Delapré Abbey: Its chief executive Richard Clinton is to be the chair of Northamptonshire's Local Visitor Economy Partnership, championing tourism across the county.
THE CAMPAIGN to strengthen Northamptonshire’s visitor economy has taken a step forward with the appointment of the chair for the county’s Local Visitor Economy Partnership.
Delapré Abbey’s chief executive Richard Clinton is to lead the partnership into the next phase of its formation – the submission of the LVEP application to national tourism body Visit England.
This application is due to be submitted soon, with a decision expected early next year. If approved and Northamptonshire gains LVEP status, the county would receive national accreditation, a boost to the area’s tourism offer and unlock new opportunities.
Cllr Helen Howell, North Northamptonshire Council’s deputy leader and executive member for sport, leisure, culture and tourism, has jointly led the LVEP process with West Northamptonshire Council’s cabinet member for local economy, culture and leisure Cllr Daniel Lister, said: “Richard’s wealth of experience and dedication to promoting the region’s attractions make him the perfect choice to lead this important initiative.
“The LVEP represents an incredible opportunity to highlight Northamptonshire’s unique offerings, from its rich heritage and world-class motorsports to its thriving arts and cultural scene.
“With Richard’s leadership, we are confident this partnership will strengthen collaboration across the sector, elevate the county’s profile, and attract more visitors, creating lasting benefits for our local businesses and communities.”
Richard has been chief executive of Delapré Abbey Preservation Trust since 2020, overseeing the strategic direction of the historic 900-year-old Delapré Abbey in Northampton. Under his leadership, the Trust has aligned heritage, culture and wellbeing to benefit the community, including plans to restore and repurpose the 19th-century stables into a mixed-use development featuring a community wellbeing space.
He is also the chair of Fermynwoods Contemporary Art, an educational charity that supports life through art by commissioning innovative ways for artists to engage with audiences.
Before his role at Delapré Abbey, Richard was part of the leadership teams for The Culture Trust and Royal & Derngate Theatre in Northampton. He has also been the vice chair for Northamptonshire Surprise, supporting its efforts in promoting the heritage, culture, and attractions of Northamptonshire.
Richard will now oversee the creation of the new Northamptonshire LVEP with responsibilities including:
- Overseeing the implementation of the comprehensive Northamptonshire Tourism Strategy.
- Collaborating with local and national stakeholders to promote Northamptonshire’s attractions.
- Enhancing marketing efforts to raise the region’s profile.
- Supporting local businesses in maximizing the benefits of tourism.
- Ensuring sustainable growth of the visitor economy through innovative practices.
“This is an exciting opportunity to bring together the incredible diversity of our hospitality, heritage, culture, and attractions that Northamptonshire has to offer, alongside the passion and expertise of our partners,” Richard said.
“I am aware of the challenges that operators in the visitor economy are facing, from rising costs to the evolving expectations of visitors. Through the LVEP, we have an opportunity to amplify the voice of the sector and collectively address these challenges in partnership.”
The LVEP along with its partners has the opportunity to provide the support, and advocacy needed to help businesses in the sector to thrive, he added.
“There is a clear vision to build a vibrant, sustainable visitor economy that showcases Northamptonshire as a destination of choice for both national and international audiences, delivering real benefits for businesses and those living in Northamptonshire.”
Phil Lawrie, chief executive officer of Silverstone Museum, was involved in the interview process for the position of chair.
“Following a thorough and systematic search and evaluation process, Richard Clinton’s appointment as chair to the new Northamptonshire LVEP is entirely well deserved,” he said.
“In his role as CEO of Delapré Abbey he has evidenced his ability to drive success at an attraction that has become a lynchpin of the local visitor economy and his deep understanding of the county’s tourism-related opportunities and challenges makes him very much the best person for this critical role.
“The visitor economy is an important growth sector for Northamptonshire and success will only be achieved by leveraging the attributes of multiple stakeholders. I have no doubt that Richard is superbly well qualified to harness the county’s many talents and assets in this effort.”
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