Webber named Regenerate Pennine Lancs chairman

Public-private economic development agency, Regenerate Pennine Lancashire, has appointed Tim Webber, managing director of Pendle-based Barnfield Construction, as its new chairman.

Webber will lead Regenerate's board of directors, who make decisions on the company's direction and how it will work to help grow Lancashire's economy. The company's governance is made up of both public and private sector representatives, including elected members from Pennine Lancashire's local authorities.

Webber's experience outside Barnfield Construction include four years on the board of Lancashire Economic Partnership and directorships of Training 2000, Canal & River Trust and the Pendle Vision Board.

At Regenerate Pennine Lancashire, he succeeds Dennis Mendoros, managing director of Kelbrook-based aerospace firm Euravia, who has been chairman since 2009.

During Mendoros' time as chairman, Regenerate successfully bid for £16.5m of the Government's Regional Growth Fund to help Lancashire business access grants between £5,000 and £1m for growth projects. RPL also began delivering programmes to help businesses start and grow as part of Boost Business Lancashire, the £7.2m Lancashire Growth Hub supported by the European Regional Development Fund.

Webber said: "All members of the board have a real drive to make a difference to the business landscape. The partnership between the councils and the private sector helps ensure challenges are overcome so that businesses can access support faster."