Business Leaders Forum

The Business Leaders Forum was formally established in January 2009.  The establishment of the Forum built on the existing informal arrangements of the private sector coming together to discuss areas of common interest.

Members of the Business Leaders Forum are:

Mike Damms, Chief Executive - East Lancs Chamber of Commerce and Chair of Pennine Lancs Employment and Skills Board

John Getty, Chairman - PDS Group and president of East Lancs Chamber of Commerce

Stephen Greenhalgh, Joint Managing Director - JJO Plc

Boyd Hargreaves, Managing Director - Oswaldtwistle Mills

Brian Hobbs, Owner - Trinity Finance Group

Dennis Mendoros, Managing Director - Euravia Engineering and Chair of Regenerate Pennine Lancashire Board  

Mike Murray, Managing Director - MTM Associates and Chair of Community Business Partners

Peter Neill, Managing Director - Groundwork Pennine Lancs

Rupert Swarbrick, Chairman and Director of Longridge Social Enterprise Company

BAE Systems

The forum performs a key role as part of the wider governance structures across Pennine Lancashire.  Members of the Forum are drawn from the respective Local Strategic Partnerships in each local authority area and the Chair of the Business Leaders Forum is also the Chair of the Pennine Lancashire Employment and Skills Board. This approach allows us to embed business leaders in existing local authority structures and has ensured that local businesses play a crucial role in shaping and influencing our approach to economic growth and stability. 

The private sector plays a prominent role on the Pennine Lancashire Employment and Skills Board alongside local authorities, education and skills providers and third sector partners.   The aim of the board is to ensure we have a responsive skills system to support our local business base and stimulate long term sustainable economic growth.  

The Business Leaders Forum meet regularly to discuss key issues including: economic development, transport, digital connectivity, skills and housing.  An annual Strategic Employers Forum is also held, inviting a cross section of local businesses together to discuss common issues, barriers to growth, the role of the public sector to aide private sector development and updates on progress of key strategies. 

The chief executive of East Lancs Chamber of Commerce also represents the private sector on the PLACE (Pennine Lancashire) chief executives groups and the PLACE Joint Committee.