Meet the Team
James Newman
Chairman of the LEP
James is the first Chairman of the Sheffield City Region Local Enterprise Partnership Board, established in November 2010.
He is also the Chairman of two Public companies, senior Non-Executive Director of two others, Chairman of Finance Yorkshire and a former Master Cutler and is well-known across the City Region’s business community. He has recently retired as Deputy Chairman of the Board of Governors at Sheffield Hallam University.
James is a Yorkshireman born and bred with a career spanning more than 35 years, which includes senior roles with a large number of different industries including manufacturing, services and utilities. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants and a Member of the Association of Corporate Treasurers.
James can be contacted at james.newman@sheffieldcityregion.org.uk or through the LEP team on 0114 254 1334.
Ben Still
Chief Executive
Ben took up the post of Chief Executive at the Sheffield City Region in mid-June 2012. Ben has a pivotal role to play in leading the Sheffield City Region to achieving its priorities, which are focused on creating a City Region in which companies want to invest and people want to work, live, visit and study.
He was formerly Director of Strategy at the South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive (SYPTE). Ben became the Director of Strategy at the SYPTE in March 2009 and has been responsible for the development and delivery of the Sheffield City Region transport strategy.
Victoria Dearden
Personal Assistant to the Chief Executive
Victoria Dearden joined the Executive Team in September 2012 as Personal Assistant to Sheffield City Region Chief Executive Ben Still. Victoria provides secretarial and administrative support to the Sheffield City Region LEP Chair, Chief Executive and the Executive Team.
Victoria can be contacted on 0114 254 1334
victoria.dearden@sheffieldcityregion.org.uk
Ellen Cutler
Inward Investment Director
Ellen joined the Sheffield City Region in November 2011 and is responsible for targeting companies across the UK and overseas in a number of the team’s identified priority sectors, to invest in the City Region to create growth in economic activity and jobs. This will include promoting the Enterprise Zone along with other parts of the City Region.
Ellen’s role will also include developing strong relationships with UK Trade and Investment (UKTI), the Government-sponsored organisation set up to promote inward investment into the UK, as well as raising the profile of the Sheffield City Region and all it has to offer.
She will also work alongside other organisations across the whole of the Sheffield City Region, including the existing business support agencies of the Local Authorities, private sector partners, Chambers of Commerce and Universities, in order to secure the future prosperity of the Sheffield City Region.
Ellen can be contacted on 07717 881 934 or 0114 254 1313
ellen@SCRinvest.com
Philip Cooper
Communications Manager
Philip is responsible for managing the Sheffield City Region reputation and increasing its influence by developing effective communications. He also has an key role to play in developing communications for inward investment and advising on activities which promote the City Region to investors from around the world.
Philip can be followed on Twitter @PhilipJCooper1 and @SheffCityRegion
You can view his professional profile on LinkedIn and join the Sheffield City Region’s LinkedIn Group.
Contact Philip on 0114 254 1335 or 07795 953 532
philip.cooper@sheffieldcityregion.org.uk
Helen Rusholme
Economic Policy Officer
Helen joined the Sheffield City Region in October 2011 on secondment from Doncaster Council’s Regeneration and Environment Directorate. Since 2008, Helen has worked with a range of partners across Doncaster and the City Region to ensure effective delivery of skills solutions which respond to the needs of businesses and residents.
During her time at the Sheffield City Region Executive Team, Helen is responsible for supporting the LEP Board private sector lead for skills, Nigel Brewster, to realise the Board’s vision for skills in the City Region. Key activities include working with the SCR Sector Groups and regional Skills Funding Agency research to identify and articulate business demand for skills, coordinating skills activity across the eight local authorities of the Sheffield City Region area to maximise the impact of existing investment, and working with Government and other national stakeholders to ensure the City Region takes advantage of available funding opportunities.
Follow Helen on Twitter @helenrusholme
Helen can be contacted on 0114 254 1335 or 07799300708
helen.rusholme@sheffieldcityregion.org.uk
David Hewitt
Economic Policy Officer
David Hewitt joined the Sheffield City Region in November 2011, David is on secondment from the Sheffield City Council. David has a wide brief which includes: providing executive support to the LEP Chairman and Executive Director, shaping and developing the work of the Sheffield City Region Leaders’ Group and providing a Local Enterprise Partnership perspective on national consultations. This role also includes a number of discrete projects – including the development of the region’s next Regional Growth Fund “bid”.
