Business Link announces board line-up
BUSINESS Link Northwest has appointed its first board of directors.
The business support organisation, which is funded b y the Northwest Regional Development Agency, said it had introduced a board to provide it with direction, support and guidance as well as to ensure it is working in-line with regional priorities.
The board consists of nine non-executive members from the Northwest business community and one executive member from Business Link Northwest.
Vanda Murray, who is deputy chair for the NWDA and recently ruled herself out as a possible replacement to Bryan Gray, will chair the BusinessLink board.
She said: “Bringing together this level of business expertise for the Business Link Northwest board represents a major milestone in the organisation’s history and companies across the region will reap the benefits.
“The members of the board bring a broad and deep range of skills and qualities to the table which will inform the Business Link Northwest strategy and direction and ensure an effective and relevant service.”
The non-executive board members are Dragons’ Den star and iTeddy founder; Mark Blakemore, the managing partner of Baker Tilly in Manchester; Christine Gaskell, human resources director for Bentley Motors; and David Roberts, a marketing and strategic consultant; along with NWDA board members Joe Dwek, Robert Hough and Peter Hensman.
Peter Watson, managing director of Business Link Northwest, said: “The role of the board is critical, especially in the current economic climate, and although we do not underestimate the challenge ahead of us, we are now better placed than ever to guide businesses in the region through these tough times and beyond.”
