A new Gloucestershire Business Board has been launched this February 2026, designed to give local businesses a stronger voice in shaping the county’s economic future and ensuring their insight influences key policy decisions.
Announced by Gloucestershire County Council on Thursday 12 February 2026, the new board replaces the previous Economic Growth Board with a more 'business-led approach to growth, investment and innovation'.
The board will provide strategic oversight of Gloucestershire’s economic development agenda, helping to shape significant investment and policy decisions. It will also advise the City Region Board and Leadership Gloucestershire on strategic economic issues, while overseeing how business engagement is delivered across the county.
Co-chaired by councillor Julian Tooke, cabinet member for business, economic development, planning and infrastructure at Gloucestershire County Council, and cyber security leader, entrepreneur and former chair of CyNam, Rob Stemp, the board sets out to bring together senior business experience with public sector partners.
Membership of the new Gloucestershire Business Board will include around 12 to 15 leaders from key sectors alongside representatives from education, local government and the voluntary sector.
Julian said the board marks ‘an important step in strengthening collaboration’ between the council and the business community, helping to focus on opportunities that will drive ‘long term growth, investment and innovation’ in Gloucestershire.
Rob said that the county has ‘a rare opportunity to lead from the front’, highlighting strengths in cyber, advanced technology, advanced manufacturing, agriculture and professional services. Adding that priorities will include helping start ups to scale, unlocking investment and accelerating business growth.
