Member Article

Sophie Haagensen joins LEP as deputy director

The North East Local Enterprise Partnership has appointed former Department for Work and Pensions woman Sophie Haagensen as deputy director.

Sophie will play a key part in implementing the LEP’s Strategic Economic Plan (SEP), the core of the LEP’s bid to the Government’s £2 billion per year Local Growth Fund.

Durham-born Sophie has previously held key roles with government offices in London and the North East and joins the LEP from the Department for Work and Pensions where she led strategy management.

She headed a team responsible for providing advice to government ministers on the viability of new policy proposals and also advised on the long-term digitalisation of services and a major organisational restructure.

Formerly with the Cabinet Office in London, Sophie project managed the setup of Big Society Capital, the world’s first social investment bank, and oversaw the £150 million loan book of the Futurebuilders fund.

Edward Twiddy, director of the North East LEP said: “Sophie is a strong addition to the North East LEP’s team and an excellent replacement for strategy manager Gillian Roll.

“In bringing new skills and experiences, Sophie is filling a key role for the LEP. She has recognised expertise in strategic roles and an impressive track record of leading complex projects.

“Sophie’s understanding of the region’s private, social enterprise and public sectors will add strength and depth to the LEP team at an important time, as we near the end of consultation for the region’s long-term strategic economic plan before it goes forward to government in March.”

Sophie Haagensen said: “Having held strategic management roles within central government, I am delighted to now join the North East LEP to help shape the development of long-term plans to create jobs and economic growth in my home region.”

“Social investment is also an important priority for the region. The North East LEP is committed to making this region the most advanced market for social enterprise in the UK, and it is built into all of the LEP’s strategies. This focus will help establish commercially viable social enterprises that will have a lasting impact across the region.”

Sophie has an MBA from Newcastle Business School, where she received the award for the ‘best postgraduate student’ as well as an award for her research dissertation on business clusters and the Newcastle Science City development.

She also developed an idea for a social enterprise, which won Northumbria University’s business competition and was runner-up in the Blueprint regional finals.

Sophie’s first Civil Service post involved implementing a new service delivery model across Tees Valley district. She gained business experience in the private sector in the North East prior to joining the Civil Service.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Tom Keighley .