THE man behind the famous advertising slogan ‘it does exactly what it says on the tin’ is one of six new members of a board tasked with driving economic development across Barnsley and the wider Sheffield City Region.
Ged Shields has joined the Sheffield City Region Local Enterprise Partnership board as one of six private sector board members to continue the drive for further economic growth in the region.
He was formerly vice president for corporate planning and development at Sherwin-Williams, the American company which owns Ronseal. His slogan for its Five Year Woodstain’ claiming it ‘does exactly what it says on the tin’ has been voted among the greatest advertising slogans of all time and has slipped into everyday language.
Asked what his new role ‘does on the tin’, Ged said it was as simple as making sure Barnsley gets its fair share of the benefits of regional devolution.
“I think it’s fair to say that Sheffield City Region has been perhaps a little too Sheffield-centric over the years, my job is to try and make sure that’s no longer the case,” said Ged, 58, who lives at Silkstone.
He was asked five years ago to chair the Barnsley Economic Partnership, which he said he believed had been at the very least ‘moderately successful’, and that he had this year been asked by Dan Jarvis, and representatives of the council, if he would put his name forward to be on the local enterprise partnership board.
“Barnsley has never really been very well represented as far as the City Region is concerned. We had the council leader Steve Houghton as chairman for a while, but other than that we haven’t really had a Barnsley voice at the table.”
He said now that Barnsley Central MP Dan had been elected Mayor of the City Region, and with his own seat on the board, Barnsley stood an even better chance to benefit from the extra money and powers that regional devolution was bringing.
“It’s our job to make sure that Barnsley’s voice is heard, and that whatever benefits there are coming to the region, Barnsley gets its fair share.
“I think the reason I get asked to do these things is not because I’m super clever or anything like that.
“I don’t consider myself to be especially clever at all, but I’m very direct, and I’m a straight talker. I get right to the point, and I think that’s why I get asked to be on these sorts of bodies.”
The other members are Peter Kennan, chartered accountant and chartered tax adviser and chairman of Sheffield Chamber of Commerce and Industry Transport Forum, Tan Khan, of Monaghans, Julia Muir, founder and chief executive officer of Gaia Innovation Ltd and Founder UK Automotive 30% Club, and Lucy Nickson, chief executive officer of the One Health Group.
A further announcement regarding the sixth member is expected soon.
Sir Nigel Knowles, chairman of the Local Enterprise Partnership, said they were joining at a ‘pivotal time’ for the region which is experiencing high value advanced manufacturing jobs growth for the first time in a generation.
In the last four years the LEP has supported projects creating thousands of new jobs across the region, including major investment in road infrastructure at Junction 36 near Birdwell which has resulted in major expansion of business property in the area.
“These appointments continue to strengthen our work, which is central to stimulating economic growth across the region,” said Sir Nigel.
Mr Jarvis said: “I am delighted that these new appointments bring real diversity and a more representative balance on the board in keeping with my aim to make city region boards and advisory panels better reflective of the communities we serve.
“The private sector voice is essential in driving growth in our economy and will be central to delivering my Global Innovation Corridor vision.
“I look forward to working closely with them to create an economy that creates prosperity for all our our residents.”
