Last updated at 21:19, Thursday, 16 August 2012

ONE of Cumbria’s biggest job creation and enterprise initiatives is hunting for a new chief executive.

Britain’s Energy Coast (BEC) is the economic and regeneration body looking to exploit opportunities coming up in West Cumbria.

The area is said to be on the brink of a “gold-rush” in the nuclear and renewable energy technology sectors.

The current top job has been in the hands of ex-Sellafield manager Tom Gilroy, who has been interim chief executive and a programme manager for the past two-and-half years after being seconded from Sellafield.

Mr Gilroy, based at Moss Bay House, Workington, will return to Sellafield having piloted the new organisation through an important chapter in its early history including a complex merger.

This summer it published its far-reaching West Cumbria Economic Blueprint, setting out aspirations and targets for the future.

Forecasting an eye-watering £90billion of investment into West Cumbria and the possibility of between 3,000 and 4,400 new jobs being created, it was congratulated by both private sector companies and top Government ministers in the sector.

Energy MP Charles Hendry and Business and Enterprise Minister Mark Prisk all saluted the blueprint which Mr Gilroy and BEC chairman Brian Wilson also showcased in Whitehall following a presentation to 200 delegates at Energus, Lillyhall.

Britain’s Energy Coast says of its recruitment drive: “We are looking for a “strategic leader with a strong background in the fields of regeneration, business, property and stakeholder relations. The ideal candidate will be responsible for directing the organisation’s focus and funding as dictated by the recently-published West Cumbria Economic Blueprint.”

The salary for the post will be between £70,000 and £80,000.

Mr Gilroy said: “I have thoroughly enjoyed my time at BEC and I am immensely proud of what I and my team have achieved.

“My job was to bring the various organisations together to make BEC, get traction into our programme and then develop a strategy for the future.

“With these three key tasks complete, I feel it is appropriate I hand over the reins to someone who can build on this and take the organisation forward.”

First published at 11:05, Thursday, 16 August 2012
Published by http://www.whitehavennews.co.uk