Six York business people have been appointed to a newly-established body which aims to boost economic growth in and attract investment to North Yorkshire.
An independent hotel chain boss, a creative industries director, a rail engineer and co-founder of Spark York are among those from York on the new business board.
York and North Yorkshire Mayor David Skaith said the board, established by the local combined authority, would help develop plans for economic growth, support small businesses and help communities thrive.
The establishment of the business board comes as the York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority drafts its Local Growth Plan which is set to be unveiled next spring.
The board, which is made up of 13 business people from across the area working on a voluntary basis, will examine the plan as it is drawn up.
St Leonard’s Hospice chair David Dickson is among the York business people chosen to sit on the board.
Cherie Federico, of the York-based Aesthetica Magazine, has also been selected for membership of the board.
Her company hosts the BAFTA-qualifying Aesthetica Film Festival in York along with a Creative Business Skills Academy and other events.
The board’s members also include Andy Hughes, managing director of AGH Engineering, who has 25 years of experience in the rail industry.
His design consultancy is based in York and it provides specialist services to Network Rail and its supply chain.
Labskin Ltd’s scientific director Nicola Kingswell’s company creates lab-grown human skin equivalents to test cosmetic products and is based at the York Biotech Campus.
Her appointment to the board follows her extensive work with universities, start-up businesses and larger firms within her field.
Layton Hills Hotel chain owner and Indie York chair Rebecca Layton’s appointment follows her work in the hospitality industry and support for local independent businesses.
She has previously worked for hotels and spas in Harrogate, Skipton and Helmsley.
Sam Leach, co-founder of Spark York, helped to revitalise a disused part of the city when he helped launch his company in 2018 when he was 24.
His appointment to the board follows his company’s work to support local start ups, creatives and community groups.
Ripon chair
The board is chaired by Jennifer Wood, founder of the Ripon-based O&3 natural oils seller.
Its members also include Northallerton food and drink firm director Rebecca Bell, voluntary organisation Community First Yorkshire’s Jane Colthup and Scarborough and Harrogate manufacturers David Hall and Andy Makin.
Northallerton-based Fix Our Food chair David Kerfoot is also a member of the business board.
Labour Mayor Mr Skaith said the board would play a key role in supporting emerging growth opportunities.
“With new and emerging growth, it is important that we have the right plans in place to attract private sector investment in York and North Yorkshire and create more and better opportunities for people who live and do business here,” Mr Skaith said.
“My mission is to ensure that devolution delivers healthy and thriving communities across York and North Yorkshire and small businesses are at the heart of that.
“The business board will have a role in ensuring that we are supporting small businesses that are the lifeblood of our communities to be resilient and to thrive.”
Mr Skaith has previously said that the agrotech, biotech and rail sectors would be priorities for regional growth in the plan.
Work on local growth plans for combined authority areas remains ongoing ahead of the Government’s establishment of a National Industrial Strategy.
The strategy, which is currently being consulted on, aims to provide stability and certainty for businesses and investors by setting out the Government’s priorities for growth up to 2035.