By Esmée Hardwick-Slack
Sir Nigel Knowles, who has represented the Sheffield City Region across the world, has announced he does not intend to continue as chair of the Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) after his term of office ends on December 31st 2018. He is instead set to take on a bespoke role as special advisor to the Sheffield City Region Mayor, Dan Jarvis, on intentional trade and investment strategies, as well as personally taking part in trade missions and pitching to potential investors regarding key inward investment opportunities.
Sir Nigel said: “I would like to wish my successor all the best in the role of Chair, and I look forward to working with them over the coming years to drive Sheffield City Region forwards.
“Our new Mayor, Dan Jarvis, already has and will continue to have my full support in his hugely important role of driving economic growth and prosperity across the whole of our City Region.”
Mayor Dan Jarvis said: “I’d like to thank Sir Nigel for the tremendous contribution he has made over the last 3 years. He has personally brought investment into our region, represented us on a national and international scale, and led the LEP during a period of successful growth.”
Sir Nigel was born and raised in Sheffield, studied Law at the University of Sheffield and went on to join Broomhead and Neals as an articled clerk in 1978. He later joined what was then the Dibb Lupton Broomhead law firm, and is credited with DLA Piper’s remarkable growth.
He received a knighthood in 2009 in recognition of his services to the legal industry and in 2016 was chosen to serve as High Sheriff of Greater London for a year.
Sir Nigel added: “I have enjoyed my time as chair of the Sheffield City Region Local Enterprise Partnership, representing our region at home and abroad, and am looking forward to taking on this new role as special advisor to the mayor. I am also proud to be leaving knowing the economy and the LEP are stronger then when I arrived three years ago.”
A recruitment process for a New LEP chair, led by Dan Jarvis, will begin imminently.
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