New cluster boards set to help drive growth in key sectors in the Liverpool City Region

• New cluster boards for Advanced Manufacturing, Digital and Creative, and Health and Life Sciences
• Boards to support new Business and Enterprise Board – the voice of business at the Combined Authority
• Boards to help drive productivity, investment and employment opportunities

The Liverpool City Region Combined Authority has announced appointments to three new cluster boards, representing the city region’s key growth sectors of Advanced Manufacturing, Digital and Creative, and Health and Life Sciences.

Made up of leading figures from their sectors, each board’s remit is to influence policy, stimulate economic growth, productivity and competitiveness whilst supporting the city region in its ambitions for inclusive growth and sustainability.

The new cluster boards will report into the Combined Authority’s Business and Enterprise Board, created in Autumn last year, which took over the role of the Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) in providing a voice for business in the area.

Each board is advisory and will provide the Combined Authority with insight into how its sector operates, opportunities for growth, innovation or investment across the cluster, as well as identifying opportunities for linkages between the board and the wider economy to drive productivity, investment and employment.

Councillor Mike Wharton, Liverpool City Region Combined Authority Portfolio Holder for Economic Development and Business, said:

“We have genuine strengths in our city region in the fields of Advanced Manufacturing, Digital and Creative, and Health and Life Sciences, and establishing these boards is a vital step to ensuring that we can maximise their contribution to the city region economy.  I’m excited that so many talented and busy people have made the commitment to work together for the common good and can’t wait for them to get started.”

David Meyerowitz, Chair of the Liverpool City Region Business and Enterprise Board, said:

“The mission of the Business and Enterprise Board is to help shape the strategic planning to deliver economic growth and prosperity for all in the Liverpool City Region.  It is really very exciting today, to see the Cluster Boards announced, they will help to accelerate growth in the economic sectors where we already have world-class strengths.  I’m sure that they will make a strong and important contribution to further stimulate economic growth, productivity and competitiveness across the Liverpool City Region.”

Ruth Hartnoll, Deputy Chair of the Liverpool City Region Business and Enterprise Board, said:

“Establishing these cluster boards representing these key growth sectors feels like a very significant moment for our city region.  The insight the board members will bring for their respective sectors will be crucial in making sure that the voice of business is heard loud and clear within the Combined Authority, as we work together to build an economy that works for everyone.”

The chairs of the three new cluster boards are:

• Digital and Creative – Rachel McLean, LJMU
• Health and Life Sciences – Lindsay Sharples, Health Innovation North West Coast (formerly the Innovation Agency)
• Advanced Manufacturing – Trevor Leeks, Jaguar Land Rover

Rachel McLean, Lindsay Sharples and Trevor Leeks.

All three boards feature at least 50% female members and, where a board does not yet reflect the city region’s diversity, additional co-opted places will be established.  The city region’s Race Equality Hub is identifying individuals relevant to each sector to put forward for these positions. They have also advised on more proactive approaches to groups and individuals who can support the Boards when looking to fulfil any future roles.

The full boards are listed below.

Board members: