Business Board Members Roles

Thank you for your interest in the Business Board roles, please note the application deadline has now passed and we are no longer accepting applications.

As the new Mayor of the Combined Authority, I am very proud to be at the forefront of an organisation which will bring positive and lasting change for the residents and business communities of our fantastic region. This is a very exciting and vibrant time for York and North Yorkshire - we are at a pivotal point in our history, and I am eager that we all work together to forge a bright future for everybody.

As part of this new chapter, I am looking for committed and passionate business leaders who want to make a real difference to the region, by offering leadership, insight, guidance and constructive challenge as look to embark on what will be a fascinating moment in our history. Like me, you will want to help create a lasting positive legacy which reflects our commitment to inclusive growth and the role the private sector can play in ensuring all our residents and businesses can enjoy the benefits of that growth.

To learn more about what we are looking for and why, please take a look at the following video.

To sum up, I am looking for experienced and strategic business leaders from a diverse range of backgrounds who are energised and enthused about what the Combined Authority can achieve and who will truly reflect the heart and soul of the region. You will be well networked, providing strong commercial acumen and business expertise, and you will provide a balanced viewpoint and a solid commitment to making a difference whilst supporting my priorities for business sector growth across the region.

If you’re passionate about business and passionate about the future for York and North Yorkshire, your voice is important, and I want to hear from you.

Together, let’s make York and North Yorkshire THE place to do business.

David Skaith

Mayor

York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority

The Business Board will provide a strong and independent business voice to the region to advise the Combined Authority and Mayor on strategy and policy that will unlock the region’s economic potential and stimulate growth and prosperity. The Business Board will oversee the development of the York and North Yorkshire Growth Plan in response to UK Government’s proposed new National Industrial Strategy.

The purpose of the Business Board is to :

create a co-ordinated voice so that the private sector can inform and influence the shape and future direction of local and national government policy;
ensure policy and decisions of the YNYCA receive the input and views of key business leaders and take account of the views of the wider business community;
to engage with local, national and international businesses to understand the needs of different sectors and markets;
to engage business, opinion formers and policy makers at a national and international level in promoting economic growth in the region;
work collaboratively with all partners, including local authorities and other public and third sector bodies to address barriers to growth and to drive efficiency;
Bring together intelligence and expertise to identify priorities and develop solutions to maximise private sector investment in the region and secure sustainable growth.

The Business Board will drive forward, scrutinise and ensure performance in the following areas:

Development of Economic Policy
Business Growth and Economic Strategy
Inward Investment
The York and North Yorkshire Growth Hub Business Support Service
Business Innovation Agenda

In addition, the Business Board will lead on strategic development and implementation of the following Local Economic Growth Programmes :

development of The Combined Authority priority “Boosting Business and Thriving Workforce” – to support delivery of inclusive economic growth ambitions for the area through increased productivity and higher quality jobs;
the joint Innovation Plan for York and North Yorkshire, working in collaboration with UKRI and Innovate UK;
support the global reach of the “High Opportunity Potential” sector development programme for unique specialisms in York and North Yorkshire for Industrial Bio-tech, Agri-tech, Creative and Digital, Healthy Ageing, Manufacturing and Rail;
raising the profile of the area through promotion of “Invest in York and North Yorkshire” to unlock commercial development to attract investment and employment;
support business to contribute to the ambition for York and North Yorkshire to be a carbon negative region through development of green and circular economy and climate adaptation.

Different people from a wide range of backgrounds can bring a healthy variety of ideas, knowledge and perspectives. Therefore the make up of the Business Board needs to reflect the huge diversity of York and North Yorkshire’s people from right across the whole region - from north, south, east and west – your regional voice, local representation and sector knowledge really matter. We want to make sure the huge breadth of the region’s core sectors are represented, ranging from Visitor, Economy and Hospitality; Retail; Financial Services; Food and Farming; Community and Social Enterprise and would particularly like to hear from leaders in these sectors. We also need to drive growth through innovation, so we’d like representation from the high potential opportunity sectors for York and North Yorkshire including Industrial Biotech, Agri-tech, Creative and Digital, Healthy Ageing, Manufacturing and Rail.

To ensure the Business Board is effective Members will be expected to :

advise the Mayor on responses to policy, proposals and opportunities to bid for funding in support of economic growth;
engage with investors, businesses and advisors to investigate growth opportunities;
to advise and consult on regional economic policy, programmes and interventions designed to maximise growth in the region;
to provide advice to the Mayor and the YNYCA on leadership in key themes and priorities to promote growth including policy development;
to review policy performance and assist the Mayor in ensuring that the work of the YNYCA is providing maximum support to businesses.

The Combined Authority and devolution plans provide a fantastic opportunity to put York and North Yorkshire at the forefront of economic development and become a true ‘rural powerhouse’ in supporting the UK’s key business sectors, growing small and medium enterprises, improving regional connectivity, leading the country’s activity towards net-zero and enhancing the UK’s visitor economy.

This unique opportunity to join a brand new organisation, use your influence and leave a legacy will not come much better than this. Support us and help us take full advantage of our devolved decision-making powers to harness millions of pounds of funding for the region and drive successful and inclusive growth, as an influential business leader for York and North Yorkshire.

About the York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority

In January 2024, the Secretary of State signed off the decision made in Parliament and local leaders subsequently met to formalise the creation of the York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority. On 7 May 2024, David Skaith assumed office as the first Mayor of the Combined Authority following his election to the post.

The Combined Authority is not a council – it is a statutory organisation led by a Mayor and works in partnership with North Yorkshire Council and City of York Council to understand how investments need to made across the region to improve on issues such as transport, housing and economic growth. The functions of the Office of Police, Fire and Crime and the Fire Service have transferred to the Combined Authority and the former Local Enterprise Partnership has also been integrated into the Combined Authority.

Home - Mayoral Combined Authority (yorknorthyorks-ca.gov.uk)

The Combined Authority will work in close partnership with North Yorkshire Council and City of York Council to champion the North Yorkshire and York regions and help ensure prosperous and attractive places to work and live, and that we are seen as places where it is easy to do business. It will assume responsibility for providing some services which were previously held by central government so as to directly benefit the people of North Yorkshire as a whole – for example, taking ownership of transport, infrastructure, skills, business investment, housing, culture and tourism. Making local decisions to support local people and drive economic growth.

The Combined Authority will place local investment and economic success right at the heart of its’ activity, championing our region and fostering cohesive working relationships to ensure we get a fair share of money through devolution deals and a bigger voice to attract even more investment. It will also ensure that York and North Yorkshire is a safe and inclusive place to live, that communities are well connected with each other and that everybody has a voice which is heard. Affordable housing, environmentally-friendly businesses and support for issues like arts and culture will all feature as a fundamental part of the agenda.

The Combined Authority represents the interests of local communities and ensures the Police and Fire & Rescue services are delivering the best possible service to them by maintaining an efficient and effective Police Service and Fire & Rescue Service for the area. Including;

· setting the Services’ budgets and determining the police and fire precepts, and issuing the Police and Crime Plan, Fire & Rescue Plan and Risk & Resource Model for North Yorkshire;

· commission policing & crime services and fire & rescue services, alongside convening work with other agencies and partners to improve overall public safety.

· work with partners to enhance the delivery of criminal justice in the area.

The Combined Authority will be the employer of the Chief Fire Officer, all Fire & Rescue staff and the staff of what was the Office of the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner and will be responsible for developing and maintaining a workforce that is professional, resilient, skilled, flexible and diverse.

How devolution works

Over the last 10 years, the government has progressed a number of individually agreed ‘devolution deals’ in other English sub-regions, to transfer funding on specific policy areas, along with appropriate powers to partnerships of local authorities, known as ‘Combined Authorities’. These deals typically last for 30 years and can bring in significant local investment.

Areas that are seeking devolution must become part of a joint body - a ‘Combined Authority’ and have a regional directly elected mayor who will work with councils through the Combined Authority to use the powers and resources gained through any deal. The elected mayor has access to devolved powers and resources and acts as an individual to unite and work across the region. The elected mayor can be held to account for decisions made on a regional level.

Devolution is primarily about strengthening regional arrangements, with greater democratic accountability and powers to take decisions which are currently made in London.

What does devolution mean for York and North Yorkshire

The devolution deal delivers more local powers and decision making and additional funding. The planned 30-year agreement includes an investment fund of more than £540 million for York and North Yorkshire. Coupled with other funding secured from the government, the deal represents a total of £750 million.

This is an historic moment and the first powerful step towards long term change. Devolution will unlock a better future for everyone in York and North Yorkshire. It will lead to more higher paid jobs and access to training which provide the opportunity to build a career locally and better transport and digital connections to enable this to happen.

The Mayor

The deal for York and North Yorkshire sees the introduction of an influential Mayor, David Skaith, who will be figurehead for the region covering more than 800,000 people and 32,000 businesses and will forge close links with the government for better control at a local level. The Mayor will lead the Combined Authority and oversee strategic projects ranging from major transport improvements and boosting skills and education to providing more affordable housing.

As Mayor for York and North Yorkshire, David Skaith will:

Take on new local powers for issues such as transport, housing and skills
Lead on delivering projects such as more affordable housing, environmentally-friendly business and support for issues like arts and culture
Champion our region nationally, making sure we get a fairer share of money and a bigger voice to attract even more investment

The devolution deal includes:

£18 million per year in Gainshare funding over 30 years to invest in local priorities
£13 million for the building of new homes on brownfield land across 2023/24 and 2024/25
Up to £2.65 million to deliver affordable, low carbon homes across the area
Up to £50m investment for the York Central brownfield regeneration scheme
£7 million investment to enable York and North Yorkshire to drive green economic growth towards the ambition to become a carbon negative region
Closer relationships with key government departments to drive investment in digital broadband and mobile infrastructure
Boost regional innovation through better collaboration on projects such as the Scarborough Cyber-Cluster and the BioYorkshire programme
New powers from government to drive regeneration and build more affordable homes
New transport powers to improve and integrate the regional transport network
Integration of the former York and North Yorkshire Local Enterprise Partnership functions
Integration of the Police, Fire & Crime Functions

Closing date: 10 August 2024 ( midnight)

Shortlisting date: 19 August 2024

Interview dates: 2 September, 4 September , 11 September, 13 September

Contact us and apply

For an informal confidential discussion about these opportunities, please contact Katherine Brioude on 07974 406 838 / Katherine.Brioude@northyorks.gov.uk or Penny Keatings on 07811 411462 / Penny.Keatings@northyorks.gov.uk

Please submit one Word document that details a comprehensive CV and a supporting statement outlining your suitability for the role. Please also complete our application form which highlights which sector and region you wish to represent –
Form to accompany the application (.docx)

Applications should be emailed to Executive.ResourcingSolutions@northyorks.gov.uk

We will remove your personal details from your application on receipt to enable anonymised shortlisting, therefore it is important that your application is made using one Word document. Please do not send PDF versions.

Please ensure that you have included both your work and home telephone contact numbers and e-mail addresses where applicable.

We believe in the importance of inclusion, which is why we are always working towards being a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive employer.

We will not accept applications nor services from agency suppliers.

York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority

City Region and Rural Powerhouse