Tees Valley Business Board is looking for a new Chair to help drive its work in amplifying the voice of local business in regional decision and policymaking.
The Business Board feeds into the work of the Tees Valley Combined Authority, to advise on, establish and help lead projects, schemes and programmes that deliver real change to our local economy.
The Board has a continuing focus on securing Inward Investment, Business Growth and Skills – helping to attract new businesses to the region, supporting existing businesses to expand, and ensuring that local people have the skills needed to access jobs.
The Board is made up of private sector experts with real hands-on experience of running successful businesses or working in senior positions, with a breadth of diverse business knowledge covering the entire region.
The Chair will be responsible for the running of the Business Board. They will guide and influence the Board at a strategic level providing confident, clear and consistent leadership.
The Chair will work closely with and support the Combined Authority to ensure TVCA’s Inward Investment, Business Growth and Skills offer works for business. They will be a non-voting member of the Combined Authority Cabinet.
The Chair will act as an ambassador for the Board and business across Tees Valley. The successful candidate will influence and network with key decision makers and stakeholders and detail how the Business Board is helping to create jobs, grow the economy and drive inward investment.
Person Specification
* The candidate should be a business owner, have significant experience at a senior management level in a business based in – or operating in – Tees Valley, or have significant experience of working with businesses at a senior level.
* Comprehensive Board level experience as a Chair or Non-Executive Member supporting and challenging the delivery of strategic priorities.
* Experience of forging strong stakeholder engagement, with a proven ability to influence and network with diverse and high-profile key decision makers in both the public and private sectors.
* A proven track record of leadership in an environment of comparable scale and complexity, alongside experience of working with others.
* Strong business experience along with financial and risk management acumen.
* Ability to demonstrate excellent and sound judgement and set clear strategic direction in a changing environment while assimilating a range of perspectives and evidence from others.
* An understanding of the factors that ensure effective business growth on an individual, micro and macro scale.
Further Details
Remuneration:This is an unpaid role.
Term:Appointments are made for a period of two years, extendable by one further term of two years.
Meetings:Both the Business Board and TVCA Cabinet meets quarterly.
Location:Business Board and TVCA Cabinet meetings will normally be held at Teesside International Airport, Darlington, DL2 1 LU.
Expenses:Reasonable travel and subsistence expenses incurred on Business Board activity will be reimbursed in accordance with TVCA policies.
Conduct:The Chair will be expected to act in accordance with:
* The principles set out in the Cabinet Office’s Code of Conduct for Board Members of Public Bodies. The Code sets out, clearly and openly, the standards expected from those who serve on the boards of UK public bodies and will form part of individual members’ terms and conditions of appointment;
* The Seven Principles of Public Life.
Nationality:You must have a right to work in the UK, there must be no employment restrictions, or limit on your permitted stay in the UK.
The closing date for applications is 26 August 2025 at 11.59pm.
Suitable candidates will be invited to take part in an interview process in early September.
The appointment will be subject to approval by the Tees Valley Combined Authority Cabinet on 26 September.
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