• Swindon & Wiltshire Economy
• Thursday September 25 2025

Business leaders invited to join West’s new Business Board

Business leaders across the region are invited to put themselves forward to join the West’s new Business Board, following this week’s publication of a new, ten-year Growth Strategy that aims to create 72,000 new jobs and deliver 28 per cent economic growth.

Applications are open until 31 October, with interested members able to share a one-page statement about their experience and motivation to join the Business Board and/or one of its sector/cluster groups (which include Higher Education, Further Education, and the Everyday Economy), with more details available on the Business Board’s new website.

Interviews will take place in November, before the Business Board’s first meeting in the new year.

The mayor announced plans for a Business Board in the summer, with two Business Advisors appointed then to serve as interim chairs for its first year: Jo Dally, chief business officer at NCC, and Nick Sturge, co-founder of Engine Shed.

Now four new Business Board members have been confirmed by Jo and Nick:

• Helen Argo, executive producer for third party and commercials at Aardman – who will also chair the creative industries sector/cluster group
• Professor Sarah Hainsworth, pro-vice-chancellor for research and enterprise at the University of Bath
• Nigel Toon, co-founder and former CEO of Graphcore and senior non-executive director at UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) – who will also chair the digital and technologies sector/cluster group
• David Withey, CEO and principal of South Gloucestershire & Stroud (SGS) College and inaugural chair of the new Colleges West partnership

The Business Board will represent the full breadth of the West’s diverse economy and will become the primary platform for businesses to engage with the regional authority’s strategic priorities.

All council leaders, including from North Somerset, will also be members of the Business Board.

The chairs of the Business Board will also work closely with other business representative organisations in the region.

Helen Godwin, mayor of the West of England, said: “Our new Growth Strategy sets out an ambitious plan for 72,000 new jobs to continue to drive economic growth across the West. It’s bold for business, just like our part of the world.

“The new Business Board, chaired by Jo and Nick, and joined by Helen, Sarah, Nigel, and David, as well as local council leaders – needs to represent the full diversity of our region’s economy.

“I want to encourage business leaders from across the West to nominate themselves to join us.

“Together, we can secure the investment and create the opportunities which will make a real difference that we can all see and feel in our communities.”

Pictured: Nick Sturge and Jo Dally. Image courtesy of West of England Mayoral Combined Authority / Phoebe Stephen / Boomsatsuma