke’s Hospice in Sheffield and Chair of Sheffield Museums Trust. Neil recently stepped down as a governor and pro chancellor at Sheffield Hallam University, and previously spent more than ten years as a Non-Executive Director in the NHS.

Dan Fell has been appointed as Interim Co-Chair of the Education, Skills and Employability Board, the purpose of which is to provide leadership in developing education, skills and employability policies and activities aligned the region’s Strategic Economic Plan.

Dan has been a co-opted LEP Board Member since July 2020. He is Chief Executive Officer of Doncaster Chamber of Commerce where he is responsible for the overall strategic and operational performance of the organisation.

He is Chair of Doncaster Performance Venue Limited (better known as Cast Theatre), an Arts Council England funded National Portfolio Organisation. He is also a Director of Finance for Enterprise, a Community Development Finance Institution. 

LEP Board membership changes were covered at the SY LEP Board on 13 January. The full Report Pack for the meeting can be found on our Committees and Meetings database website