News and Views

Cumbria LEP is delighted to welcome two new team members, as we embark on new programmes and strands of activity to boost our county’s businesses.

Leslie Rickerby joins as Programme Manager for the Westmorland and Furness Accelerator Programme, and will be spearheading a £1.6m suite of activities which will support 450 local people to explore opportunities to start new businesses, as well as supporting over 400 existing businesses to overcome challenges, innovate and grow.

Leslie joins the team following a tenure working on a Capital Programme for the South East Local Enterprise Partnership and brings over 20 years’ experience in managing publicly funded projects, delivering economic development and business support activities across diverse sectors, secured during roles Plymouth City Council and the Department for International Trade. Leslie is delighted to join the Cumbria Local Enterprise Partnership and is very much looking forward to the opportunity to assist companies in Cumbria through the new programme.

Tom Webb joins the LEP as a Net Zero Policy Officer in a role funded by the North West Net Zero Hub to support early career positions. Tom will work within the Net Zero Team,  where he will help to develop strategies to add to the county’s growing reputation as a centre or excellence for clean energy generation, business decarbonisation and natural capital.

Tom is joining the team fresh from completing a master’s degree in Ecological Economics at the University of Leeds. He is passionate about exploring more sustainable ways to organise our time, money and resources and is very excited to start his career with the CLEP and contribute towards the County’s progress to net zero emissions.