Board member:

Cllr Lezley Picton

Cllr Lezley Picton

Lezley Picton joins the board of the Marches LEP as the leader of Shropshire Council. Lezley was first elected to the council in 2017 and served as Cabinet Member for Culture, Leisure, Waste and Communications. In May 2021, she became Council leader. Cllr Picton's alternate on the Marches LEP Board is Cllr Dean Carroll.

About Cllr Lezley Picton

Born and raised on the South coast, Lezley has lived in Shropshire for the last 22 years and while loving Shropshire’s rural appeal, she also wants to address the challenges that come with this.

After spending two years as a stage actor, Lezley worked in various roles in arts and venue management in the UK and USA and was responsible for the opening of Shropshire’s main arts venue Theatre Severn in 2009 and headed the Council’s Arts and Heritage service from 2009 until 2012, when she retired.

As leader of the Council, Lezley is eager to listen to the people and organisations across the county about the part they and the council can play in building a healthy population and a healthy economy in Shropshire.

Outside of her Council work, Lezley edits her local village magazine and is often seen picking up litter (her pet hate) along country lanes as she walks.

Her love for theatre, film and music has not diminished and is matched by her passion of all things sports, especially football and cricket. She also loves nothing more than exploring Shropshire’s wonderful countryside with her dog, Puck.

Lezley is married and has a grown-up son.

The LEP Board

The Marches LEP Board includes representatives of the three local authorities of Herefordshire, Shropshire and Telford & Wrekin as well as the chairs of the regions’ Business Boards.

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The LEP Team

The LEP works with colleagues in the partner local authorities and is supported by a small team of support staff based in Shrewsbury to support The Marches LEP Board.

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The Marches Local Enterprise Partnership has now ceased trading and transferred all its functions to Shropshire Council working with Telford & Wrekin Council and Herefordshire Council, in line with the UK Government's plans for devolution.

The Marches LEP was established in 2011 and hands over an impressive legacy from its 13-year life. In that time the LEP invested over £196m in projects across the Marches, securing in excess of £100m of match funding and supported more than 66,000 business interactions.

The schemes supported have made tangible differences to local communities, increasing skills, creating jobs and improving the physical appearance of many towns.

We would like to thank all the LEP Board Members who have given their time freely over the life of the LEP, as well as all the staff who worked for the LEP over the years. We also want to thank our delivery partners, local education providers and local, regional and national stakeholders who helped us achieve so much.

The Marches Growth Hub will continue to support businesses and will be managed by Shropshire Council, supported by Telford and Wrekin and Herefordshire Councils. Each of the three Local Authorities will also continue to provide direct business support locally. Details of this support will be available through the Marches Growth Hub website and from the Local Authorities directly. Website: www.marchesgrowthhub.co.uk | email: enquiries@marchesgrowthhub.co.uk.

The Marches Careers Hub will continue to be delivered and will be managed by Shropshire Council, supported by Telford & Wrekin and Herefordshire Councils. Website: www.marchescareershub.co.uk | email: info@marchescareershub.co.uk

For any queries about Getting Building Fund (GBF), Local Growth Fund (LGF) and Marches Investment Fund (MIF) projects supported by the Marches LEP please contact: gary.spence@shropshire.gov.uk

For any finance queries please contact: michelle.hodgkiss@shropshire.gov.uk

The solvent liquidation of the Marches LEP is being managed by the Evelyn Partners Limited. For any matter related to this please contact: Camilla.Mulholland@evelyn.com

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