BUSINESS leader, Rachel Mallows MBE DL has been appointed to the South East Midlands Local Enterprise Partnership Board as the Food and Drink sector lead.
With over 30 years’ experience in business, Rachel has directly engaged and supported the local food and drink sector for over 10 years – as Director of the Carlsberg UK Northamptonshire Food and Drink Awards and, as Chair of SEMLEP’s Food and Drink Sector Strategy Board for the past couple of years.
In her role as Food and Drink Lead on the SEMLEP Board, Rachel will work to promote opportunities for the sector in the wider growth and development of the local economy.
Rachel said: “The SEMLEP area is a great place to live and work. Our local food and drink businesses make a strong contribution to local employment and gross value added (GVA), so have a huge part to play in current and future success of our area.
“Having been Chair of the SEMLEP Food and Drink Sector Strategy Board for the last couple of years I have gained great insight into the sector from both the LEP side, and in understanding the barriers faced by businesses in the local area.
“Being on the board of SEMLEP means I can use my industry knowledge to help address the barriers to opportunities to help maintain and grow the food and drink sector in the SEMLEP area.
“Food and Drink is one of the UK’s largest sectors and representing the interests of the sector at this level is a real honour and privilege.”
Rachel is the founder and Managing Director of The Mallows Company Limited which provides careers guidance to adults and in schools; training, mentoring, project management and consultancy to SMEs and larger businesses of all sectors. Rachel’s careers guidance experience gives her a real interest in the skills development agenda and supporting people to progress.
The SEMLEP Board includes representatives from the private and public sector. Each member ensures that local voices are heard at a regional and national level on economic issues and that important sector matters are elevated and progressed.
You can find out more about SEMLEP at www.semlep.com and see the SEMLEP board at www.semlep.com/meet-our-board