Member Article

IoD appoints trio of Ambassadors in Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire

The Institute of Directors has appointed a trio of Ambassadors to its Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire team.

Peter Wingrove joins as Mental Health and Wellbeing Ambassador, while Paul Eeles comes on board as Skills and Education Ambassador and Sam Kirk takes the role of Young Directors Ambassador.

Peter is chief executive of Newark-based charity Shawmind, which provides mental health education and support to communities, schools and workplaces across the UK.

Having experienced mental health issues within his family, Peter has a deep understanding of how debilitating this can be if left untreated and is a staunch advocate for early intervention.

Paul Eeles is chief executive of the Nottingham-based Skills and Education Group. He has more than three decades’ experience in the post-16 skills sector and set up an independent apprenticeship training provider business.

He has been on the senior teams of all key membership bodies across the further education and skills sector, representing apprenticeship providers and colleges, government and its agencies.

Sam Kirk is managing director of J-Flex, a family business supplying innovative rubber solutions to the international food and drink, pharmaceutical, renewable energy, marine, rail and automotive industries.

Since his appointment in 2018, Sam has developed a new vision and strategic plan for the Retford-based business, recruited and built a senior leadership team and earned recognition at the IoD Director of the Year and Midlands Family Business Awards.

The IoD is the UK’s number one organisation for directors, providing support, events, professional development and a lobbying voice for all types of business. The Institute helped to secure vital support for directors during the Covid-19 pandemic, including financial assistance for wage bills and changes to insolvency rules.

Natalie Gasson-McKinley, IoD Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire Branch Chair, said: “2020 has been a year of uncertainty and change. Covid-19 has demonstrated why businesses, their directors and employees need strong representation at all levels of economic decision-making.

“We need to hear the experiences of businesses in the region so that we can feedback their challenges and successes - our Ambassador network makes this possible.

“As new branch chair, building a strong, experienced and well networked committee is a huge priority for me. I’m looking forward to working with Peter, Paul and Sam to shape a compelling agenda that supports our members and takes local IoD engagement to new heights.”

The IoD is recruiting for two further roles within its Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire team - Diversity and Inclusion Ambassador and PR and Communications Ambassador.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Richard Abbott .