The search is on for four new private sector board members for Cumbria Local Enterprise Partnership.

The county’s strategic economic body wants to strengthen its private sector leadership with the recruitment drive.

Graham Haywood, director of Cumbria Local Enterprise Partnership, said: "We are looking for four outstanding individuals with substantial private sector experience who can work together with the board and provide strategic leadership, challenge, insight and support.

“We are particularly keen to attract applications from a wide range of gender and ethnic backgrounds to reflect the diversity within the business community across Cumbria.

“Increasing our private sector board membership is a key recommendation emerging from both a review carried out by management consultants on our behalf, and recommendations by our scrutiny panel.

“Successful candidates will have significant experience and a successful track record in an ownership or senior managerial capacity within a business organisation active in the Cumbria LEP area.

"They will also demonstrate the necessary influencing skills to operate effectively at board level.”

Cumbria Local Enterprise Partnership board member and private sector vice chair Jackie Arnold added: "I am proud to be a private sector board member for Cumbria LEP.

"It's a rewarding role and a challenging experience which gives you the chance to help shape and drive forward Cumbria’s economy.

"This is a great time for a few innovative thinkers and commercially driven individuals to join the Cumbria LEP team and maintain the right balance of skills and experience on our board."

The roles will involve an overall commitment of two to three days a month.

Board appointments are for an initial period of a year, with the option for reselection. After the initial year, it is envisaged that appointments will be for three years.

Applications, marked ‘Board confidential’, can be emailed to info@cumbrialep.co.uk