Marches LEP welcomes new council leader to the board

The Marches LEP has announced that Councillor Malcolm Pate, the newly appointed Leader of Shropshire Council, has officially joined its business-led board sitting alongside the leaders of both Herefordshire Council and Telford & Wrekin Council as well as those representing the private sector.

Councillor Pate, who has a long history within local government, has held the Albrighton seat in the east of the county since 2009. Prior to this he was Leader, for four years, of the former Shropshire County Council before its transformation to a unitary authority.

He has also held a number of senior managerial positions in regionally based manufacturing businesses, as well as establishing his own internet-based businesses specialising in nautical memorabilia.

Speaking of his appointment to the board of the Marches LEP, Councillor Pate said: “The local enterprise partnership model whereby businesses take the lead in driving economic vitality and sustainable employment, as well as managing £80m worth of government funding for regional growth, has proved itself to be an incredibly successful one over the last five years and I am honoured to now have a seat at the table.

“I am joining a diverse team of people, all of whom share a common desire to see the Marches region flourish and I hope that my experience of both local political leadership and senior private sector management will prove to be a beneficial addition to the LEP’s work.”

Graham Wynn, Chairman of the Marches LEP, added: “Whilst the LEP is a business-led organisation, it simply couldn’t work effectively without the support and partnership from the Leaders of the three local authorities.

“Councillor Pate has an unwavering commitment to serve both the people of Albrighton, as well as the wider county of Shropshire and I don’t doubt that this will now extend to the wider Marches region.

“His background in senior manufacturing roles will further support the LEP’s mission to ensure that skills in key industry sectors are further developed as a means of allowing the region to meet its potential for growth.”