Cheshire and Warrington LEP expands board

Cheshire and Warrington Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) has made five new appointments to its board to continue to support the region’s economic growth.

The new additions to the LEP’s board will help the organisation to continue to develop the Local Industrial Strategy for the Cheshire and Warrington area, which is one of the UK’s fastest growing and most skilled local economies. New board members represent a range of industries, including property, life sciences, tourism and communications, and from businesses across the area, including Macclesfield-based McCann Health and Alderley Park owners, Bruntwood SciTech.

New board members joining the LEP are:

• Dr Kath Mackay, Managing Director, Bruntwood SciTech – Alderley Park
• Rupert Collis, Head of Commercial (NW), Fisher German
• Loren Jones, Chair, Northern Nuclear Alliance
• Annette McDonald, Deputy Managing Director, Tatton Group
• Alice Choi, Chief Operating Officer, McCann Health Medical Communications

Dr Kath Mackay (pictured), Managing Director, Bruntwood SciTech – Alderley Park, said:

Life science is a genuine strength of the Northern Powerhouse and, in Cheshire East, Alderley Park has become a powerhouse of its own in terms of attracting, supporting, and growing innovation-based businesses. As we have seen during the pandemic, new medicines are fundamental to the nation’s security and there is a lot of exciting potential for the region to develop its existing drug development, diagnostics and manufacturing base.

“Alderley Park is also part of the Cheshire Science Corridor, which already boasts world leaders in nuclear engineering and emerging technologies that will help us decarbonise how we live and work. It’s great to join the team and I’m really proud to fly the flag for innovation in the region.”

Clare Hayward MBE DL, Chair of Cheshire and Warrington LEP, commented:

I’m delighted to welcome Alice, Annette, Kath, Loren and Rupert to the board.

“They’re joining at an extremely key time, as we have an opportunity to build on the tremendous assets in Cheshire and Warrington ensuring that, together, we support the sustainable growth of businesses and communities in our region.

“I’m confident that they’ll bring the vital skills and experience we need as we continue to work towards our vision to make the sub-region the healthiest, most sustainable, inclusive, and growing economy in the UK. I would also like to personally thank the outgoing board members who have dedicated their time to the growth of Cheshire and Warrington’s economy in recent years.”