Do you have what it takes to make a difference to the prosperity of the Solent region?

The Solent Local Economic Partnership (LEP) is the body charged with keeping the region, including the Isle of Wight, economically vibrant.

From the Solent Freeport scheme to Hampshire and Isle of Wight Wildlife Trust land purchases, and closer to home the Branstone Farm redevelopment near Apse Heath, Solent LEP is at the heart of economic regeneration in the area.

Now it is looking for new board members and want Isle of Wight business people to throw their hat into the ring.

If successful, you would be in good company, as the Solent LEP interim chair is Island born and bred Rachael Randall, managing director of education and training provider HTP, and a board member at WightAid.

Rachael said it was vital the LEP had the best possible people to work for the good of the region, and the LEP is particularly keen to increase its diversity, across age, sex and ethnic boundaries.

Read more: Could Solent LEP get floating bridge refund?

Read more: Cash grants for Isle of Wight firms from Solent LEP.

She wants the LEP to have less of a middle-aged male profile than it is perceived to have.

Rachael told the County Press: "Because of my role changing from deputy chair to interim chair, we have a vacancy for a business director.

"People think you have to already be a member of the LEP to apply to go onto our board but that is not the case.

"Yes, you do have to apply for membership at the same time as applying for board membership, but it is not a prior requisite."

Rachael said the role was for the private sector.

There are also local authority and education representatives on the LEP, including Isle of Wight Council leader Cllr Lora Peacey-Wilcox, but the private sector involvement was spread across representatives of large companies such as Airbus, as well as SMEs.

“We are committed to driving green growth in the area and establishing the Solent as a globally leading decarbonisation cluster and I would encourage any business leader with a passion for supporting our local economy to apply."

Alongside strategy development, the LEP is a major investor in the Solent economy and is delivering a growth programme valued at over £1.8bn supported by a LEP investment of more than £270m."

As an IW business person, Rachael said it had been an honour for her to be on the LEP for six years, and was just getting used to being interim chair.

"It is a big shout out for the Isle of Wight to have representation on this organisation."

Rachael said the fact the are did not have any regional devolution made the LEP even more important.

"I hope others on the Island will come forward to join me on making a difference to the prosperity of the region."

If you are interested, the closing date for business director candidate and new business member applications is Tuesday, May 17.

Visit www.solentlep.org.uk for full details and how to apply.