Our Board

Ian Hayhoe

Chair

Director of Partner and Specialist Services, VMO2

Ian is a Director, Non-Executive Director and Chairman who is experienced in driving revenue growth, customer experience excellence, digital transformation and large commercial contracts across multiple sectors. Ian has worked in the Sales, Marketing and Customer Service sector for over 25 years and held senior positions within some of the largest brands in the UK (Marks & Spencer, First Direct, Standard Life and Littlewoods Pools). Currently Ian is working for VMO2 as the Director of Partnerships and Specialist services driving programmes to transform both revenue growth and customer experience across the brand portfolio. Ian also works in the social housing and property sector as a Non-Executive Director for Halton Housing Group and as Chair of the Open Solutions UK, alongside his own Consultancy and Mentoring business – Mejora Consulting Ltd.

Stephen Nickson

1st Vice Chair

Managing Director, DATS

Robin Tudor

Vice Chair

Head of PR & Communications, Liverpool John Lennon Airport

Bill Lamb

Treasurer

Mike Fry

Board Member

Director, Halton Insurance Services

Sauren Ghosh

Board Member

Utility Warehouse

Lynn Pegler

Board Member

Owner, Pegler Communications

Richard Bamber

Board Member

Owner, Anthony's Travel

Paul Woods

Board Member

Proactive Despatch

Michelle McCann

Board Member

Head of People & Talent, Econic Technologies Ltd

Sarah Hall

Board Member

INEOS Inovyn

Joining the Chamber Board

The Chamber’s Board of Directors is comprised of both private sector and public sector representatives, working together to provide strategic direction and oversee governance of the Chamber’s activities in the delivery of the Chamber's vision:

Halton Chamber Vision

To be the champion of business, enterprise and third sector organisations in the Halton Borough
To continually strive to promote the economic wellbeing of the area, providing relevant services and trusted advice, guidance and support to our members and the wider business community
To represent their interests through a united “Voice” to influence the development of the local economic agenda

The Chamber delivers a diverse range of support on behalf of our Members, representing your views, lobbying on your behalf and delivering business support and training services. Board Members play a key role in ensuring these services are the ones which will best support the local economy and meet the needs of local businesses and the local workforce. Our current Board Members bring a wide range of skills and experience to the Board and represent both large and smaller companies within the Borough.

The composition of our Board, and the key roles Board Members play in strategic planning, ensures that our strategy is focuses on the needs of Halton, its businesses and people. The Board is private sector led and also benefits from representation from the public sector.

The Chamber Board meets every two months with their specific duties including: -

Regular reviews of the strategic direction of the organisation.
Approval of the vision as a key part of the Strategic Plan. Achieving the vision would significantly improve the economy in which they operate, and our Board and Members therefore see the wider benefits of our work.
Approval of the organisation’s annual budget and reviews of financial and operational performance.
Ensuring that the Chamber acts within the law and within our Articles of Association.

Board Sub Groups enable Board Members to work more closely, where appropriate, with the CEO and Management Team to ensure the Chamber’s activities meet local needs. Board Members are invited to join Board Sub Groups according to their skills and interests. Sub Groups generally meet either bi-monthly or quarterly.

Board Members regularly attend Chamber events and support activities such as new business mentoring and work experience.

Members of the Chamber are welcome to contact us to express an interest in joining the Board.

Chamber Members may nominate themselves if they are:-

a senior person at local level of a private sector Member;
a private sector Member who is a sole trader; or
one of the partners of a private sector Member who is a partnership.

Every nomination will be considered by the Chair and Executive Board.

Directors are appointed for an initial term of three years. After three years they can nominate themselves for re-election for another term of three years.

All new Board Members undergo a DBS check and are provided with an induction by the Chief Executive and the Chair so that they understand their responsibilities and duties as Directors, and gain an overview of the activities and services of the Chamber.

Any Member who wishes to nominate themselves to become a Director of the Chamber should contact Rachael Owen on 07917171750 / email rachael.owen@haltonchamber.co.uk
or post to

7th Floor, Municipal Building, Kingsway, Widnes. Cheshire. WA7 8QT

'Although NP Projects are a new member of Halton chamber, we are already experiencing significant benefits from our membership. First Tues breakfast networking event is well attended, we have already received and generated leads from meeting other chamber members at this venue. More importantly are the contacts we have made within the chamber and the buzz membership has created'.

Managed IT services and solutions, Brian Cosgrove (Director)