Small enterprises warned of fatal error in boardrooms

SMALL business owners who ignore the skills of non-executive directors could be making a fatal error, guests were warned at a major event in Yorkshire.

A new service aimed at connecting potential non-executive directors (NEDs) with companies and organisations was launched yesterday. NED Connections has been founded by two business owners, Craig Burton of The Works Recruitment Company and Keith Madeley, the entrepreneur and businessman who is often referred to as Mr Yorkshire.

The service was officially launched at an event in Harvey Nichols store in Leeds, which attracted 65 guests.

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Mr Madeley said yesterday: “It’s critical that our SME businesses and organisations engage with the wealth of commercial knowledge, talent and experience that already exists.

“Unless it is passed on and shared, skills and knowledge evaporate forever. We have seen it happen across manufacturing, and we have seen it happen in other trades.”

Mr Burton added: “We must make every effort to ensure we do not let business experience be lost for good. It’s vital to the economy that we help these small and medium sized enterprises survive and grow.

“Non-executive directors are often associated with larger organisations, but the launch of this service is aimed squarely at SMEs and is structured to be accessible and affordable.”

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One business owner, Margaret Wood, the owner of ICW (UK) in Wakefield, employed a non-executive director and claimed that without him, her specialist glass panel manufacturing business might have not survived.

She added: “In any business you can become very insular.

“I am owner and managing director of a business and I needed someone to challenge me, make me think about what I was doing and plan the way forward.”

Colin Glass, a partner at chartered accountancy practice, Winburn Glass Norfolk, said at the event: “Being a non-executive director is a 24/7 mental commitment. Don’t ever think it’s a case of just turning up to board meetings.”

The company is looking to register people who believe they have the skills to help SME organisations.

Registration is free of charge until October 31, 2011.

For more information visit www.nedconnections.com

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