David can be contacted on 0114 254 1335 or 07841 204 678
david.hewitt@sheffieldcityregion.org.uk
Michael Hellewell
Enterprise Zone Project Manager
Michael is responsible for the ongoing co-ordination of the Enterprise Zone. This involves working closely with the Sheffield City Region Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) Board, landowners, potential investors, local public sector organisations and Government Departments in order to ensure that the Enterprise Zone contributes to the growth of the City Region economy by securing and accelerating private sector investment in key sectors of local and national importance.
Michael has worked on the Enterprise Zone project since 2010. He worked with key private and public sector stakeholders to support the development of the successful LEP submission to Government in 2010 and continues to play a leading role in the development of the Enterprise Zone.
Michael can be contacted on 0114 254 1335 or 07817 927 255
Michael.hellewell@sheffieldcityregion.org.uk
Matthew Payne
Investment Coordinator
Matthew joined the Sheffield City Region Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) in May 2012. Matthew is part of the Inward Investment Team who are responsible for working on detailed plans and activities to support the push for new lead generation for the City Region. This involves targeting companies across the UK and overseas in a number of the team’s identified priority sectors, to invest in the City Region to create growth, economic activity and jobs. As part of the role Matthew is coordinating the ‘Project Pipeline’ tool, which pulls together all inward investment enquiries from across the region.
Matthew’s role includes developing strong relationships with UK Trade and Investment (UKTI), the Government-sponsored organisation set up to promote inward investment into the UK, as well as working alongside other organisations across the whole of the Sheffield City Region in order to secure its future prosperity. Matthew is also helping to attract investors to the Sheffield City Region, as well as raising its profile, through the production of a range of marketing and promotional documentation.
Matthew can be contacted on 0114 254 1313 or 07795 953 533
matthew@SCRinvest.com
Rhoda Watson
Business Investment Manager
Rhoda Watson joined the Sheffield City Region LEP in June 2012. Rhoda is responsible for bringing new investments to the region and specialises in the Distribution/Logistics and Business and Professional Service sectors. Rhoda comes from a property background and has nearly five years’ experience in this area so has gained a proven track record in helping clients find their ideal location for business.
Rhoda can advise on all aspects of setting up business here in the region. Please contact her if you are thinking about expanding or relocating your company.
Rhoda can be contacted on 0114 254 1313 or 07725 995 969
rhoda@SCRinvest.com
Rachel Clark
Business Development Manager
Rachel joined the Sheffield City Region Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) in May 2012 on secondment from Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council, her key responsibility is attracting new inward investors into the region within the Advanced Manufacturing and Materials Sector.
Rachel has a proven track record of being a successful networker, she is able to build relationships both with intermediary organisations and businesses looking to expand into the European Market.
Before working for the LEP she has enjoyed a long and successful career as a manager, working within business development functions in a variety of sectors and fields.
Rachel presents the benefits of the Sheffield City Region to potential investors using her skills as a presenter, trainer and communicator.
Rachel can be contacted on 0114 254 1313 or 07766 500 154
rachel@SCRinvest.com
Amy Harhoff
Policy and Investment Officer
Amy is responsible for a range of projects to support growth across the City Region including coordinating the key sectors private lead input into economic growth activity in the city region and supporting the LEP to deliver key actions for growth sectors. Amy also leads on coordinating the Growing Places Fund which includes working with City Region partners, the LEP Board and public/private bid sponsors to ensure the effective delivery and maximised availability of the fund. Amy’s role also includes project support for key projects such as the Sheffield City Region Investment Fund and Economic Priorities Update.
Amy joined the team October 2012 from Doncaster Council’s Environment and Regeneration Directorate. Specialising in spatial planning, economic development and economic appraisal and funding applications, formerly she lead on key areas for regeneration, particularly with regard to transport and infrastructure within Doncaster and across the City Region.
Amy can be contacted on 0114 254 1334 or 07891 388 035 amy.harhoff@sheffieldcityregion.org.uk
Helen Knox
Communications Executive
Helen Knox joined the Sheffield City Region Executive Team in October 2012. Helen works with the Communications Manager across a range of Sheffield City Region communications projects, with a focus on supporting the Inward Investment team to promote the City Region to investors. Helen has a strong background in marketing and public sector policy with nine years’ experience working in the City Region. Prior to joining the team, Helen worked on a number of key regional marketing projects including MADE: The Entrepreneur Festival, MIPIM 2012 and the Global Manufacturing Festival.
Helen is responsible for managing SCRInvest.com – the City Region’s inward investment website which is dedicated to providing potential investors with the latest news and incentives. If you have any case studies or success stories for Helen – please send to helen.knox@sheffieldcityregion.org.uk
The Investment Team can also be followed on Twitter @SCRinvest
Contact Helen on 0114 254 1313
helen.knox@sheffieldcityregion.org.uk