THE York & North Yorkshire Local Enterprise Partnership is finalising funding for projects receiving a share of £15.4m from government investment in York and North Yorkshire later this week.

The partnership is currently searching for a new chair to lead its board to build a greener, fairer and stronger economy for the region.

The fund is part of the government’s £900m Getting Building Fund which was created to boost economic growth and fuel local recovery and jobs in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.

With an ambitious vision to become England’s first carbon negative region, the role of the Y & NY LEP is to help shape future priorities, develop partnerships and secure public and private sector investment. The new chair will have the opportunity to help with leading the region to recovery and be a part of the proposed devolution deal negotiations for York and North Yorkshire which could potentially provide £2.4bn of investment in the region over the next 30 years.

Since 2014, the Y & NY LEP has invested a total of £230m to support business, infrastructure, and skills across the region including housing, transport, flood alleviation, social inclusion and workforce development. The new Getting Building Fund projects are expected to support the local economy, improve employment and skills opportunities, and enhance transport and digital connectivity across the region. The projects will help the region recover post Covid-19 and allow opportunity for future economic growth. David Kerfoot MBE, DL said: “This funding will help to boost economic growth, fuel local recovery and jobs. It is vitally important that we invest in the areas, businesses and people that need it most as we look to lead our region into recovery.

"As chair of the LEP, you can make a real a difference ‘on the ground’ to the people that live, work and visit our unique region. We need a strong and passionate leader who is able to continue to build partnerships and collaborate with people, organisations and businesses across all corners of our region.”

The new chair will be announced at the Y & NY LEP Annual Conference on 6 November, and in order to provide a stable transition in leadership at this critical time, there will be a five month transition period before Mr Kerfoot formally completes his term in March 2021.

Further information is available and applications can be submitted at: www.ynylepchair.com. Applications will close on Friday, October 2.