News / Business
Metro mayor announces new business advisory board
There are 14 metro mayors across the country, many of which head up combined authorities which have business advisory boards.
These boards advise mayors on strategy and policy that work best for businesses in the region.
Greater Manchester, Liverpool City and York and North Yorkshire Combined Authorities have business boards and, on Wednesday, it was announced that the West of England Combined Authority will have one too.
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Metro mayor Helen Godwin has selected Jo Dally, chief business officer at the National Composites Centre (NCC), and Nick Sturge, an entrepreneur and co-founder of Engine Shed, to serve as interim board chairs.
Other board members will be announced over the next few months.
Jo Dally has been the chief business officer at NCC since June 2024
On the creation of the new board, Godwin said: “Businesses across the West are driving the innovation which gives our region the strongest recent economic growth of any combined authority area in the country.
“But we know that there is more to do. We need to celebrate our success so far, attract further investment and ensure that everybody here has their chance to get on.
“I know that Jo and Nick share that ambitious goal, which will be restated in our ten-year Growth Strategy in September.
“Working with our new board as it comes together, they bring decades of business experience to the table to inform and enhance our work with businesses across the region.”
Nick Sturge initially intended to stand as a metro mayoral candidate before stepping back to support Helen Godwin – photo: Jon Craig
Helen Godwin continued: “Our Youth Guarantee has recently launched to support more young people into work and training.
“We want to get our region moving after securing unprecedented new investment in transport: for better buses, more trains and mass transit.
“And our part of the world has several of the country’s most exciting regeneration opportunities, in Bath Quays, Bristol Temple Quarter and Brabazon.
“It’s imperative that people across the West feel part of those big projects, and that we support all sectors – including those at the core of our region, like logistics and hospitality – to thrive.”
Main photo: West of England Combined Authority
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