Pictured above: Ben Reid

Ben Reid, chief executive of the Midcounties Co-operative, has been appointed regional chair of the LSC in the West Midlands as part of a national drive to make the organisation's structure more responsive to the skills needs of learners and employers.

Mr Reid, aged 53, has been chair of Black Country LSC since February 2003 and takes over the regional role from former Jaguar managing director Mike Beasley, who held the post on an interim basis since October last year when new legislation was passed announcing the creation of nine new regional LSC councils.

Mr Reid's contribution to life in the region has been extensive. He was a prime influence in the development of the Black Country Consortium, which has enabled four local authorities to work closely with employers and agencies such as the LSC to develop a vision for the future of the Black Country.

He is active in a wide range of community organisations, being chair of the Walsall Hospital NHS Trust, the Walsall Regeneration Company and the West Midlands Regional Advisory Board for Business in the Community.

He has also been the vice-chair of the Regional Assembly and a member of the West Midlands Business Council.

Mr Reid said: "Having been chair of Black Country LSC for over five years, I am familiar with the critical role the organisation plays in making sure employers and individuals can access high quality learning opportunities that will deliver the skills they need to fulfil their potential.

"I am delighted to accept this important role at a time when we are gaining real momentum in our efforts to deliver on the new skills agenda. The region's first Skills Action Plan, published in March, sets out ambitious targets for the numbers of learners and businesses we need engaged in the process and outlines the joined-up approach the LSC, together with other strategic agencies and employers, must adopt to bring about the skills revolution our economy needs to fulfil its potential."

Congratulating the new council members on their appointments, LSC Regional Director David Cragg said: "We already know a lot about the skills and experience Ben brings to the organisation thanks to his valuable input as Black Country LSC chairman over the last three years.

"His experience in business makes him ideally positioned to know when to challenge, when to support and when to lead the LSC's work as we develop the collaborative and responsive approach to skills delivery that will meet the needs of the region's employers."

Mr Reid's appointment was endorsed, along with three new members to the LSC National Council and eight other new Regional Chairs, by Minister of State for Lifelong Learning, Further and Higher Education, Bill Rammell.

Mr Rammell said: "This is a crucial time for the LSC and for the Further Education and training system as a whole.

Education and skills lie at the very heart of this country's future success and prosperity and the LSC's Regional Councils have a key role in continuing to drive forward progress in support of our shared ambition - for every 16- and 17-year-old to participate in education and training and for every adult to have the chance to improve their skills and have a more successful economic life.

"We are embarking on a major reform of the post-16 delivery landscape; and the consultation currently under way sets out our proposals to move to a radically different model of organising the skills system based on a new demand-led system, and to transfer leadership and accountability for the outcomes of all young people to local authorities as part of their wider responsibility for delivering an even more integrated approach to children's services.

"Strong leadership of the LSC will be vital during this time, and the LSC, supported by its regional councils, has a crucial role to play over the next two to three years in working with the further education sector to ensure that it can continue to respond effectively to the changing needs of individual learners, employers and wider communities, and to secure the skills we need to compete in world markets."