Former SWLEP chairman loses cancer fight

The former chairman of Swindon and Wiltshire Local Enterprise Partnership has lost his fight with cancer, passing away on Monday (September 15).

John Mortimer joined the LEP board in 2015 and was the chairman until March this year.

He oversaw several major projects during his tenure, including the establishment of business incubator spaces at Porton and Corsham and infrastructure projects such as the improvements on Junctions 15 and 16 of the M4 and the dualling of the A350 around Chippenham.

He also oversaw the launch of the Swindon & Wiltshire Growth Hub and the establishment of the annual conference, which attracts hundreds of business leaders.

And he led the LEP Network’s working group looking at LEP accountability and represented the SWLEP and the LEP Network at senior ministerial level within government. In 2018 he represented rural LEPs from across the country at a meeting with prime minister Theresa May at 10 Downing Street.

His time in leadership has also involved steering the SWLEP through two major economic shocks: the 2018 Novichok nerve agent attack in Salisbury and, a year later, the announcement by Honda of the closure in 2021 of its Swindon production plant, with the loss of 3,500 direct jobs and many thousands more in the supply chain.

John was also South West Director of the Country Land & Business Association for more than a decade, and a fierce champion of rural businesses in Wiltshire.

In a statement, the LEP said: “John was absolutely passionate about his work with the Swindon & Wiltshire Local Enterprise Partnership.

“He brought a real sense of purpose and took us through some challenging times, leading us through incorporation into a limited company.

“John was conscious of all the different groups that work within the Swindon and Wiltshire area, ensuring that no group was left behind, and everyone had their voice.

“He was also passionate about the levelling up of the rural communities, way before the Government set it as a priority.

“He was very good at maintaining relationships and ensuring that people work together for local success.

“The legacy he has left is a very strong SWLEP, highly rated by government, financially secure, and able to offer the kind of support through our Growth Hub which is also extremely well regarded by both government and our customers.

“We thank John for all his hard work and dedication over the years and offer our sincere condolences to Carole and all the Mortimer family.”