“At the South West Business Council, we have worked with Claire over a sustained period. Latterly, this has been with respect to her role at Salamanca, leading the charge on the Gravity site with key regional stakeholders. Claire’s experience at handling and landing key infrastructure developments, of course, also goes back to Hinkley Point C. In both cases Claire’s focus on creating a narrative around “Place” has been instrumental, in my view, to the success of those projects. We wish Claire well as she moves into the next phase of her career via her new consultancy!"

In all my 25 years leading Business West, only a handful of industrial developments stand out as defining the South West economy. These include Hinkley Point C and Gravity, both of which have Claire Pearce 's fingerprints all over them. If you want something to happen, Claire is who you need.

Claire has brought much needed energy and insight, re-energising Source Galileo to offer substantive international investment in the UK in offshore wind and related energy infrastructure to deliver the UK Industrial Strategy. We are absolutely committed to ensuring social value is intrinsically integrated into project design and delivery, in a way Claire has been able achieve on other nationally significant projects.

The Portland Port Group are delighted to be working with Claire on a transformational agenda for Dorset, Portland and Portland Port itself. Within a short period of time Claire has acted as a catalyst bringing together a number of different projects under the banner of the Dorset Clean Energy Super Cluster. Whilst each project has been developing in its own right Claire has acted as the key link between them for the benefit of all. We've responded to the Governments Industrial Strategy and the cluster now sits at the heart of the Great South West Energy and Investment Prospectus'. Claire has provided the energy and experience to introduce investors to stakeholders and shape policies at a national, regional and local level to advance delivery. It has been a pleasure working with her at this exciting time.

Claire played a key leadership role for Sedgemoor District Council ensuring the Hinkley Point C project had a balance of social benefit and regional industrial ambition. Claire was able to navigate the many tactical issues without deviation from the strategic goals. Claire always maintains a steely focus on delivery and has an agile solution-oriented approach to the many challenges faced during a mega infrastructure project.

"Claire has been instrumental in delivering economic development and regeneration to the region. Her ambition for the region coupled with her visionary leadership have not only paved the way for the revitalisation of Bridgwater, but her efforts have been key to unlocking the opportunities that major projects such as Hinkley Point C and Gravity have delivered and will continue to deliver to our community. We are delighted that Claire has joined the Governing Body of Bridgwater &Taunton College. She brings a wealth of experience and strategic acumen which will help us ensure success and relevance in the rapidly evolving educational landscape, creating opportunities for our community for generations to come.”

I have been delighted to work with Claire over the last five years, across a number of different schemes at scale and all with individual complexity and challenges. Her grasp of the big picture is quite unique - creating a compelling vision and translating that into a development proposal with genuine socio-economic value to host communities to secure consent. It has been a pleasure to focus on a progressive planning approach to get things done, as well as have fun along the way.

Claire has detailed knowledge of both public side planning operations and private company applications for the planning and approval processes. She has successfully leveraged this experience on two of the most significant projects in the UK for Hinkley Point C and Gravity through careful stakeholder management and her wealth of experience to ensure successful outcomes for the region.

In an era of industrial closures, job losses and limited public sector resources in the early 2000s, Claire championed a pro-business agenda that required a cross sectoral approach and the coordination of many teams and regulator partners to find solutions. Generating confidence in the area, unlocking projects, aligning finance and decision making to meet business needs. The results are evident on the ground with investment in industry, retail, housing, education and infrastructure with new opportunities for business and individuals to benefit directly. The revitalisation of Bridgwater has been an incredible success. Claire has been the engine room to lead and drive this for over 10 years achieving outstanding results - with the journey continuing over the last five years to transform Gravity and secure Agratas. Most importantly she is a great relationship builder

'Driven' and 'determined' are two words that best describe Claire. I have known her professionally now for more than 20 years and in my experience when she sets her mind on something - it happens! She is professional, highly experienced in her field, with a passion for Somerset and exploiting its potential. That was ably demonstrated with the work which she did in attracting to the county Europe's biggest gigafactory. She is a visionary, she knows what she wants and working with her has been a joy.

"Claire is the exceptionally focused and professional. She takes a highly strategic view of projects which maximises opportunities for collaboration. As a delivery partner for social value in the community, we always felt included in development updates and well connected with others who were working on the project. Claire has an incredible ability to lead and deliver – navigating difficult conversations with compassion and authenticity which is key when working on complex and potentially controversial developments which require sensitivity and empathy but with focus on progression."

Claire’s trademark and what3words are: Tenacity – Drive (leading to) - Results.

I have known Claire for over 15 years. During that time, I have experienced first-hand the transformation of planning and development services in Sedgemoor District and the deep commercial understanding of stakeholders in the development process, from developers to occupiers to champion and deliver a pro-business, pro- economic development agenda. Claire worked with Hallam Land to align policy and consenting processes to deliver homes, schools and strategic commercial development in North East Bridgwater and has recently applied her significant experience in nationally significant infrastructure projects and Local Development Orders to support strategy development within the Group.