Ann Limb announced as SEMLEP chairman

Ann Limb OBE

The South East Midlands Local Enterprise Partnership (SEMLEP) has announced Dr. Ann Limb OBE has been appointed as its chairman, effective from September 30.

With its 1.891million population, based on the four large conurbations of Bedford, Luton, Milton Keynes and Northampton, SEMLEP is the seventh largest of 34 Government-approved Local Eenterprise Partnerships.

A partnership of local authorities and businesses, SEMLEP is targeting jobs growth by focussing on generating and supporting start-up businesses, expansion of high-growth businesses, and attracting new businesses into the area (including foreign direct investment), as well as engaging with central Government on urgent issues associated with transport and infrastructure.

After an extensive and high profile recruitment process, Ann Limb, a prominent business leader, will chair the board to take SEMLEP forward in its role to deliver sustainable economic growth across the area.

Ann Limb is currently a non-executive director of Milton Keynes-based company DRS Data Research and Services plc, holds directorships of two other enterprises in the SE Midlands area - briteyellow and Skills2Learn.  Ann has also founded two successful social enterprises - the Women Leadership Network and the Helena Kennedy Foundation.

In the 2011 Queen’s Birthday Honours list, Ann was appointed an Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire and is Deputy Lieutenant of the county of Buckinghamshire, where she has lived since 1986.

She said: “ I am thrilled to have been selected for this exciting and challenging position.

"The coalition Government’s determination to devolve much of the local economic strategy and growth agenda to the LEPs presents a once in a generation opportunity really to make a difference. It is an honour to have been offered the opportunity to lead a dynamic board to maximise the potential of SEMLEP.”