Leader appointed as CWLEP board director

The leader of Stratford-on-Avon District Council has been appointed to the board of directors at the Coventry and Warwickshire Local Enterprise Partnership (CWLEP).  

The appointment will see Cllr Tony Jefferson become part of a 16-strong board of directors at the CWLEP, which was established in 2011 to drive growth and create jobs across the whole area.  

He has vast experience of the business world having worked at British Steel, British Gas and the former Leeds Permanent Building Society, as well as running his own consultancy in leadership and management for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).  

In 2014, Cllr Jefferson was elected to serve the Welcombe ward as a district councillor and, a year later, he was selected as Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee at Stratford-on-Avon District Council.  

Last year, he became Portfolio Holder for Health and Wellbeing before he was appointed leader of Stratford-on-Avon District Council in May this year.

He is also the council's representative at a number of organisations including the Coventry and Warwickshire Joint Committee for Economic Growth and Prosperity, Stratford Historic Building Trust and the Warwickshire Police and Crime Panel.  

Cllr Jefferson said the CWLEP was a key source of funding for vital projects in the area and he is keen to fully participate in board meetings.  

"Being part of the CWLEP board is going to be absolutely fascinating," he said.  

"It is a major source of funding and helps shape Coventry and Warwickshire in a significant way, particularly at a time when there is going to be substantial change.  

"Brexit means there will be a level of uncertainty and there is currently an enormous amount of technological change which is particularly affecting the motor industry, but it is wider than that.  

"There are also very significant changes in employment patterns with the potential for people having to work a lot longer into their mid to late 60s, and the growth of the gig economy."  

Jonathan Browning, chair of the CWLEP, welcomed Cllr Jefferson to the board of directors, which meets six times a year.  

He said: "The board has a crucial role to play in delivering CWLEP's policies and programmes, which is why it is made up of private and public sector representatives as well as the two universities in our area.  

"Cllr Jefferson has had a varied career in the private sector with nationalised industries and mutual companies in finance and HR before entering the world of local government.  

"He is particularly interested in driving forward the economy, which is one of our key priorities, and we are looking forward to hearing his contributions at board meetings."