GRAHAM Lamont, president of Cumbria Chamber of Commerce, has been appointed as chairman of the newly-formed Employment and Skills Board for Cumbria.

The board has been formed to represent the county’s employers’ needs and influence how public money is spent on skills provision.

The chamber of commerce has played a leading role in creating the new board, following a move to merge the county’s Learning and Skills Council within a North West LSC.

Mr Lamont, a chartered accountant who is chief executive of Cumbrian accountancy firm, Lamont Pridmore, said: “I’m thrilled to be taking on this challenge and looking forward to taking up this vital role for the future development of the county in rising to meet global challenges and achieving world class standards.”