AutoRaise welcomes new Trustees

AutoRaise has announced a board restructure alongside the appointment of new Trustees.

The new board is: Dave Sargeant (chairman) – Gemini ARC; Steve Thompson (vice chairman) – Industry Insights/Connected Solutions; Marc Holding (secretary) – The Vella Group; Michael Golding – LV=; Ryan Johnson – Enterprise Rent A Car; Dean Lander – Thatcham Research Centre; Chris Weeks – NBRA; and Guy Williams – UPOL.

As official officers of the charity, the board will take responsibility for compliance, governance and management of AutoRaise’ operational activities led by Bob Linwood and his team.

Of the original group, Phil Coleman, Gemini ARC finance director, has had to withdraw as secretary to concentrate on his growing role with the Gemini group of companies, while Chris Oliver, AutoRaise first-ever chairman and trustee, has also decided to step-down but will continue to offer support.

Sargeant said: “We recognised during 2019 that we had largely achieved our early aims – primarily to put the spotlight on the need to bring young people in to the industry as technical apprentices and to start a movement that ensured all industry stakeholders were aware of the issue and supportive of AutoRaise to help start making the cultural changes that were needed.

“We have already impacted on hundreds of new apprenticeships starts in the industry but are now preparing to enter a new phase of our existence and start accelerating the growth of apprenticeship numbers. To do this, we felt we needed more people on board to help”.

Meanwhile, the list Associate Trustees is: Steve Cafearo – BP; Tom Hadfield – Audatex; Kevin Moran – esure; Graham Oxborrow – Saffron Walden County High School; Stuart Perry – Automotive Training Solutions; Phil Ashley – Premier Group; Janet Bywater – Independent Consultant; Gillian Cain – Fix Auto Plymouth; Gary Fay – Identifi Global; Kyra Hazlehurst-Brooks – LV=; Louise Mason-Drust – Accident Express; and Martyn Rowley – Audatex.

Bob Linwood, AutoRaise CEO, said: “We were blown away by the quantity and calibre of applications received. It was brilliant that our existing Trustees wanted to continue being involved in the charity. But the new applications were a real shot in the arm and demonstrates both the impact we have made already and the passion of individuals in the industry who want to help us”