After serving as Interim Chair of the Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership Board (LEP) for the past year, Mark Roberts has announced that he will be stepping down from his position at the end of June. Roberts, a member of the LEP Board since June 2019, had previously held the position of deputy Chair before assuming the role of Interim Chair in June 2022.
During his tenure as Interim Chair, Roberts worked closely with Tracy Brabin, the Mayor of West Yorkshire, to provide crucial support to businesses throughout the region during challenging times. He actively promoted West Yorkshire’s strengths in various sectors, including health and life sciences, digital technology, financial services, advanced manufacturing, and creative industries, both domestically and internationally, to attract investment.
Roberts will officially step down following the June meeting of the LEP Board. However, he will collaborate with the incoming Mayoral Business Advisor to ensure a smooth transition. In his new role, Roberts will chair a restructured West Yorkshire Business Board and facilitate the development of a stronger relationship between the region’s businesses and the Combined Authority.
Expressing her gratitude for Roberts’ contributions, Mayor Tracy Brabin stated, “I want to thank Mark Roberts for his dedication to West Yorkshire and his efforts in making our region an even better place to live, work, and do business. Over the past year, he has made significant strides in enhancing West Yorkshire’s economy and advocating for our region on a national and international scale. I eagerly anticipate collaborating with the incoming Mayoral Business Advisor and the new West Yorkshire Business Board to continue fostering economic growth, attracting investments, and supporting businesses and entrepreneurs.”
Reflecting on his time with the Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership, Mark Roberts expressed his gratitude, saying, “It has been an absolute privilege to be a member of the Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership (LEP) and to work alongside the West Yorkshire Combined Authority team since 2017. I am proud to have served as Interim Chair for the last 12 months, collaborating closely with the Mayor and our private sector colleagues to promote and support the region. I extend my heartfelt thanks to everyone who has worked alongside me on the LEP Board and in all the decision-making Committees of the Mayoral Combined Authority. Together, we have effectively represented the voices and needs of businesses in our region, and I am incredibly proud of our collective accomplishments over the past six years.”
In the coming weeks, a recruitment process will commence in collaboration with a search partner to find a suitable candidate for the vacant position. This role will play a crucial part in redefining and reshaping the private sector’s role within the Combined Authority, further strengthening the existing partnership between the private and public sectors in West Yorkshire.
