At the Business Peak District (BPD) Annual General Meeting, Board members agreed that Dr Peter Dewhurst be invited to take over the role of chair, following the announcement that Robin Eyre was stepping down from the role.
Robin had led BPD since July 2018 and amongst his many achievements have been a series of 23 well attended BPD member webinars held between April 2020 and May 2021. These were introduced partly as a response to the sense of isolation that many Peak District business owners were feeling at the start of the Covid-19 pandemic. They also proved to be a vital tool in disseminating business support information during a period of significant business challenge.
More recently Robin led negotiations with East Midlands Chamber, which have seen the appointment of Kate Kearns as a BPD support officer. Kate has had an early impact, taking the lead in organising the BPD conference which took place at the Crescent Hotel in Buxton on March 30th.
Peter Dewhurst, the incoming chair, began by thanking Robin for his “outstanding leadership” over the last 5 years and noting that “under Robin’s tenure BPD membership has grown to 728 with a newsletter subscription list of 852.”
Peter went on to explain that his “aim will be to build on the foundations laid by the previous BPD chair and in collaboration with key partners, to support both existing and future Peak District based businesses to achieve their full potential, whilst helping to ensure a low carbon and sustainable future for the economy of the Peak District.” He added: “I also believe that the current period is a time when there is a need for BPD to become a more visible champion and voice of businesses within the Peak District.”
The incoming chair began his working life as co-founder of an import, wholesale & retail business, with outlets in Manchester & London. He subsequently moved into the higher education sector, taking on senior management roles first at the University of Wolverhampton and then at the University of Derby’s Buxton Campus.
Currently Peter is the director of strategic projects at the University of Derby, whilst also serving as a non-executive director on the Board of East Midlands Chamber and chair of the Peak District Partnership.
At the same AGM, Tracy Duggan, the founder and director of High Peak-based skillslocal, was appointed as vice chair, with her committing to support and champion the Peak District’s business community.
