The Team

Philip Watkins
Chief Executive

Philip Watkins joined the Lowestoft and Great Yarmouth URC from Swindon’s URC (the New Swindon Company) where he was interim Chief Executive managing a team of regeneration experts.

Previously Philip worked as a Head of Operations with the South West Regional Development Agency managing a team delivering £multi-million enterprise, innovation and physical development projects. In this capacity Philip was the Chair of ‘Vision for Trowbridge’ a regeneration initiative to transform the Wiltshire’s County town.

Prior to this Philip worked overseas for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, seconded to various international organisations. One of these was the Organisation of Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), which was tasked with building institutions in emerging democracies. Philip’s last role was as the Senior Executive Officer organising elections immediately after the conflict in Kosovo. Previously he has worked in Croatia for the United Nations and in Bosnia with the European Union where he was awarded an MBE for humanitarian services during the war.

Philip holds an MSc (Econ) from the London School of Economics.

Personal statement:
“ There are some big challenges facing Lowestoft and Great Yarmouth but also huge opportunities. The work of URCs is all about creating a vision, a coherent plan that inspires confidence and stimulates private sector development interest.

It is also about working in partnership, making sure that stakeholders and communities are involved right from the start. We want to create jobs and the best way we can do this is to convert derelict sites into attractive areas where people want to live, work and visit”