Experts in training, education, energy, technology and retail have been appointed to the board of Cumbria Local Enterprise Partnership to strengthen its private sector representation.

Graham Booth, Dr Steve Curl and former managing director of Gen 2, Mike Smith OBE, have joined the board, increasing the private sector membership to 10 out of the 16 places around the table.

Mr Smith has over 35 years of experience working both in and with the technical, vocational education and training sectors. He works for City & Guilds Group, the owners of Gen 2 where he was previously chief executive for 15 years before moving on earlier this year.

Dr Curl has extensive experience in the energy and nuclear industry and as a senior executive in international technology companies. He is currently chair of Finance and Resources for the Lake District National Park Authority, chair of the Lakes Currency Project Ltd (The Lake District Pound) and chair of National Parks Partnerships LLP, which supports all of the UK’s 15 national parks.

Mr Booth is business and retail expert and, as property director of E H Booth and Co Ltd (Booths) has been responsible for developing 12 stores across the North West, including its new central offices and distribution centre in Preston. Prior to managing the Booths property portfolio, he established the company’s Fresh Produce department, where he developed the policy of dealing with local suppliers.

Lord Inglewood, chair of Cumbria Local Enterprise Partnership (Cumbria LEP), welcomed the trio to the board.

“Their respective appointments give the private sector an even stronger voice and make sure that we have strong board membership to help drive forward the county’s economic priorities,” he said.

“We are looking for each board member to take forward the work programme on a particular theme or sector in line with our new governance arrangements.”

Lord Inglewood added that Cumbria LEP was also looking for representatives from the voluntary and community and the Further Education sectors to join the Board.

And he revealed that a targeted recruitment campaign will be undertaken to increase the number of women standing for board membership.

The campaign is a direct response to the Government’s recently published ‘Strengthened Local Enterprise Partnerships’ review which, among a series of other reforms, has targeted LEPs to increase diversity, with a third of LEP boards to be female by 2020 – rising to equal representation by 2023.

At present, three of the 16 members of the Cumbria LEP board are women.

The latest, all male, board recruits welcomed their appointments.

Mr Smith said he was looking forward to establishing Cumbria LEP as an “effective, efficient and professional organisation, positioned at the centre of Cumbria’s future economic growth and development”.

“For my part, I hope to bring the experience and expertise gained from running a successful Cumbrian based independent training provider, to help develop the county’s education and skills offering in order to support people of all ages to attain successful jobs and careers,” added the chartered engineer, who has also held senior management roles at Sellafield Ltd.

Dr Curl – a former deputy chair and chair for finance on the board of the University of Cumbria – said: “Cumbria aims to be one of the fastest growing economies in the UK. By bringing my business and partnership experience to the LEP my aim is to help deliver this ambition to the benefit of all those who live and work in this wonderful county and all our locally based businesses, large and small, old and new.”

Mr Booth added: “My aim is to demonstrate to business that there has never been a better time to invest in Cumbria. We want to create the right environment for businesses to enjoy sustainable growth, thereby securing a prosperous future for our county."