Plymouth business leaders recognised in top awards

Plymouth-based business leader Giles Letheren, Chief Executive of Delt Shared Services, has been named as one of the Institute of Directors’ South West Directors of the Year, designed to recognise leadership talent and enterprise in the region.

Delt, based in Derriford, is an innovative shared services partnership between local government and the NHS.  It delivers core back office services ranging from IT to payroll and pension administration.  It is owned by the public sector but operates like a dynamic and agile private limited company and any profits it generates are returned to its clients. 

Judges commended Giles on his mature understanding of the communication challenges of an organisation in a developing sector and his emphasis on improving decision making in the context of risk appetite.

Highly commended was Lucy Findlay MBE, founding Managing Director of Social Enterprise Mark CIC, set up in 2010 in Plymouth and now internationally acclaimed.  Lucy’s primary motivation is ensuring that genuine social enterprises are recognised as a legitimate and different way of doing business to change society for the better.

The event marked the first visit to the South West by the IoD’s new national Chair, Charlotte Valeur who made a keynote address in which she talked about her vision for a refreshed IoD; more inclusive, more modern and ready to equip directors and aspiring directors with the professional development, environment and support they need.

It was partnered by the University of the West of England (UWE) and sponsored by Export for Growth, the specialist programme that improves overseas marketing presence for both first time and experienced exporters.

IoD South West chairman and Chartered Director Muir Macdonald said: “This event is one of the highlights of our year as it turns the spotlight on the people actually driving our economy and contributing to the prosperity of our society on a day to day basis.   It’s been a challenging landscape in which to operate over the past two years and therefore good leadership, good governance and flexibility has arguably never been more important.  In the judges’ opinion, all our winners and highly commended have demonstrated and excelled in all of these qualities and epitomise the IoD's new strapline, 'integrity and enterprise'.”

Giles and Lucy were joined at the awards ceremony in Bristol by other winners: James Freeman, MD of FirstBus West of England,  Amy Golding CEO of recruiters Opus Talent Solutions, Charmaine Vincent,  owner and CEO of Baltimore Consulting and Amy McCormack, Commercial Director of ETM Recycling , all based in Bristol, and Paula Martin, CEO of Cornwall Air Ambulance. Chris Holland, Managing Director of Bristol-based Waste Source, was also Highly Commended. 

Giles and Lucy are pictured accepting their awards from Charlotte Valeur