The CBI North West is announcing today (September 30) that George Beveridge, the Chief Business Officer and Deputy Managing Director of Sellafield Ltd, has been appointed its new Chairman.
CBI North West Director Damian Waters confirmed the appointment of Mr Beveridge as Chairman at a Regional Council meeting, hosted by Bentley Motors.
Mr Beveridge will formally take over the role from Steve Corcoran, the Chief Executive of Newton le Willows based plant hire group Speedy Hire, in February 2014 and will serve for two years.
Mr Waters said: “I am delighted that George is taking on this key role. He brings formidable experience and expertise of the nuclear sector which is so vital to the regional economy. Moreover, his knowledge of business will be essential in ensuring the concerns and interests of regional businesses are heard and communicated with power and clarity. George’s appointment forms a key part of the CBI North West’s strategy to strengthen our offering to members and attract new members.”
Mr Beveridge said he is delighted to be appointed to the role.
“This is an exciting time for the CBI North West,” he said. “I believe strongly that as a community we must do all in our power to support a vital, vibrant and ambitious business sector. Private businesses underpin Britain and our ability to create jobs and wealth and the taxes to run our public services. I want to see North West businesses recognised by the highest levels of Government. We want to see Government understand the challenges facing key sectors such as engineering, manufacturing, energy, nuclear, education and the creative industries. And we want to see Whitehall act and encourage investment from the UK and overseas in the region. We have great assets here including a strong skills base, excellent education provision, terrific transport links, lower office and staff costs than the South East and an outstanding quality of life. The North West has a critical part to play in the economic recovery and our voice must be heard.”
Mr Beveridge’s key roles will include chairing regional meetings, speaking for and promoting the CBI across the region, securing understanding and support for CBI policies, and ensuring that the needs of North West businesses, and the views of members, are properly represented.
BIOGRAPHY
George Beveridge has spent 28 years in a variety of roles in the UK nuclear industry, including two previous spells at Sellafield. His experience includes plant and project management, R&D, and business management as well as general management of several businesses, including major inter-national joint ventures. George has been involved at Sellafield, Capenhurst, Reactor Sites, Aldermaston and Nirex during his career and has a broad knowledge of the whole UK nuclear sector. He has also played a part in the socio-economic development of the areas in which he has worked, which included being a founding Director of the Cumbria Inward Investment Agency as well as the current Chairman of the Cumbria Local Enterprise Partnership. George has lived in West Cumbria for over 25 years and enjoys walking and mountain biking in his spare time.