Andy Bestwick – Chairman – has a strong track-record as a business leader. As Managing Director of Gardman Ltd, he successfully oversaw the phenomenal growth from a turnover of £6m in 1997 to a Private Equity backed sale of £80m in December 2007. He now runs his own Management Consultancy business and has a portfolio of clients ranging from PLC to small private businesses.
Being born and raised in Nottingham and a season ticket holder at his beloved Nottingham Forest, Andy is keen to help and support this initiative to help to fulfil the lives of those who need it most. His drive, commitment and business acumen will be invaluable to our team, as we plot our growth over the coming years. As Chairman, Andy is responsible for chairing meetings, contributing to strategic development and securing external sponsorship.
Paul Lowe – Managing Director – has over 30 years’ experience within a customer service role as well as being involved in teaching and coaching; this practical focus being underpinned significantly by having achieved a Teaching degree and a Masters degree in Customer Service/ Quality Management; the latter at the highly-respected Nottingham Business School.
From 1999-2003, he worked at the Nottingham Forest Youth Academy’s Education Programme – under the guidance of Paul Hart – and it was here that he was responsible for forming a Registered Charity Trust (SportActs), that raised hundreds of thousands of pounds, over a 5-year period. This relevant experience and know-how – amalgamated to a fierce passion and desire to improve the quality of people’s lives – will undoubtedly be a crucial factor as we collectively unite to empower people within their communities.
Joan Smalley – Company Secretary – taught maths for over 30 years; most of those at Ashfield School in Nottinghamshire. Latterly, she was Assistant Head Teacher with specific responsibility for Community Involvement, during which time she steered the school to become the first in the country to be awarded the ‘Investing in Community Engagement’ award from the Specialist Schools and Academies Trust. She also helped the school to win the Enterprising Britain (East Midlands) award from BIS.
She was also one of the team of staff responsible for the vision and development of the Ashfield Skills Centre where industry and education work together for the benefit of the students. Joan’s main responsibility was to attract the right industrial partners and the necessary funding to make the vision a reality. Over three years, she helped find over £10 million for the Centre. Although now retired, Joan is still very passionate about helping today’s young people achieve their potential.
Les was born in Buxton, Derbyshire and made his professional football debut in 1966 for Rotherham United before leaving in 1967 after making 3 appearances and scoring 1 goal, to join Notts County Football Club. He went on to make over 400 appearances and scored 136 goals for the Club and in doing so became their all-time highest goal-scorer which is a record that he still holds today.
His career spanned over 600 League & Cup games – scoring over 200 goals. Since retiring, Les has been involved in various football-related roles and now looks to use that vast management and leadership experience for the benefit of young people aspiring to reach their potential – particularly within sport.
This expertise is further enhanced by the support of various committed and inspirational Project Managers: . . . (click here)
