East Midlands Chamber team
Diane Beresford
Deputy Chief Executive
Diane Beresford
Deputy Chief Executive
Diane is highly experienced in developing and delivering publicly funded business support programmes across the region. She manages commercial training, employment services and the Chamber’s publicly-funded support portfolio for the D2N2 Growth Hub. As a professional with a long career in the East Midlands, she has a robust understanding of the needs of manufacturing businesses and how the Chamber can tailor its business support accordingly.
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Vicki Thompson
Head of Leadership & Training programmes
Vicki Thompson
Head of Leadership & Training programmes
As the Chamber’s Head of Leadership and Training Programmes, Vicki is well-versed in matching individuals and businesses with the skills and resources they need to flourish. Vicki has been involved in the facilitation and management of the East Midlands Manufacturing Network since its inception in 2021, working closely with the Chair and Vice Chairs to help shape support for the region’s manufacturers.
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Debbie Rogers
East Midlands Manufacturing Network Adviser
Debbie Rogers
East Midlands Manufacturing Network Adviser
Debbie is a marketing and business development professional and worked exclusively in the manufacturing sector, until transitioning into regional business support in 2021. A CIM Chartered Marketer, she has worked for SME and multinational manufacturers across a broad range of sub sectors, including engineering, print and packaging, construction and chemical products, for both domestic and international markets. She is passionate about manufacturing and dedicated to supporting manufacturers across the region in achieving their growth goals.
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Cham S Kang
Facilitation Partner
Cham S Kang
Facilitation Partner
Cham is CVO at Qinesis – The Business Growth Company. He is also Commercial Director at Entekno, Director at East Midlands Chamber, Director at TMLA, Director at Structural Fabrications, and Board Member at Treetops Hospice. Qinesis is a management, business and marketing consultancy. It supports the growth of science, technology, engineering and manufacturing companies globally.
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Blu Hardy
Generation Next Ambassador for Manufacturing
Blu Hardy
Generation Next Ambassador for Manufacturing
Blu successfully manages the marketing department at leading signage manufacturer Hardy Signs Ltd, based in Burton-upon-Trent. Through Generation Next – The Chamber’s network that supports and celebrates young people in business, Blu is an advocate and ambassador for manufacturing and encouraging women in STEM sectors. She regularly visits schools and promotes the network at events across the Midlands.
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Preethi Kang
Generation Next Board Member representing Manufacturing
Preethi Kang
Generation Next Board Member representing Manufacturing
Preethi is a business, marketing & sales professional with 10 years’ experience working in engineering, manufacturing, chemicals, pharmaceuticals & cosmetics markets with multinationals & SMEs. She works hard to develop her skills & is always looking to improve. She has completed her CIM qualification & is currently in her final year of an MBA. With her confidence, enthusiasm & willingness to tackle any task & learn from it, she is continuously working on developing her customer service skills & knowledge. Her passions lie within business development & marketing strategy as well as cultivating positive customer relationships for STEM businesses to enhance company performance & facilitate growth. Preethi is the Generation Next Ambassador for Manufacturing, an initiative established by the East Midlands Chamber.
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Mark Goldby
East Midlands Manufacturing Network Chair
Mark Goldby
East Midlands Manufacturing Network Chair
Mark has over 30 years of manufacturing & leadership experience in the High-Tech Electronics industry, initially with corporate giants GEC Plessey & Siemens & until March 2019 as co-founder/owner of SMS Electronics – a successful, Hi-Tech manufacturing company & prestigious Queens Award for Enterprise winner in 2012. Mark is passionate about UK PLC, Innovation & Exporting, and provides specialist consultancy drawing upon his sectorial & international trade expertise.
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Ian Greenaway
Vice Chair (Derbyshire)
Ian Greenaway
Vice Chair (Derbyshire)
Ian is former Managing Director of MTM Products (I.S.P.P.) Limited, a Chesterfield company manufacturing self-adhesive labels, metal nameplates, vinyl cut decals and graphics products. Ian is a Chartered Engineer, Member of the Institution of Engineering & Technology (IET), Chartered Manager and a Fellow of the Chartered Management Institute and has worked in the manufacturing industry since graduating from Nottingham University in 1970. He is a past President of East Midlands Chamber.
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Martin Horsman
Vice Chair (Derby)
Martin Horsman
Vice Chair (Derby)
Martin’s early experience was in a small textiles manufacturing business, first in sales, then as factory manager and in the rail industry as planner & deputy production manager with a leading role in a pioneering approach to rolling stock design & build. This paved the way for a global role as Manufacturing Systems Director, rolling out this model across Bombardier’s sites worldwide and later as Managing Director of two UK subsidiaries of Deutsche Bahn. Martin started consulting in 2016 in the rail industry and beyond.
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Sandra Wiggins
Vice Chair (Leicestershire)
Sandra Wiggins
Vice Chair (Leicestershire)
Sandra is co-founder of DPI UK Ltd, an SME manufacturer of interior soft signage display frames and lightboxes. In 2019, Sandra offered her insight and knowledge to an article published in the parliamentary review on Good Business Practice. She was Finalist for the Chamber’s Enterprising Women Awards 2021, in the category of Business Woman of the Year. DPI were also finalists in the Chamber’s Business Awards 2021 (Leicestershire) in the categories of Outstanding Contribution to Work in STEM (Science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) and Team of the Year.
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Ben Lovejoy
Vice Chair (Nottinghamshire)
Ben Lovejoy
Vice Chair (Nottinghamshire)
At the age of 30, Ben decided he wanted more and that starting his own company would be the best way to make this happen! From humble beginnings in 2016 (a £500 machine, a £325 per month shed and a pair of kitchen scissors), Trent Covers was born. This manufacturer of industrial textiles and supplier of accessories now employs 14 staff and operates from a16,500 sq ft factory. Ben is particularly passionate about speaking up for small and start-up businesses, in part because they’re what he knows but also because he recognises that, as underrepresented groups, their opinions need to be included in the national conversation.
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Stephen F Walker
Vice Chair (Nottingham)
Stephen F Walker
Vice Chair (Nottingham)
Stephen started his career as an engineering apprentice in precision machining. He was Director and Managing Director of Barton Precision for 30 years, and Company Secretary for three years, helping to instigate ISO9001, subsequently AS9100 and create an ERP/MRP system for manufacturing. Stephen started his own business, Engineering Business Support Ltd and became Managing Director in 2011, incorporating Executive coaching and mentoring. He is a Fellow of the Institute of Leadership and Management and holds a Post Graduate Diploma in Executive Coaching & Mentoring (ILM 7).
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