The role of LLEP Business Gateway Board is to provide direction and scrutiny of the Business Gateway which is the Growth Hub for Leicester and Leicestershire.
Members of the Business Gateway Board
- Chair – Sonia Baigent – Director, Assist Business Consulting Limited and LLEP Board Director
- Diane Beresford – East Midlands Chamber
- Mark Corbett – CBI
- Jenny Cross – Cross Productions and FSB Representative
- Rupert Harrison – Andrew Granger Estate Agents and Chartered Surveyors
- Ben Ravillious – Ultimate Web and Start-Up Leicester
- Colin Fyfe – Hinckley and Bosworth Building Society
- Lewis Stringer – British Business Bank
- Helen Donnellan – De Montfort University
- Anjuu Tevedi – University of Leicester
- Ian Forristal – University of Leicester
- James Arnold – North West Leicestershire District Council
- Matt Bowers – Hinckley and Bosworth District Council
- Peter Chandler – Leicester City Council
- Helen Harris – Leicestershire County Council
- Mark Eydman – Institute of Directors
- Jo Dexter – Leicester and Lecestershire Lead for BEIS
- Jen Fensome – Loughborough University Higher Education Sector
- Julian Bowry – UK Research and Innovation
- Richard Blackmore – Confederation of British Industry
- Jennifer Thomas – Federation of Small Businesses
In regular attendance
- Sue Tilley – LLEP Head of Business and Innovation
- Deepa Shah – LLEP Economic Intelligence Officer – Business Gateway
Meetings
The Business Gateway Board meets a minimum of four times a year. The secretariat to the will be provided by the Business Gateway Team Growth Hub team. Meetings and papers will be in the same format as the LLEP Board meetings and papers. Papers for the meetings can be found at the bottom of this page.
Visit the Business Gateway Growth Hub website
Terms of Reference
Purpose
The role of LLEP Business Gateway Board is to provide direction and scrutiny of the Business Gateway which is the Growth Hub for Leicester and Leicestershire.
1. Objectives
(i) To provide strategic direction and scrutiny of LLEP Business Gateway in relation to BEIS Core Funding and any other contractual obligations.
(ii) Overseeing the development, delivery and review of the business support priorities in the SEP and emerging LIS and LLEP Delivery plan for 2019/2020.
(iii) Ensure delivery of the growth hub in accordance with the Schedule of Work in Schedule 3 to BEIS.
(iv) Prioritise business growth initiatives and make recommendations to the LLEP Board regarding the allocation of programme resources;
(v) Ensure that business support service provision is effectively aligned to the LLEP programmes including the Innovation, Skills, and Enterprise Zones;
(vi) Inform evolution of business growth related activities, taking account of global trends, capability and capacity in the LLEP area;
(vii) Consider any other business growth related matters which are specifically referred to the board by the LLEP Board and Executive;
(viii) Assessing impact and performance through the Monitoring and Evaluation Framework for Growth Hubs and oversee risk management;
(ix) Provide direction on the operation of the growth hub and its future sustainability;
(x) Approve and present reports to the main LEP Board.
2. Membership
2.1) The Business Growth Board shall consist as a minimum of the following members:
2.2) All members will serve for a period of up to three years and will be committed to at least one-year membership of the Business Gateway Board.
2.3) Membership will be reviewed annually by the LLEP Board to ensure that it reflects the requirements for the development and delivery of the Business Gateway services in the LLEP area.
2.4) The Chair of the Board will be a member of the LLEP Board nominated by the Board for a term of office of up to three years and for the minimum of one year.
2.5) Deputies may occasionally attend Growth hub Board meetings if members are unable to attend. This will be subject to agreement of the Chair.
2.6) The Chair will present quarterly reports to the LLEP Board on its proceedings and on all matters relating to its duties and responsibilities.
Role of Business Gateway Board Members
(i) Provide expertise to enable the board to build a sound knowledge of business needs across a range of different sectors and industries.
(ii) Understand and work with other board members to make decisions about strategic priorities
(iii) Examine and challenge business analysis and evidence to develop a range of delivery options of strategic significance.
(iv) Monitor and evaluate performance of the Business Gateway programme and to improve delivery and drive the scale of outcomes
(v) Support the development of the board and the wider partnership
(vi) Act as an ambassador and champion for Leicester and Leicestershire as a place to do business In carrying out these expectations, Board members will:
(i) Provide advice and guidance on priorities for business support provision
(ii) Make recommendations to the LLEP Board regarding the allocation of resources and the approval of funding proposals
(iii) Inform the evolution of business support related activities, taking account of global trends, capability and capacity in the LLEP area
(iv) Oversee and ensure the commissioning of business support activities are consistent with the agreed objectives of the SEP and emerging LIS
(v) Ensure that business support service provision is effectively aligned to the programmes including the Innovation, Skills, Enterprise Zones and Inward Investment;
(vi) Evaluate and review the programme to improve impact;
(vii) Consider any other business support related matters which are specifically referred to the Board by the, the LLEP Board and Executive or any other relevant body.
3. Format and Timings of Meetings
3.1) The Growth Hub Board will meet 4 times a year.
3.2) The secretariat to the Business Gateway Board will be provided by the LLEP Business Gateway Team.
3.3) The meetings and papers of the Business Gateway Board will be in the same format as the LEP Board meetings and papers.
3.4) In accordance with standard practice:
(i) Meeting agendas and papers will be sent 5 clear working days before the meeting takes place;
(ii) Minutes of the previous meeting will be circulated prior to the next meeting and agreed as a true and accurate record at the meeting.
(iii) Any declarations of interest made at the meeting will be included in the minutes of the meeting.
(iv) Minutes are available to board members on request.
4 Reporting Responsibilities
4.1) The Board shall make whatever recommendations to the Board it deems appropriate on any area within its remit where decisions need to be made.