Former CBI head to lead university’s business drive
FORMER CBI regional director and Aga director Beverley Nielson has been appointed as director of employer engagement at Birmingham City University.
Ms Nielson has for the past two years worked at the university’s Birmingham Institute of Art & Design (BIAD) – ranked in the top 10 UK art and design faculties for research, developing knowledge transfer and teaching collaborations between business and the university. In her new role she will take on university-wide responsibility for engagement with business.
She will facilitate collaborations between the university and businesses to develop higher level skills, help close the regional productivity gap and encourage innovation. She will also be focusing on enhancing student employability, workplace learning and continuous professional development.
She said: “I strongly believe that with our focus on developing top quality graduates that have applied skills and knowledge, Birmingham City University has an important role to play in driving the competitive position of the greater Birmingham region.”
Prof David Maguire, Pro Vice-Chancellor, said: “Birmingham City University has a long history of mutually beneficial engagement with businesses in Birmingham and the region. In order to strengthen our work in this area I am very pleased that someone of Beverley’s calibre has joined our team.”
Ms Nielson’s previous roles include regional director of CBI West Midlands, chief executive of the Heart of England Tourist Board, director at Aga Foodservice Group plc, then a FTSE 250 business, now known as Aga Rangemaster plc, and MD Fired Earth. She was elected a county councillor in Worcestershire in June 2009, and was Midlands Business Woman of the Year in 1998.
