Alison Webster

Biography

Alison Webster joined Thames Valley Berkshire Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) on 23^rd March 2020, leading a small team supporting the LEP’s board to promote economic growth and productivity in the Berkshire area.

Thames Valley Berkshire LEP is a private sector-led partnership of business, local authorities, higher and further education providers, community and voluntary organisations, using more than £218million derived from UK Government and European Union programmes.

Prior to joining Thames Valley Berkshire LEP, she was Strategy and Policy Director at the Rural Payments Agency (RPA), where she was responsible for all setting the Agency strategy and developing policy in collaboration with Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), corporate governance and the legal requirements which support the day to day management of the RPA. She also led on and managed the RPA’s relationship with Defra and the Devolved Administrations.  Alison has extensive knowledge and expertise in skills, economic and rural development. She has had a varied career in the public sector, working in local government and Non-Departmental Public Bodies before joining Defra to head up the Rural Development Programme for England.  Prior to joining Defra Group, Alison was the Executive Director of Operations at the former East of England Development Agency. She had previously set up and run the Essex, Southend and Thurrock Learning and Skills Council as their first Executive Director and has been Chief Executive of two careers service companies, Essex Careers and Business Partnership and Capital Careers, a company that she set up and secured the government contract to deliver careers services on behalf of 4 local authorities in central London.

Twitter: @AlisonRWebster

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