On a Friday afternoon in early December Helen Best, Interim Dean, and Rebecca Peake, Senior Lecturer in the Academy of Sport and Physical Activity joined a group of colleagues from across the University for an afternoon of ‘Mayhem, Skulduggery and other forms of partnership’ led by Kevin Richardson, Local Growth Consultant to HEFCE.

The event involved role playing a LEP Board with participants taking on roles from the different organisations within a LEP region.  The task was to discuss a proposal for redevelopment of a disused city property and proved to be a fast-moving session which stimulated participants’ thinking about local engagement.

Role holders had varying motivations, levels of commitment, financial capacity and different visions for the outcome, so finding a shared way forward was challenging!   Rebecca’s role involved her being Chair of the LEP, which she excelled at, resulting in her winning the grand prize for ‘most effective Chair of the LEP Board’.