Adrian Hawkins has been appointed as the new chair of the Hertfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP).

The LEP Board ratified the recruitment panel's decision to elect Adrian at a meeting on December 8. A phased transition will see Adrian assume roles and responsibilities ahead of the board meeting in March, at which current chair Mark Bretton will step down.

Herts LEP is a business-led, multi-sector partnerships focused on accelerating economic growth, job creation and raising workforce skills.

Adrian was appointed to the Herts LEP Board in 2014, and served as deputy chair from 2017-2010.

Among other activities, he chairs the LEP's Skills and Employment Board, has championed the delivery of the Hertfordshire Opportunities Portal (www.hopinto.co.uk), and introduced arrangements for the Degree Apprenticeship schemes in collaboration with the University of Hertfordshire.

Away from LEP, he has been independent chair of the Stevenage Development Board since 2020. He led the board on a funding bid from the government's Towns Fund, securing £38.5m for Stevenage.

Adrian founded Weldability Sif in 1981, which he grew from supplying one branded product in the UK, to many thousands internationally today. In March 2019 Weldability-Sif was acquired by Indutrade AB, a NASDAQ-listed corporation.

He has also been a school and college governor, chairman of a multi-academy trust, and is chairman and founder of biz4Biz, an organisation that supports business owners and leaders.

Congratulating Adrian on his appointment, Mark Bretton said: “Adrian is a big player in the local economy and will bring the drive, dynamism and determination required to lead the LEP over the next few years as it sets out a credible route to a brighter, fairer, and more sustainable future for our economy.

“It has been an absolute privilege to serve our county and indeed our country over the past eight years, and I wish Adrian every success as he takes over the helm.

"He inherits a fantastic team led by CEO Neil Hayes and a high-performing and highly regarded Board whose members give up their time voluntarily to ensure the Herts economy fires on all cylinders.”

Adrian Hawkins said: “I am honoured to have been given this opportunity to chair the Hertfordshire LEP. Many will know already that I passionately believe in our county, its people, businesses, and institutions and giving back to our local communities.

“Inspire, ignite, innovate were the watchwords for the LEP’s 2022 Annual Conference.

"In 2023, I want to put those words in motion by getting out and about across the county to speak with businesses, large and small, educators, local leaders, MPs, the police, health and social care sectors, charities, and entrepreneurs to build a future we can all be proud of.”

Baroness Taylor of Stevenage and Cllr Richard Henry, the new leader of Stevenage Borough Council, paid tribute to Adrian: “We would like to offer our congratulations to Adrian Hawkins on his appointment as Chair of the Hertfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership.

"He has made an outstanding commitment to our community, and we are sure he will continue to do so in his new role, for Stevenage and Hertfordshire more broadly.

“Adrian is passionate about Stevenage, creating jobs and skills opportunities for local people, and has shown real ambition for the future of our town.

"In his role with the Stevenage Development Board, he played a vital role in securing the highest award of funding in the country through the Government’s Towns Fund, at £38.5m.

"Adrian has also, through his significant efforts working in conjunction with the council and a range of partner organisations, done much to help us realise the aspiration for Stevenage to be a national leader in life sciences, engineering and advanced manufacturing."