David Parkin on the IoD, public v private and being snide
SO farewell then Suzy Brain England, erstwhile representative of the venerable Institute of Directors in Yorkshire.
She has stepped down from the role of regional director of the organisation after just six months and just over a year since she became its regional chair.
I was critical of her background when she took the regional chair role last year.
And then when she became regional director last August I voiced my concerns that the IoD had lost its role as a representative of business leaders in the region and was focused more on providing professional development courses.
I had a coffee with Suzy soon after and we agreed to disagree on her background and CV but I said I would give her the chance to prove herself in the role before engaging in any further criticism.
That was the last I heard of her until this week’s announcement that she had stepped down from the IoD and Sheffield manufacturing leader Peter Holmes has been appointed as its regional chairman.
Apparently Suzy is “going back to her three non-executive director roles and focussing on the IoD chartered development programme”.
So who is going to replace her?
Apparently the Yorkshire IoD has appointed Bernadette Cronin as interim regional director. She is a self-employed consultant with a focus on training and skills development and is a previous skills director at Avanta.
Oh dear, here we go again.
:::
THERE was a time when business and local authorities were about as far apart as you could get.
They both talked different languages and appeared to believe that the only reason for the other to exist was to cause problems.
Fortunately that’s changed somewhat in recent years, but you still see plenty of situations where councils and companies are at loggerheads.
But I’ve seen several examples recently where councils are starting to really engage with businesses, and I hope that’s a trend we’re going to see increasing.
This week I was at the launch of a new superfast broadband programme by Leeds and Bradford councils where they have secured £10m of government money to help fund SMEs to get better connected and faster internet connections.
The leader of Bradford Council, David Green, gave a short, engaging and humorous introduction to the event and clearly understood the value of successful business to his city, district and the region as a whole.
And then Barnsley is actually asking businesses to tell it what they need to make it the ‘go to’ place to locate or relocate your company.
It already has plenty to offer, in terms of transport connections and infrastructure, a population with a strong work ethic and leisure attractions and cultural assets that include some real hidden gems.
Tell Barnsley what you think here.
:::
LAST week’s comments about my indifference to the Winter Olympics and the jingoistic commentary from some on the BBC prompted plenty of reaction.
The reader in question, a Sam Grimwood, also suggested that I keep my comments out of this media in future and told me to stick to Twitter.
If I can’t be snide and rant inanely on my own website then where can I do it?
A quick Google informs me that Mr Grimwood works in waste management.
If he specialises in rubbish, then he’s found the right place to read it here.
Somewhat ironically I was followed on Twitter on the same day by the Campaign for Decency – an organisation looking to bring about more common decency in the UK.
I can’t yet work out whether they see me as an excellent proponent of what they want to achieve, or if they are just monitoring me as a dangerous enemy.
Have a great weekend.
