West of England Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) chief executive Paul Wilson is to leave his job next Tuesday to take up a senior role at Bristol City Council.
His surprise departure comes as the LEP awaits Government approval of its Strategic Economic Plan – the £90m blueprint for growth it submitted three months ago. 
A decision on which parts of the plan will be funded by Whitehall is expected next month – meaning the decision by Mr Wilson, pictured, to leave now has raised eyebrows in some quarters. It is understood that a number of projects in the plan are unlikely to be backed by ministers.
While the LEP team are pleased with the plan, particularly its emphasis on exploiting the West of England’s creativity and innovation to spark economic growth, one source close to the negotiations said ministers had wanted to see more headline-grabbing job-creation projects.
The LEP today insisted the plan had been well received and feedback had been extremely positive and that Mr Wilson’s departure will not affect its ongoing discussions with senior Government officials over the plan or its other initiatives.
Further details of Mr Wilson’s new role at the city council have not yet been released but it understood to involve open data. The LEP will be led on an interim basis by Barbara Davies, its head of place and infrastructure and senior officer responsible for the strategic economic plan, until a new chief executive is appointed.
Mr Wilson became the LEP’s first chief executive in March last year, joining from US Fortune 500 software company SunGard where he was chief marketing officer.
In a statement released this morning, the LEP said: “Paul has played a significant role over the last year in the LEP’s many achievements: not least the development of the region’s first ever joined-up strategic economic plan for growth; establishing the LEP team in the Engine Shed; and our successful Going for Growth campaign, which we hope will see us award more than £21m from RGF3 to around 300 local businesses, levering in around £90m of private sector investment and creating 2,000 jobs.
“Bristol City Council has recognised the strengths and experience Paul brings and he will be a great asset to them.
“We will be starting the process of recruitment for a replacement. In the meantime, we can rest assured that we have a strong, skilled and highly competent team in the LEP, who will be headed by Barbara Davies.
“Barbara comes with many years of experience, both within the LEP and the preceding West of England Partnership, and will provide us with a steady leadership as interim director as we continue our negotiations with Government.”
The Strategic Economic Plan identifies creative & digital, low carbon, hi-tech, advanced engineering & aerospace, and professional services as the sectors in which the West of England boasts sustainable international advantages.
These sectors demonstrate the biggest potential to create jobs and growth while creating a multiplier effect in other sectors, says the plan.
It also focuses on 122 activities – or ‘interventions’ – in these key sectors to bring about the greatest results.
