Below are the details of the BELP board. 

Our current Chairman is Alex Pratt OBE, Managing Director of Serious Readers, a local manufacturer.

  alex pratt  Alex Pratt OBE - Founder, Serious Readers

Aylesbury based small business owner and social entrepreneur Alex Pratt is very well acquainted with the local, regional and national economic development issues. His business employs 30 people in Aylesbury and manufactures specialist reading lights used on board RNLI Lifeboats and in the Mr and Mrs Cruickshank's lounge in Chichester. Alex is a founding Director and Member of BELP, with a long involvement in skills and business support issues.
 

linda walton      Linda Walton - Vice-Chairman of BELP, Federation of Small Businesses

Linda Walton is a locally based self-employed business person. An active volunteer with the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) for the last six years, she chairs the South Bucks and Aylesbury branch which has over 215,000 members nationally and over 1300 members in Buckinghamshire alone. She is also National Policy Chair for Rural Affairs and Tourism. Linda is current Vice Chair of BELP and also serves on the Appointments and Remuneration Committee as Chair, Business Planning Group and as a Board Member on Bucks Strategic Partnership. 

    guy birkby    Guy Birkby - Independent

With offices in Aylesbury and High Wycombe, Guy Birkby is Director of Commercial Banking for RBS and NatWest in Bucks. Leading a team of 15 BusinessRelationship Managers plus support staff, Guy oversees approximately 750 medium-sized businesses across the County which amounts to 40% market share. Guy is a current Director of BELP.

graeme finch        Graeme Finch - Chair of BELP Audit Committee, MeetMe

Ellesborough based entrepreneur Graham Finch, runs a start-up business in the airport services sector. His experience from shop floor to Board Director Level over 25 years covers manufacturing businesses from power distribution switchgear to photovoltaic and plastic extrusion/injection mouldings in niche customer areas. In 2000, he became CEO for ngage solutions Ltd (Business Link Solutions) actively negotiating and securing publicly funded business support in Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Milton Keynes. Graham was a founder Director and Chairman of the Audit Committee of Skills South East Ltd and a Director of Finance South East Ltd. His vast knowledge of public funding, instigation of performance measures and business support contracts has led to his involvement with various strategic boards. Graham is a current Director of BELP and specifically has the role of Chair of the Audit Committee.

 andrew grant         Andrew Grant - Chief Executive, Aylesbury Vale District Council

Chief Executive of Aylesbury Vale District Council since October 2006, Andrew Grant is well known for his pro-active support economic development and activity in both Aylesbury and County. Formerly Deputy Chief Executive for Cotswold District Council, Andrew is a member of Aylesbury Vale Advantage Executive Management Board and a current Director of BELP.

christina howell        Christina Howell - Head of External Affairs, Chamber of Commerce

Head of External Affairs (Regional, National and European) for Thames Valley Chamber of Commerce, Christina Howell spearheads the highly respected top-tier group "Business Alliance" primarily networking multinational leaders from major organisations in the South East and South West. She is responsible for influencing and delivering a range of projects for public and private sector Chamber members through involvement and representation at National Chambers of Commerce, Regional Development Agencies, Government Offices and Economic Partnerships. Christina is a current Director of BELP and Appointments and Remuneration Committee Member.

susan jones      Susan Jones - Director of Enterprise, Bucks New University

Director of Enterprise at Buckinghamshire New University based in High Wycombe, Susan Jones was previously Director of Learning and Skills Council for Milton Keynes, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire and Thames Valley Enterprise. Activity involved with developing commercial initiatives within the University and encouraging spin-out companies, Susan is an advocate of student entrepreneurship, current Director of BELP and serves as a Member of the Appointments and Remuneration Committee, and Business Planning Group.

karen satterford

 

 

     Karen Satterford - Chief Executive, Wycombe District Council

 

 

pauline odulinski       Pauline Odulinski - Principal, Aylesbury College

Principal and Chief Executive of Aylesbury College since 2000, Pauline Odulinski has vast experience in the education sector throughout the UK. Pauline is a proactive supporter of inclusion and widening participation through the promotion of the Further Education skills agenda and in particular, the new range of diplomas for 16 to 19 year olds and extensive range of training opportunities for open to all. Overseeing the development of Aylesbury College campus and service provision, Pauline is a current Director of BELP and Member of the Audit Committee.

david pritchard       David Pritchard - Company Secretary, BP Collins

Chairman of the Buckinghamshire Branch of the Institute of Directors, David Pritchard graduated from Cambridge University in 1982 and after military service and a spell with Lloyds of London as a Credit and Political Risks Insurance Broker; he qualified as a Solicitor with Simmons and Simmons in London. In 1995, David moved to BP Collins and now specialises in Commercial Litigation issues representing a wide range of clients locally, regionally, nationally and internationally. David is an accredited Mediator and also a Non-Executive Director of a manufacturing company that has been awarded the Queen's Award for Innovation. David is a current Director of BELP, Company Secretary and Member of the Audit Committee.

gill clipson       

 

Gill Clipson - Principal, Amersham & Wycombe College

 

Principal of Amersham and Wycombe College, Gill Clipson has held a number of senior posts previously in education colleges and also at the national office of the Learning and Skills Council. Renowned for delivery of high quality training programmes tailored to private sector business and industry, Gill has also successful lead on leadership development and cultural transformation programmes. Gill is a current Director of BELP and specifically has a role on the Membership Group.

nick rose      Nick Rose - Councillor, Chiltern District Council

Chiltern District Councillor Nick Rose was originally elected in 1999 and re-elected in May 2007 for the Cholesbury, The Lee and Bellingdon Ward. He is now a Cabinet Member for Planning, Sustainable Development and Transport. Nick is also actively involved in local revitalisation groups, Chiltern Conservation Board, Colne Valley National Park, and is a current Director of BELP and a Member of the Membership Group.

martin tett      Martin Tett - Councillor, Buckinghamshire County Council

Buckinghamshire County Councillor Martin Tett has held office since 2005, representing The Chalfonts and Seer Green. A Cabinet Member for Strategic Planning, Martin also serves on Chiltern Local Committee as Chair, and County and Parish Liaison Committee. Martin is actively involved in a number of agencies and partnerships including Aylesbury Vale Advantage, Association of Councils in the Thames Valley, and the Regional Planning Committee of SEEDA. Other interests include Milton Cottage Trust and Colne Valley National Park. Martin is a current Director of BELP and a Member of the Business Planning Group.