Meet business leaders hoping to boost Sandwell’s profile and support firms in the area

It’s a varied group, comprising nine business people that all share one passion; to help make the wheels of commerce turn within Sandwell and boost benefits for the wider community.

Its main objectives are to engage with the business community, supporting it to prosper, and to address the skills gap between school, college and university leavers, and business requirements.

It is headed up by chairman Richard Allen, marketing and business development director at Oldbury-based voestalpine Metsec plc – the UK’s largest specialist cold roll-forming company.

Richard is passionate about operating in Sandwell, saying: “The region has a rich manufacturing history and think it’s important to carry this forward. All the ambassadors share my motivation for promoting Sandwell, its rich heritage and its potential.”

Joining Richard is Tracy Pearce, chief executive at SIPS Education - a not-for-profit company delivering bespoke infrastructure support services to education settings, enabling them to improve educational outcomes for children and young people. Tracy became an Ambassador because she truly believes that working together, they can make Sandwell even more of a thriving hub of business activity.

Dr Alison Knight is the executive director of neighbourhoods at Sandwell Council, which covers a vast range of council services and functions including highways, regeneration and growth, housing and communities and leisure and culture to name a few. Dr Knight joined the ambassadors as she is “dedicated to making Sandwell an exciting place to live, work and visit.”

Mark Evans is a partner of Crowe Clark Whitehill (CCW), a national audit, tax and advisory firm. Mark says that Sandwell is “full of character” and that he is thrilled to be able to help Sandwell grow.

Graham Pennington is the Principal & Chief Executive at Sandwell College. His main aim in joining the Ambassadors is to “raise the profile of the college so that local businesses can see how many talented students Sandwell has to offer.”

Joining them is Alan Taylor, the managing director at MiGlass - a glass processor offering a manufacturing and engineering service for production of flat glass products such as decorative glass and mirrors. “I genuinely think that a business that works in the best possible environment, works best, and I want to help achieve that for businesses in Sandwell.”

John Wood is the director for group corporate services at Liberty Engineering Group – a large industrial group with a heritage in commodities, manufacturing, engineering and finance. John is well placed as an Ambassador, following his belief that “local businesses should engage with and support the development of the community as a location of choice for other businesses.”

Melvin Wingfield is the director at A&M EDM – a precision engineering company that supplies customers in the aerospace, automotive, defence, Formula 1, marine and production automation sectors.

Melvin says: “Sandwell has a talent for self-deprecation! The area is faced with a range of challenges, but I envisage Sandwell being a thriving part of the Greater Birmingham conurbation based on its history, tradition and landscape.”

Next up is Tony Bryan, business development manager at Briggs Amasco, the UK’s leading specialist contractor in the design and implementation of commercial roofing. Tony said: “I enjoy being a part of something that has a strong social history and great potential for the future.”

Finally, Elaine Bruce is the finance manager at H&R ChemPharm, one of the UK’s leading suppliers of speciality oil and wax products. Living locally, Elaine has a keen interest in the future development and potential for jobs: “Increasing the wealth will make the area a more attractive place to live which, in turn will attract candidates as well as providing jobs for those already living here. This will benefit the current working generation, but also the next generation and being a mother of three this is close to my heart.”

For further information on the Sandwell Ambassadors visit www.sandwellbusinessambassadors.co.uk.