12 business and community leaders from the North West are being celebrated amongst 100 Faces inspiring leadership, innovation, and helping their communities across the UK.
The list of 100 Faces of a Vibrant Economy is composed of individuals representing cities, communities and corporations across the UK.
In the North West a dozen business leaders, including entrepreneurs Asif Hamid, James Timpson, Tracy Mort and Scott Fletcher have been selected by an independent panel of judges.
The public sector faces include Sir David Dalton, chief executive of Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust, Professor Janet Hemingway of the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine and Steven Pleasant, chief executive of Tameside Council.
The list has been curated as part of Grant Thornton’s purpose to shape a vibrant economy, and unlock the shared potential of the nation by working together with government, businesses and communities.
Featuring leading figures from all areas of business and civic life the list showcases individuals who were proven to deliver against one or more of three categories:
•Inspiring leadership – those individuals that have developed a culture that empowers, develops and motivates their people
•Innovation – individuals who are solving problems in an innovative way, or creating new ways and models of doing things
•Social purpose – people who are making a positive contribution to the wider local or national community
The inspiring dozen from the North West are:
Asif Hamid, The Contact Company – since founding Birkenhead-based The Contact Company (TCC) in 2006, he has redefined standards of customer service for his clients, allowing them to outsource their customer service requirements. Starting with 15 staff, the company now employs more than 1,500 people and is one of the most significant employers in the Wirral with a turnover of £20 million.
David Pollock, Chess – culture is key for award-winning entrepreneur David, who leads acquisitive Alderley Edge-based Chess. He meets all new employees personally, explaining the working culture, and holds a CEO lunch every month for any employee to discuss issues within the business. Happiness training is another signature move Chess uses to ensure their employees visualise winning as a daily occurrence.
James Timpson OBE, Timpson Group – since taking the reins of the Manchester-based family retail group James has pioneered his father John’s an ‘upside down’ approach to management, encouraged innovation, empowered employees and developed a programme that selects, trains and mentors candidates from prison towards a role at the company. The group also founded a charity, After Adoption, and continues to support a range of good causes while expanding the business into new areas such as smartphone repair.
Professor Janet Hemingway CBE, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine – Prof Hemingway has dedicated her life to fighting tropical disease. She believes that “business is inherently part of society… if it is not sound, ethical and well-run it will not achieve its goals”. For her, the biggest day-to-day challenge can often be keeping that “family feel” of trust and respect in a team now composed of 600 people worldwide.
Joëlle Warren MBE DL, Warren Partners – Joelle has built a leading executive search firm around the belief that you can succeed in business without losing in life. Warren Partners core values are about adopting an ethical approach and treating others as you want to be treated. The Cheshire company donates a percentage of its profits to charity, undertakes pro bono work for charitable organisations, and provides office space for the local Community Foundation
Kate Hardcastle, Insight with Passion – Insight with Passion (IWP), offers a range of services to transform and rejuvenate businesses. It has grown year-on-year since founding, running offices in Warrington and Leeds and dedicates 20% of its time to local community and charity projects through its Access for All scheme. Kate has set up two charities too, Dreamgirls in 2009 and Positive Image in 2015.
Maggie O’Carroll, The Women’s Organisation – founded in 1996, Liverpool-based The Women’s Organisation is an award-winning social enterprise that it is the largest dedicated Women’s Business Support Charity and Social Business in the UK. Maggie is actively involved with female economic development policy, influencing on an international, national and regional basis and is proud to “lead an organisation that has helped more than 50,000 women to progress into business, employment, further education and training”.
Matt Turner, Tastecard – in 2006, Matt and his business partner, Jamie Milner, founded tastecard. A tastecard entitles holders to 50% off their total meal, among other deals, at participating restaurants. Based in Manchester and Huddersfield it is now the UK’s largest diners’ club, with more than 7,000 participating restaurants and more than three million members. Over the last four years, tastecard has supported Mary’s Meals in its mission to set up worldwide school feeding projects in some of the world’s poorest communities.
Scott Fletcher MBE, ANS Group – for Fletcher, youth was no barrier to success. Founder of the Manchester Science Park-based ANS Group at just 22 years old, he has developed the business into one of the UK’s leading managed services and cloud providers with a turnover of £60m. He ensures that his business plays a wider role in local society, focusing particularly on younger members of the community. Youth employment and training are causes particularly close to his heart.
Sir David Dalton, Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust – as CEO of Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust, Sir David leads one of only three Trusts with an Outstanding rating from the Clinical Quality Commission. For Sir David, a vibrant economy will be one in which the best of the public and private sectors come together.
Steven Pleasant MBE, Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council – as chief executive at Tameside Metropolitan Borough Council, Steven leads a council that has come out strongly in favour of welcoming refugees, cross-sector cooperation and cracking down on irresponsible financial practices. Initiatives he has overseen include the “Vision Tameside” scheme, a partnership between the council and Tameside College that aims to bring greater economic prosperity and transform learning and skills outcomes by redeveloping the area.
Tracy Mort MBE, Grace Cole – Tracy Mort founded beauty and cosmetics company Grace Cole because she was determined to do things differently. She has re-shored manufacturing back to this country Grace Cole now sells bath, body and beauty products in more than 80 countries. Her ambitions for the company are global: she wants Cheadle-based Grace Cole to become a household brand, sold in every country, and has aggressive plans to triple business over the course of the next five years with ambitions to float one day.
Carl Williams, North West managing partner at Grant Thornton said: “Earlier this year we set out a clear purpose to shape a vibrant economy, and we know that no one organisation or individual can do this alone. Following the result of the EU referendum it is even more important than ever that we all work together to help the UK to build upon its strengths and ensure that our economy continues to grow.
“Today we’re celebrating the achievements of these 12 Faces driving a vibrant economy and sharing their stories to inspire others. Some are inspiring leaders, empowering their employees to reach their full potential. Others are using innovation to help their local communities, and some have created businesses with a clear, social purpose.
“We are connecting and convening these inspirational figures to help us unlock the true potential of the North West. Instead of seeking out the challenges, and focusing on the problems, we believe that by sharing inspiring examples from businesses, government and communities, we can look at how to replicate these across the UK for the good of the economy, and the communities in which we live and serve.”