Top directors' vital statistics
14th September is ‘The Night’ for the North West business community. The City of Manchester Stadium will host over 600 guests for the Institute of Directors North West Director of the Year Awards 2006 with headline sponsor Yorkshire Bank. Like most glamorous occasions, the IoD awards contain some vital statistics, this time from stars of the business world; award nominees from across the North West.
19% of the business stars are female, 50% have 50 or less employees in their organisation, 32% have a turnover of between £1m and £5m. Over 40% are managing directors with an average age of 41; all between 27 and 60.
When asked about the challenges facing directors today, the most common challenge was seen as company growth. The next biggest challenge was recruiting the right people. These two top challenges were the same as last year.
Having the right workforce, followed by customer relations, and then the organisations brand and reputation were judged to be the most significant factors effecting company success.
The majority of future plans for the next two years for directors were, unsurprisingly, for growth, in turnover and/or staffing levels. Over 55% were looking at acquisition as a route to do this. 15% (20% last year) were looking at becoming serial entrepreneurs; starting up new businesses.
57% (60% last year) have a social responsibility strategy, 68% a flexible working hours policy and 30% have Investors in People accreditation.
A quarter of directors located where they were because of affordable property, with only 18% (15% last year) citing access to skilled labour as important. However once in business, this issue of skilled labour moves up the agenda. 37% (33% last year), still the largest percentage, were unable to recruit the skilled labour they need and this was limiting their growth.
Laura Wolfe, Regional Director of the IoD in the North West; “The awards aim to showcase directors who are making a difference within their respective industries and to highlight best practice from which we can all learn. My thanks to our Award Consultant, Armstrong Craven for helping to compile this information. Their experience, knowledge and access to information made them ideally placed to assist the judging panel in their analysis and discussions regarding the Awards nominations. I would also like to thank Yorkshire Bank for their vision and strong support. Every one of the nominees are winners in their own right and their experiences and views are very important. Each has achieved so much. This survey shows that business is very much alive and doing well in the North West.”
Brian Colquhoun, regional director at Yorkshire Bank, added:
“We’re delighted to be sponsoring the IoD North West Director of the Year Awards for the third year running. This provides a great opportunity for staff and businesses across the region to showcase their achievements and receive the recognition they so richly deserve. We are honoured to be part of the driving force behind this excellent initiative.”
Broadcaster Fiona Bruce will be there to help present the awards.
Headline Sponsor is Yorkshire Bank, for the third year running, with event partners Armstrong Craven, Betesh Fox, the City of Manchester Stadium, Daimler Chrysler Fleet Management, Mercedes-Benz, the Northwest Regional Development Agency, UKTI and VLM.
Ends – 539 words Notes to editors The award categories are Director of the Year and Young Director of the Year (under 40) for each of the IoD Branch areas of Cheshire, Cumbria, Lancashire, Liverpool and Manchester. There is also an overall IoD North West Director of the Year and the Chairman’s Special Award for Services to North West Business. New, special awards this year are The Rising Star Award (under 20) sponsored by VLM and the International Business Director of the Year Award in association with UKTI.
The Judging Panel: - Chaired by Ann Jordan – Chair, IoD North West. - Professor Cary Cooper CBE – Pro Vice Chancellor (External Relations), Professor of Organisational Psychology and Health, Lancaster University. - Jane Davies – Chief Executive, Manchester Science Park Ltd. - Bill Docherty – Founder, Persuasion. - Steve Purdham – CEO, SurfControl Plc. Winner of the IoD North West Director of the Year Award 2004. - Sudarghara Dusanj, Joint Managing Director of Cains Brewery, Liverpool. - Mark Fuller, Chief Executive of Merseyside Special Investment Fund (MSIF). - Edwin Booth, Chairman of E H Booth and Co Ltd. Winner of the IoD’s North West Director of the Year Award 2005. - Sue Craven, Chief Executive, Armstrong Craven – Awards Consultant.
Photo Available (300 dpi+) from www.marketingprojects.co.uk/news.asp?clientid=5 Caption: The overall award for North West Director of the Year 2005 went to Edwin Booth, Chairman of E H Booth and Co Ltd., seen here receiving his award from broadcaster, John Humphrys.
Armstrong Craven was established in 1990 to provide independent Executive Research services to clients on an international basis, a cost-effective, proactive method of resourcing for boardroom, senior and middle management roles. As a result of continued growth and development, the company is now Europe’s leading Executive Research, Knowledge & Information and Career Transition services company with a global client base and offices in Manchester and London. Armstrong Craven’s IT department worked with the IoD on the Director of the Year awards to create a bespoke web site to allow on line nominations, booking facilities and also to provide general information about the awards dinner. More information at www.armstrongcraven.com
Yorkshire Bank, part of the National Australia Bank Group, combines global strength with the local service of a well established regional bank. It was founded in 1859 in Halifax, West Yorkshire. Today, the Bank has more than 230 branches, a strong personal customer base and a growing business capability in the North of England and the Midlands. Yorkshire Bank’s innovative Financial Solutions Centres (FSCs) were launched across the UK in 2005, offering customers a highly integrated business and private banking service. Yorkshire Bank is a trading name of Clydesdale Bank PLC. More information at www.yorkshirebank.co.uk
The Institute of Directors is a non-political independent organisation with 55,000 members. In addition to its wide range of business services, the IoD provides an effective voice to represent the interests of its members to government and key opinion-formers. It also brings the experience of business leaders to bear on the conduct of public affairs. More information at www.iod.com/northwest
Contact Points: Jane Harrad-Roberts, North West IoD Press Officer Mobile and out of hours: 07785 395705 Email: jane@marketingprojects.co.uk
Laura Wolfe, Regional Director North West Tel. 0161 209 3152 Mobile and out of hours: 07973 332564 Email. laura.wolfe@iod.com Web. www.iod.com/northwest
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