In the latest episode of Berwick Partners' and Odgers Berndtson's Leadership Series, Alka Gandhi, Head of Retail in our Retail, Consumer & Leisure Practice was delighted to speak with Sarah Findlater, Group HR Director at Marks and Spencer about their new flexible working offering – Worklife. Sarah shares her insight and learnings on launching this.

Ross and Berwick Partners’ Principal Consultant, Tom Ewen discuss Ross’ career to date, as well as the motivations which have driven him throughout his career. He also reflects on how leading LEEA and working with the LEEA team has had a meaningful impact on the lives of thousands of people across the world.

The release of this podcast coincides with the first day the LiftEx Conference in Liverpool which starts on 21st November 2023 as well as the launch of a campaign to recruit three new members of the LEEA Executive Leadership Team.

Berwick Partners are supporting LEEA to recruit a Director of Membership, Director of Compliance and Director of Academy. Ross discusses what he is aiming to accomplish with these three appointments in this podcast.

For more information on these three appointments including access to the full job descriptions please visit:

Director of Membership: www.berwickpartners.co.uk/90226

Director of Academy: www.berwickpartners.co.uk/90229

Director of Compliance: www.berwickpartners.co.uk/90228

Ross has a PhD in Politics and Economics from University of Birmingham and has a varied career dedicated to the improvement of skills and knowledge in a variety of professions and industries. He firmly believes that if you can improve skills, it has an impact on the success of UK and international economies. He first became Chief Executive of Skills for Logistics in 2013 and has led organisations since that point. Ross has been leading LEEA since 2017 and has been an advocate and enabler to the LEEA members

improving standards, accessing routes to commercial success and by working

towards their shared goal of eliminating accidents, injury and fatalities in

the sector.  

For an informal conversation about the Director of Membership, Director of Academy and Director of Compliance roles, please email Tom Ewen on thomas.ewen@berwickpartners.co.uk

Announced in the 2021 budget, Freeports are a core component of the UK government’s economic plans, aimed at creating jobs, becoming hubs of innovation, and increasing international trade. Designed to play a central role in the regional levelling up agenda, regions with Freeport status will benefit from tax reliefs, simplified customs procedures, and streamlined planning processes to enable and promote regeneration and innovation.

The Freeport being established within the Solent Region, will not only be one of the largest, but also one of the most ambitions, with plans to create tens of thousands of new jobs and play a major role in levelling up coastal communities.

The Solent Freeport is Chaired by Brian Johnson, highly regarded within the regions business community Brian was appointed back in the Spring. Marek was delighted when Brian offered to discuss the place shaping role he sees Freeports playing in the UK’s economic development, and in particular, the impact on the Solent.

Council, an iconic city immediately recognisable to many people, but one that

not very many people will truly understand the nature of. Appointed in 2019

Tom’s career to date is a fascinating one, that has seen him work in place

shaping roles across the public and private sectors, with both national remits

and in location defined roles.

Three years on from his appointment, and a global pandemic

later our Partner and lead for Regeneration, Place and Partnerships Marek

Dobrowolski caught up with Tom to find out more about the impact of COVID 19 on

Oxford and what the future holds for Oxford. They discussed what levelling up

means for a city such as Oxford, the challenges the city faces around

affordable housing, planning, infrastructure and sustainability and how to

retain a competitive edge in an increasingly competitive world.

Finally they touched on Tom’s own career, what moving

between sectors has taught and skills and experience it has provided him with

and where they will meet for a coffee in 3 years time.