Hoyle joins Elevate after 20 years with Blackburn council

Elevate, the Housing Market Renewal Initiative for Pennine Lancashire, has hired Steve Hoyle, the head of economic development at Blackburn with Darwen Council for the past 20 years, as commercial director.

Hoyle will be responsible for exploiting commercial opportunities and working with investors and developers in the pathfinder area.

Hoyle chaired the successful Local Enterprise Growth Initiative (LEGI) bid for Pennine Lancashire, securing £23m through the Government scheme to help people in deprived communities to become more enterprising. His LEGI role will continue as part of his new job.

Hoyle replaces Tom Dobrashian who left to join regeneration adviser EC Harris' Leeds office.