Accountant breaks through the Glass ceiling
COLIN GLASS, the founding partner of accountants Winburn Glass Norfolk and prolific non-executive director, has become an OBE in the Queen’s New Year’s Honours.
Mr Glass, who said the recognition was “a wonderful surprise”, launched WGN in 1975 and has a particular passion for supporting the growth of small and medium sized enterprises.
He was part of the team that supported David Parkin’s launch of TheBusinessDesk.com in 2007 and has remained involved throughout the business’s development.
“I have always been passionate about helping create and grow small companies, which are more than ever the lifeblood of the economy,” he said. “I feel very proud when I think of the jobs and exports created by the companies in which I have been involved.
“At the end of the day it is all about the people involved in these companies and I have been privileged to work with some talented entrepreneurs and business men and women. I want to make special mention of my partners, past and present and all my colleagues at WGN, which we started from scratch in 1975 with a mission to create and grow small companies into sustainable businesses. We continue that mission today.”
Mr Glass is currently a non-executive director of the Government-backed British Business Bank, UK Israel Business, North East (formerly the British Israel Chamber of Commerce), and is chairman of Shine, a local social enterprise based in Harehills.
His business directorships include Brandon Medical Group, Medilink Yorkshire and Humber, Dortech Architectural Systems. He had long stints on the boards of Yorkshire businesses Getech Group, Surgical Innovations and Straight Plc.
He added: “I am looking forward to 2017, as we have just moved into city centre offices with a settled and motivated team. I am also excited about the launch of the Northern Powerhouse Investment Fund, operated by the British Business Bank. The Bank is dedicated to ensuring that SMEs have appropriate and adequate finance of all types to assist with their growth.”
Earlier this year Mr Glass was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Business Administration from Leeds Beckett University for his contribution to industry and commerce.
