Simon has a long experience in economic development in the North of England. He started his career in Local Government before moving to become Director of Strategy for a Training and Enterprise Council. From there he set up and ran a social enterprise for 5 years supporting the long term unemployed back into work. He joined the North West Development Agency in 2004 and became the Director of Policy and Planning. In 2012 he joined New Economy working across Greater Manchester, as well as working with the Local Enterprise Partnership, on secondment to central government and setting up the Northern Powerhouse Partnership. He then became Executive Director of Policy and Strategy at the Greater Manchester Combined Authority.

Simon now has a range of non-executive roles including working with the Forestry Commission, as a Board member of the social enterprise Key Fund Ltd, and being an executive coach. Simon is also currently working with South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority supporting the development of their strategies