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The Youth Zone is governed by members of the business community who volunteer their time to support a Senior Management Team, as well as the local authority who together unite to ensure the success of the Youth Zone. Each member of the Board brings their skills and experience to assist the Inspire in achieving its aims and objectives.
© Copyright 2021 Inspire Youth Zone. Registered Charity Number 1167309. Registered Company Number 09972518. Website by ATTAIN.
Andrew Turner, Chairman of the Chorley Group, one of the largest volume Nissan dealers in Europe, is our Chairman at Inspire Youth Zone.
Chorley Group was founded from Andrew’s home in 1989 trading as the Bugle Inn Motor Co. However, his sights were firmly set on developing a reliable brand of family business, devoted to serving the north-west with well priced cars and a service to be trusted. This was quickly evident when the first Chorley Group Nissan showroom opened and became the largest volume Nissan dealer in Europe.
Since, then the group has gone from strength to strength, acquiring sites in multiple north-west locations and developing a family business that is trusted and respected throughout the country.
Chorley Borough Council’s Deputy Chief Executive, Chris Sinnott, is a trustee and board member for Inspire Youth Zone and has been instrumental in the success since opening.
Chris is an extremely enthusiastic manager working in the public sector. He has significant experience in leading change and improvement across local authorities. In addition, he has a successful track record in developing successful partnership working and engaging and communicating with residents and other stakeholders.
Jim is a passionate Chorley resident, having moved here from Belmont in 1994. He has been a board member from the beginning. He is a Deputy Lieutenant for Lancashire.
Jim’s background is in property development and construction. He joined the Eric Wright Group in 1986 initially as Development Manager and became Deputy Chairman in 2010, having been CEO.
In addition to his employment, he has been extensively involved in regional and national property related organisations. He chaired the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors’ management board for 6 years and was awarded the President’s Medal for his service. He was a trustee of the University College of Estate Management and was made an Honorary Fellow for services to property.
Locally, he was a board member of the Lancashire Local Enterprise Partnership, chaired the Central Lancashire City Deal and is currently engaged in trying to establish a Youth Zone in Preston.
A law graduate and practising Chartered Surveyor, he brings a wealth of knowledge and experience in his role as a trustee of Inspire.
Neale is an experienced business leader with a track record of operating, scaling and exiting technology businesses spanning 30 years.
Chorley born Neale has lived in the Borough all of his life, married with two grown up children both of whom completed their education in the area. Neale is passionate about the work of On-Side and is fully committed to helping the young people of Chorley.
During his time in business Neale founded and built several successful technology businesses – lately in 2000 founding 2ergo Group plc which he grew to become an international business with offices Globally. The business listed on the London Stock Exchange in 2004 – Neale left the in 2007 to concentrate on his passion for advising and funding early stage technology businesses and entrepreneurs achieve their goals. Neale also has several Non exec and chair roles.
Neale was awarded Ernst & Young “Entrepreneur of the Year” for technology in 2004.
Matt Hirst is the CEO of leading energy technology provider ESG with over 700 staff and operations in the USA, Canada and the UK. ESG’s UK headquarters are based in Chorley, Lancashire.
ESG empowers global leaders in energy to deliver on the future promise of energy through its SAAS solutions for Customer and Market Data Management and Smart Metering. Matt has a background in Sales and Marketing and led a MBO of UK company Utiligroup in 2014 before it was acquired by ESG in 2017 and has been with the business for 24 years. Matt won an EY Entrepreneur of the Year award in 2016 as well as being a judge in 2018 and in 2017 his team was awarded the UK Regional and National Mid Market Management Team of the Year awards by the BVCA. Matt holds a BSc (Hons) degree from The University of Salford and a MBA from Lancaster University.
With a background in accounting, banking and venture capital, Matt assists the team with Finance / Treasury related activities at Inspire. Matt is a Chartered Accountant, having qualified with Deloitte, and subsequently went on to work in the Leveraged Finance team at RBS.
Following this, Matt moved into the world of private investment, managing and leading a wide range of investments into fast-growing companies at Seneca Partners. He graduated from the University of Manchester with a degree in Management with Accounting & Finance.
In his spare time, Matt enjoys watching and playing almost all sports, although predominantly football and golf, as well as spending time out and about with his two dogs. Matt also mentors a young person at Wigan Youth Zone.
Inspire Chorley Youth Zone has close ties with CG Professional and have cemented that further with the appointment of Heather Aust to the Board in 2021.
Heather qualified as an employment law specialist in 2008 and developed her career in Manchester at a top 100 UK law firm as part of a Legal 500 Tier 1 team. She joined CG Professional as Partner in November 2020.
Providing support to clients across wide ranging industries including in the charity sector, Heather advises on day-to-day HR workplace issues and larger restructure and litigious matters. As such she is well placed to support the Board with people issues including recruitment and retention and sits on our Remuneration Committee.
Heather has always taken a pro-active stance to Corporate Social Responsibility, previously being involved in the University of Manchester’s Legal Advice Centre and participating in Young Enterprise schemes.
Heather provides Inspire with her legal expertise from her office a stone’s throw from the Youth Zone. She is motivated and enthusiastic to support young people in the local area and in assisting Inspire Youth Zone and the Board in achieving their objectives to help make a difference.
Andrew started working in the banking industry in 2008 following a number of years working in SME businesses throughout the Northwest. Initially Andrew worked in card acquiring with Barclaycard before moving to Lloyds in 2010 where he spent 6 years.
Whilst at Lloyds Andrew worked in a number of roles and took up his 1st role in the commercial bank as a Relationship Director working with SME clients in 2013.
In 2016 Andrew left Lloyds to take up a position at Lombard, part of the RBS Group, as a Business Development Director targeting both SME and blue chip clients.
Over this 10 year period Andrew completed numerous transactions with substantial lending throughout.
Andrew is an accredited chartered banker having passed his chartered banking lending diploma. He also has diplomas in manufacturing (accredited by Warwick Manufacturing group) and management (accredited by The Open University).
Andrew not only brings a wealth of banking experience but an extensive portfolio of professional connections which will help support new and existing clients.
Hi, I’m Ryan and I’m the Head of Operations at Inspire Youth Zone.
Email: ryan.powell@inspireyouthzone.org