A former Government business champion has been appointed as chair of the Loughborough Town Deal Board.
Martin Traynor OBE is a former consultant and Group Chief Executive of the Leicestershire Chamber of Commerce and spent many years in the hospitality sector.
More recently Martin has been a Small Business Crown Representative for the Cabinet office, helping to improve relations between Government and businesses.
He now chairs the Town Deal board responsible for working with 11 projects which are delivering over £40 million of investment into the area, boosting skills, regenerating the town and supporting the visitor economy.
Martin has been on the board since its inception and was appointed as chair at the March meeting, replacing Dr Nik Kotecha OBE DL.
Martin said: “I am honoured to be appointed as the chair of Loughborough Town Deal Board.
“The Town Deal has already delivered almost £15 million of investment into the area and several projects have been completed including the creation of the Careers and Enterprise Hub, improvements to the canal side, a significant town centre regeneration scheme and support for the visitor economy.
“There is much more on the way, and I am determined to support the remaining Town Deal projects through to their completion. They will leave a significant legacy for Loughborough.”
Local businessman Charles Bentley has also joined the Town Deal board. Charles is managing director of Loughborough-based Charles Bentley which provides a wide range of products for the home and garden. The company was founded in 1860.
Charles said: “I am extremely pleased to join the board and look forward to working with fellow board members and officers to help drive forward this exciting investment for the town.”
Loughborough Town Deal secured £16.9 million from the Government’s Towns Fund and is backing 11 projects in total.
Other Town Deal projects already completed include the creation of SportPark Pavilion 4 at Loughborough University which is part of the Healthy and Innovative Loughborough project. Several elements of the Living Loughborough project are also up and running including the expansion of free wi-fi in the town centre, an augmented reality heritage trail and free business support for local businesses. More elements of this scheme are being developed.
Other projects include work to save the last major Bell Foundry in Britain – John Taylor & Co; the Lanes and Links scheme which will better link the town centre and Queen’s Park and see the creation of a place to mark the impact of Covid on the community; a Digital Skills Hub at Loughborough College; the creation of the Generator, a creative arts and culture hub; support for Great Central Railway; and support for a flood scheme for Loughborough’s Wood Brook.
The Town Deal Board involves representatives from Charnwood Borough Council, Loughborough University, Loughborough College, Love Loughborough, Leicestershire County Council, the Leicester and Leicestershire Enterprise Partnership, Charnwood Together Economy and Skills Group, local businesses and Loughborough MP Jane Hunt.
