Darlaston to leave Business in the Community as organisation heads north

DAVID Darlaston, Business in the Community (BITC)’s regional director for the past 12 years, is to leave the role following a restructuring of the organisation which will see the West Midlands covered from Manchester.

Darlaston, a well-known figure in local business circles, has worked for BITC –
a charity focused on promoting responsible business practice – for a total of 17 years in the region but is to leave the organisation  in the autumn.

Last month BITC announced proposals to restructure its English regions into three new areas – west, east and south – with the West Midlands becoming part of the west region, run out of Manchester.

Applications from present regional directors were invited and Darlaston applied but was unsuccesful. A west area director has now been appointed.

Darlaston said: “I have been privileged to work for Business in the Community and be able to work with so many committed members and business leaders across every sector and geography in the West Midlands and beyond.

“Equally enjoyable has been the opportunity to work with schools, teachers, community organisations, social enterprises and many, many partner organisations and fantastic people.

“I have also enjoyed having the support of so many colleagues in our local authorities and other public bodies, some no longer with us, who have contributed enormously to the responsibility agenda over many years.”

Darlaston is also a governor at Stourbridge College of Further Education.