LSC strengthens Regional Presence

The Learning and Skills Council (LSC), the organisation responsible for making England better skilled and more competitive, has today announced the appointment of nine Regional Chairs who will lead Regional Boards. This will allow the LSC to drive forward its work in the regions and develop further relationships with key partners.

Chris Banks, Chairman of the LSC said: ìThe Regional Chairs have been appointed to ensure that national and regional priorities are delivered in a way that best meets local needs. The Boards will support and work closely with the Regional Director and other senior members of the executive team. They will be responsible for promoting the LSC regionally to external organisations as well as building and maintaining connections with stakeholders and partners, encouraging them to work positively with the LSC.î

Chris continued, ìThe new Regional Chairs will help ensure that the work we do is meeting the needs of learners and employers effectively. I know that they and the Regional Boards will play a critical role in delivering our objectives. All the Regional Chairs are already Chairs of Local LSCís and will bring closer links between the local, regional and national activities of the organisationî

The Regional Chairs are:

North East: James Ramsbotham, Chair of Co Durham LSC and Executive Vice-Chairman of the Esh Group (construction)

North West: Roger Hoyle, Chair of Merseyside LSC and former Chief Executive of the Liverpool Health Authority

West Midlands: Mike Beasley, Chair of Birmingham and Solihull LSC and former MD and PLC Board member of Jaguar Cars

Yorkshire and the Humber: Clive Leach, Chair of West Yorkshire LSC and former Group Chief Executive and Chairman of Yorkshire Tyne Tees Television plc

East Midlands: John Kirkland, Chair of Derbyshire LSC and Chairman of Bowmer & Kirkland Group (construction)

East of England: Jim McGivern, Chair of Bedfordshire and Luton LSC and 35 years of Senior Management in the Hospitalities Industry

South East: Norman Boyland, Chair of Sussex LSC and Director and Former Vice president of Operations at SmithKline Beecham

South West: John Savage, Chair of West of England LSC and Executive Chairman of Business West (Chamber of Commerce)

London: Rod Kenyon, Chair of London West LSC and Director of the British Gas Engineering Academy

Each already chairs a local LSC and will play a key leadership role in strengthening the LSC regionally, as well as adding value to the work of the LSC locally and nationally.