Prof Graham Baldwin joins LEP board

Professor Graham Baldwin has been appointed as a board director at the Lancashire Enterprise Partnership

Prof Graham has also served as vice-chancellor at the University of Central Lancashire since 2019 and is responsible for the leadership and management of the institution. He returned to the university after spending five years as the vice-chancellor of Solent University in Southampton and was previously UCLan’s deputy vice-chancellor.

In 2007 to 2008, Graham was seconded to work as the national skills research director for the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority at Sellafield Limited. During his career, he has also worked closely with partner institutions, particularly in Hong Kong, China and the Middle East, and he received an Outstanding Foreign Expert Award from Hebei Province, China.

Graham is also a member of the Universities UK and holds several other prominent non-exec roles. He is a non-executive director of East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust, chair of the Maritime Skills Commission, chair of the University Vocational Awards Council (UVAC), deputy chair of the Universities and Colleges Employers Association and Treasurer of MillionPlus.

He said: "I am pleased and excited to be appointed to the board of the Lancashire Enterprise Partnership. The collective impact of universities across our region to drive innovation and skills development in support of economic growth and the government’s levelling up agenda, is an important priority in which I am looking forward to playing my part.

"In the current economic climate, we face plenty of challenges but I’m confident we have the vision, the passion and the entrepreneurial spirit to deliver productivity and prosperity for all.”

Debbie Francis, chair of the Lancashire Enterprise Partnership, said: "In addition to his wealth of expertise, Graham also shares the board’s passion to support the levelling up of Lancashire and has already played an instrumental role in the LEP’s Innovation Plan, helping us to deliver greater levels of innovation for the county. I look forward to working with him as the LEP continues to support businesses, create jobs, boost skills, improve infrastructure and unlock investment.”