Quietly does it, rail manager’s talk at top forum

His talk, entitled Network Rail – Quietly Getting On With It, will be given to 100 chairmen, managing directors and chief executives from York and North Yorkshire businesses at The Merchant Adventurers’ Hall on April 24.

Based in York, Mr Verster is accountable for the London North Eastern and East Midlands routes, which make up one fifth of the UK railways.

This year will be the fifth Business Leaders’ Forum following the launch in 2009 by a former governor of the Company of Merchant Adventurers’, Prof Tony Robards, who believed that local business leaders needed a new event to meet and discuss key issues facing them and the York and North Yorkshire business community.

Adrian Rodaway, managing partner of York-based chartered accountants HPH, which has sponsored all four previous events, said: “We are delighted that Phil Verster has agreed to address this important audience and to continue our ability to attract top-flight keynote speakers from blue-chip Yorkshire businesses.

“A modern, efficient rail system is vital to millions of businesses and householders throughout the UK, particularly as fuel prices continue to rise and our roads become more congested.”

The Business Leaders Forum’s previous speakers include former chairman and chief executive of York-based Nestle UK and Ireland, Paul Grimwood, and chief executive of Welcome to Yorkshire, Gary Verity.

The forum is keen to forge links between large companies such as Nestle, Aviva, Drax Power and CPP and large and small businesses throughout York and North Yorkshire.

This year’s event will be led by David Rayner, governor of the Company of Merchant Adventurers, which has been active in York’s business life for more than 650 years.

HPH was founded in York in 1898.