The KGA Trustees

Ian Brierley : Joint MD John L. Brierley Ltd

Ian studied Textile Engineering at Leeds University and then joined the family business eventually becoming MD of John L Brierley Ltd and Chair of SCM Turbomotive. Ian is now mainly involved in the day-to-day running of the textile side of the business.

For many years Ian was a member of the Junior Chamber of Commerce, being president of Kirklees in 1992 and chairman of the Yorkshire region in 2002.

Ian is also involved with the Central Youth Club where he Chairs the management committee and is a member of the Kirklees Community Foundation Steering Group.

Peter Rowe : MD New Directions Skills College

Peter is one of the founders and currently the MD of New Directions Skills College. New Directions grew out of a desire by four master craftsmen to give disengaged young people, whom they regularly met in their daily work on site, aspiration and ambition. With their own money and a passion, they forged an idea through many late night meetings in Peter´s front room. The team found a suitable premises and personally restructured and refurbished it to a very high standard. That building on Lincoln Street, which has become a hive of activity for young people excluded from mainstream education, is still part financially supported by the Directors. The sheer dedication and personal sacrifice of the New Directions team is a credit to Kirklees and a living example of meaningful CSR in action.

The KGA Advisers

Ramsdens Solicitors

With its principal office in Edgerton and seven branch offices in Huddersfield, Halifax, Holmfirth, Slaithwaite, Elland, Dewsbury and Mirfield, Ramsdens is perfectly placed to build on its 140 years heritage in the area.With 150 staff, working in 12 different practice areas, across 8 offices, with solicitors and support staff fluent in 4 languages, Ramsdens offers the full spectrum of legal services to organisations and to the individual.

Danny Matharu, Managing Director, Hillrich

Danny is a local entrepreneur who has successfully organised and managed seminars and major events across West Yorkshire. Sheer determination and perseverance has established Hillrich as a leading firm supporting SMEs particularly in Kirklees with events such as the Kirklees Business Conference and more recently the regualr Kirklees Business Summits. Danny also raises money for charity through his own efforts and his natural interest in supporting our local communities has led to Danny joining and promoting the KGA as a Board Adviser.

Revell Ward LLP, Accountants & Auditors

Revell Ward appreciates everyone and acknowledges that every business is different.

Services are tailored specifically for the SME market to coach business owners on how to add real value to their businesses and their personal lives. As a socially responsible firm, Revell Ward are committed to supporting community ventures and helping businesses in the area to get involved.

On behalf of Revell Ward Partner Karen Borowski has been directly involved as a key adviser to the KGA Board since inception pro-actively shaping and motivating the KGA in its endeavours.

To find out more about Revell Ward, visit www.revellward.co.uk

Royal Bank of Scotland

Corporate responsibility is central to the way RBS run and manage their business and it is delivered, on an ongoing basis, by all the people that work for them, through all of the decisions that they make every day.

On behalf of RBS in Kirklees, Andy Lowther, Director of Commercial for mid-Yorkshire who with his team supports businesses in Huddersfield, Dewsbury, Batley and Wakefield, has advised and supported the KGA Board since inception.

Andy joined NatWest from sixth form college at the age of 18. His career has spanned posts mainly in Commercial across the North East of England managing the Bank's relationships with global companies as well as smaller businesses.

Susan Hinchcliffe, Regneration & Partnerships Manager, Business in the Community

Business in the Community (BiTC) is a unique movement in the UK of 800+ member companies. Its purpose is to inspire, engage, support and challenge business in continually improving its impact in the community, environment, marketplace and workplace.

As an adviser to the KGA, Susan is able to give a UK perspective particularly from her work leading BiTC's national Partnership Academy & Business Brokers programme which aims to increase the strategic impact and scale of business support for regeneration and neighbourhood renewal.