Decisions about business growth are made in several committees and boards. Each of them makes sure that our work meets the needs of local businesses and people. They also make sure that all our work is inclusive and offers value for money.
The most senior decision-making body is the Combined Authority committee. It sets the long-term strategy and approves significant investments and programmes that will affect our businesses and people.
We also have an Economy Committee. This gives Local Authority and private sector partners the opportunity to oversee our business growth agenda and feed back on our progress.
Lastly, the West Yorkshire Business Board brings together local business and community leaders with expertise across multiple sectors. It is led by the Mayor’s Business Advisor and has representatives from local councils and business consortiums.
Mandy moved to West Yorkshire in 1994 with a background in chemistry and manufacturing. Having worked for CarnaudMetalbox, Mars Inc and Rank Hovis McDougall, she jointly led a buyout of Produmax in 1997.
Produmax is an aerospace engineering firm and is a global expert in flight assemblies. It exports 70% of turnover worldwide to prestigious clients including Boeing. Her leadership has seen Produmax achieve world class employee engagement, win two prestigious national aerospace awards and the MAKE:UK SME of the year 2021.
Mandy joined the board of the Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership (LEP) in 2019 and now chairs the West Yorkshire Business Board. She was appointed as Business Advisor to the Mayor of West Yorkshire Tracy Brabin in 2023.
Mandy is passionate about business, innovation, skills and inclusivity. As Chair of Space Hub Yorkshire, she has led the development of a regional strategy for Space and is now leading its deployment. She is also Chair of the West Yorkshire Innovation Network, was a Future Ready Skills commissioner and is an advocate for our region, innovation, manufacturing, productivity, women in engineering and skills.
