Six new members join Solent LEP board

By Sam Pither

24 August 2022

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Six new members are joining the board of the Solent Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) following an open application process earlier this year.

The LEP is a partnership led by the Solent’s businesses. It aims to drive the area’s economic success, with its 16-strong board playing an important role in growing the Solent’s economy.

Rachael Randall, Solent LEP Interim Chair, said: "I'd like to welcome all our new Board members joining us to ensure Solent businesses reach their full potential and help our communities thrive.

"We've been a long-standing champion of diversity, and I am particularly pleased that we have an equal gender balance on our board to reflect the business community we represent.

"Bringing new voices to the table, different perspectives and new ideas leads to effective business leadership, which has never been more important as we continue to champion the Solent's economic prospects and support our communities to prosper in a fast-changing world."

The LEP is also major investor in the Solent economy, delivering a growth programme valued at over £1.8bn supported by an LEP investment of more than £270m.

Its good relationships with its partners in the public, private, education and community sectors have led the LEP to become the first in the country to have a fully elected board.

The new Solent LEP Board Directors are: Cllr Satvir Kaur, Leader of Southampton City Council; Cllr Steve Pitt, Cabinet Member for Culture, Leisure and Economic Development at Portsmouth City Council; Cllr Alex Rennie, Leader of Havant Borough Council; Cllr Julie Jones-Evans, Cabinet Member for Levelling Up, Regeneration, Business Development and Tourism at Isle of Wight Council; Brooke Hoskins, who leads Products & Training Services within Maritime Services at BAE Systems, and Salli Shapcott, who leads Serco's UK Maritime Business.

By Sam Pither

Sam is the Regional Editor of Biz News, responsible for both Hampshire and Dorset.

A new recruit to journalism, Sam started writing for the Business Magazine as a freelancer in May of 2022 after completing his degree in English at University College London. His passion for local businesses and ability to tell a story soon caught the attention of the publication’s management team and have led to his meteoric rise.

Sam, who lives in central Reading, takes a particular interest in technology, gaming and food and drink, having been a chef before starting his degree.