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recent releases from Leicester Shire Development Agency, Business Link for Leicestershire and Business Link Lincolnshire & Rutland | 
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Tuesday, 02 April 2002
LEADING CITY BUSINESS FIGURE TO CHAIR DEVELOPMENT AGENCY
A leading figure from the hi-tech engineering industry, Michael Kirk, is the new chairman of Leicester Shire Development Agency - the organisation responsible for supporting business investment and stimulating business growth.
Mr Kirk, 63, was managing director then chairman of Leicester aerospace business SPS Technologies from 1982 to 2000 and is now non-executive chairman of Derby-based aerospace and nuclear component maker Paul Holdings. He also chairs Leicestershire Education Business Company and Leicestershire Engineering Training Group and is a director of the Leicestershire Careers and Guidance Service. He is a national council member of the Engineering Employers' Federation and received the OBE in 2000 for services to the engineering industry.
Mr Kirk will officially take over in April from John Bennett, who has chaired the LDA since 2000. Mr Bennett, chief executive officer of Advantica, is stepping down to concentrate on that business which is expanding in the USA and fundraising for the Beating the Odds inner city education appeal, which he chairs.
Mr Kirk praised Mr Bennett for his achievements, including bringing the Business Link contract to Leicestershire last year. Under his chairmanship, the LDA supported 26 firms to relocate in Leicestershire, helped create 930 new jobs and safeguarded a further 1,758 jobs - injecting £94 million into the Leicestershire economy. A record 13 per cent of firms have used Business Link services since the service was restructured in April.
Mr Kirk said: "I am delighted to be taking over the role and building on the good work that John has done over the last two years. I hope that 40 years' experience in the aerospace industry will be a useful asset as the agency works to create more hi-tech jobs in the Leicester area. I also want to bring together all the organisations interested in building Leicestershire's economy so that we create success through cooperation and avoid duplication."
Ends
For further Media Information
CONTACT Duncan Hopwood on 0116 254 4472
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