Introduction by the Chairman

Maitland Hyslop is Chairman of the Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire LEP. He is Managing Director of Internet Central Limited based at Keele University in Newcastle under Lyme, Staffordshire and JSR Technology Limited based in Belfast – both subsidiaries of Goodwin plc based in Hanley. He has previous experience in running IT, engineering, packaging, property and university spin-out businesses in the private sector; and has led an Economic Development Agency and the European Commission’s eJustice project aswell as holding senior posts in the NHS, Emergency Services, an RDA and in partnership with UKTI. He succeeds the interim Chair, Stephen Burgin of Alstom, and the previous Chair, Jim Rickard of Michelin.

‘May I first thank my predecessors for the first class job they have done in getting us a great start as a LEP.

Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire under the political leadership of Mohammed Pervez and Phillip Atkins and Chief Officers John van der Laarschot and Nick Bell (supported by the political leaders and chief officers of the Boroughs) are demonstrating a partnership with the LEP that is already seeing Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire delivering high quality jobs and economic growth at a rate that is outpacing the rest of the country. The business- led Board of the LEP believes strongly that this is evidence that the partnership between the private sector and the public sector in Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire is capable of delivering a step change in job creation and economic growth. That is what we are about. Business support to the Political Leaders and Chief Officers is critical to success.

The business priorities of the LEP are to: win an Enterprise Zone for Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire; deliver a ‘red carpet’ for Business Development and Inward Investment that will see streamlined planning and associated procedures across the area; create a Regional Growth Fund to enable local businesses access to finance at different risk levels; encourage the creation of Enterprise Skills, and an Education Trust by the Universities that will have an impact down to primary schools; speed up the deployment of Super-fast Broadband; encourage an integrated Transport Strategy for urban and rural areas and complete an Integrated Marketing and Destination Management programme. Working with the Housing Associations and Voluntary Sectors ensure that the Enterprise capabilities of the third sector are deployed and encouraged. Common purpose leadership will be developed via a Leadership Academy.