New regional chair and senior team appointed

Clive Leach CBE
Regional Chair

In Spring 2006, the LSC in Yorkshire and the Humber announced the appointment of Clive Leach CBE as its Regional Chair.

Part governor, part ambassador and part relationship broker, Clive's role is key as the new Board hones its role and establishes and understand its position and influence in the region.

Clive comments, "I think the real priority of this Regional Board is to bring cohesion to the LSC, to enable us to look on a more regional basis at how we support the local economic strategy for learning and skills, on a regional basis."

Clive already acts as the Chair of the West Yorkshire Council. All the Chairs from each of the local councils will meet up to discuss the issues surrounding the region in the Board meetings and Clive will now act as the overall Chair of these meetings.

Listed in the 'top 100' decision makers in the region, it remains his aim to make Yorkshire and the Humber an internationally recognised centre for culture and business.

Currently, Clive is Executive Chairman of the YFM Group, who are the largest provider of venture capital and funds to small and medium sized businesses in the country. He was the founding Chair of LSC West Yorkshire in April 2001, and he successfully presided over the selection of a 'board' and the appointment of senior managers.

Although Regional LSC Boards existed previously, they did not have a formal decision making role. The new Board has been given a formal function with new powers to improve the outcomes for learners and employers in the region by strengthening the LSC's position locally. They have now been established as Committees of the National Council, with a formal role and delegated authority to exercise certain functions on behalf of Council.

The Regional Board will take the LSC's Annual Statement of Priorities and agree how this should be taken forward in a regional context and ensure the local Councils include these priorities in their annual plans. These local plans will now be approved by the Regional Board to make sure that they genuinely fulfil their statutory responsibilities and meet the needs of the region.

Clive will be working closely with the Chairs of each local Council, Richard Brough, Humberside; Paul Jagger MBE, South Yorkshire and Rachel Mann for North Yorkshire.

New senior team announced

Following on from the appointment of Clive Leach CBE as Regional Chair, the LSC has announced its senior management team in Yorkshire and the Humber.

These include:

Mike Lowe Director of Area, West Yorkshire

David Hodges Regional Director of Skills

Karen Sherry Regional Director of Finance and Resourcing

Liz Burdett Director of Area, North Yorkshire

Fiona Blacke Regional Director of Learning, Planning and Performance

Emer Clarke Director of Area, South Yorkshire

Jane Lyon Director of Area, the Humber