The Leeds City Region Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) has appointed a Director to support the delivery of the city region’s economic plan.
Ben Rimmington joins the LEP from the Department of Business, Innovation and Skills, where he was Deputy Director for Economic Development.
He has been at the forefront of leading the government’s new economic development landscape, including the establishment of LEPs and enterprise zones, the roll-out of the Department’s BIS Local network and supporting the development of city deals.
Leeds City Region LEP Chair, Neil McLean, said:
I am pleased that we have been able to appoint someone of Ben’s calibre to work with the Board to deliver our economic plan. Ben brings with him an exceptional understanding of economic development and experience of working within the highest levels of government and with business. He will be a great asset in helping us achieve our vision of making this a globally competitive city region.
Commenting on his appointment, Ben added:
I am delighted to have been given the chance to apply my experience of working between national government and business to help drive the economic development of a part of the world that means a lot to me. The LEP has already made great strides since its establishment, and I am looking forward enormously to helping Neil, the board and Council leaders realise the City Region’s full economic potential.
Ben was brought up and educated in Leeds before studying German and French at Cambridge University. He now lives in Ilkley with his wife and two young sons.
His previous civil service appointments include managing the Government’s relationship with the automotive industry, leading negotiations on EU employment law issues including the Working Time Directive, and work on energy, competition and better regulation policy.
