Economic growth advisory panel
Economic growth advisory panel
The primary role of the panel is to bring together regional stakeholders to help SP ENW understand the challenges faced by the industry and our stakeholders, and opportunities to contribute to the economic success of the region.
Role of the panel
The economic growth advisory panel is a panel of independent experts representing a range of stakeholders, who provide advice, guidance and challenge on our business performance.
The panel advises and challenges us to improve and keep delivering the best possible service to our customers and fulfil our ‘licence to operate’ with the communities we serve.
The panel meet four times a year either in person or online. It’s led by an independent chair, Elise Wilson, and attended by external panel members and senior leaders from SP ENW to ensure a direct link to the business. The company also provides secretariat support to record actions and outcomes from the panel meetings.
Objectives
- To provide a ‘voice of business’ to help SP ENW identify and respond to emerging issues that affect regional businesses, large and small, and incorporate these into our planning and decision-making
- To ensure customer and stakeholder engagement is helping to shape delivery of our reliability, resilience and connections strategies
- To provide guidance and oversight in the development of our business plan and to review and scrutinise our performance and progress against our commitments
- To act as a ‘critical friend’: understanding challenges, expressing views about key issues and priorities, advising and co-creating policies and implementation approaches
- To identify opportunities for regional and national collaboration and best-practice sharing
- To act as an advocate for SP ENW, our customers and stakeholders.
Meet our panel chair, Elise Wilson
Elise Wilson is the former Labour Leader of Stockport Council and Economic Lead for Greater Manchester. As a woman of influence, a respected contributor to political debate and a highly regarded orator, Elise will lead a panel whose focus is to represent the voice of business. She brings a wealth of experience in the foundation economy and is eager to help shape a successful future, so SP Electricity North West maintains its position as an integral influencer within renewable energies, able to meet impending demands.
Elise’s experience of working with both public sector organisations and the private sector, from large corporates to SMEs will prove valuable in her ability to represent businesses, irrespective of size and sector. A business owner herself, during her time as an active local politician and Councillor, Elise developed a passion for place-making, taking part in local, regional, and national policy discussions around the economy, work and skills. In 2021, Elise led on the One Stockport Borough Plan, which sets out the long-term vision and priorities for Stockport, and all its partners, until 2030, implementing the principles of Community Wealth Building.
During her political career, Elise held several influential roles, reflecting her passion for delivering positive change so people can live happy healthy and fulfilled lives.
In her role as Vice Chair of the Local Enterprise Partnership, Elise was principal lead on Greater Manchester’s new Economic Vision, a plan for innovation, green growth and addressing inequalities.
As the Economic Lead for Greater Manchester, Elise focused on GM’s economic growth, building upon Local Industrial Strategy, post-Brexit adjustments and addressing climate change. In addition, as a multilinguist, Elise steered on improving international relations and attracting inward investment.
Previously Elise was the Greater Manchester Digital City region lead, launching the Greater Manchester Digital Blueprint. The blueprint aims to cement GM’s credentials as the UK’s second biggest tech cluster outside London through an ambitious £5bn digital ecosystem.
Since leaving local politics, Elise continues to use her influence and experience in an advisory capacity and was delighted to accept an invitation to become a member of Cambridge and Peterborough Combined Authority Improvement Board. As the newly appointed Chair of SP Electricity North West’s Economic Growth advisory panel, Elise will work alongside business leaders and colleagues including from the IOD and the GM Chamber of Commerce.
Find out more
If you would like to find out more about the work of any of our advisory panels, please get in touch.