D2N2 Growth Hub, the business support service for small and medium sized enterprises in D2N2, has appointed Melanie Ulyatt MBE as its new chair.
Melanie, who is Managing Director of Domiciliary Care and Training Provider, One to One Support Services has been a member of the D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) Board since 2016 and from this month takes on the role of chair of the Growth Hub board. She replaces David Williams, Director at 3w Growth Ltd, who served as chair for the past three years and who oversaw the launch and establishment of the Growth Hub as the ‘go-to’ resource for business support in the D2N2 region (Derby, Derbyshire, Nottingham and Nottinghamshire).
Melanie is looking forward to leading the Growth Hub Project Board and to utilise her expertise to help other businesses grow. “Since its launch in December 2014, the Growth Hub has engaged with over 6,500 businesses. This is a terrific achievement but we know there are a lot more businesses to reach.
“Our team of dedicated business advisers has a wide range of support programmes to signpost businesses into including grant funding, mentoring, skills and training as well as general business advice and guidance.
“I’m looking forward to seeing the Growth Hub go through its own period of growth and in doing so help businesses in D2N2 to prosper and reach their full potential.”
As well as working with the D2N2 Growth Hub, Melanie has also worked with Sheffield City Region, and the D2N2 Local Economic Partnership (LEP) and was recently appointed as the National Vice Chairman of the FSB (Federation of Small Businesses).
Chris Pook, D2N2 Growth Hub Manager said: “Having Melanie involved in our Growth Hub brings new opportunities for us to develop our support to local businesses, not least with her experience of running a business but also the insight she has from being a leader within the FSB locally and nationally. We’re looking forward to working alongside Melanie and other colleagues to evolve the service to the business community…”
Melanie is an inspirational and driven business woman, who has been committed to her role within domiciliary care since 2006. Her company, One to One Support Services is now one of the leading home care and training providers in the area, and is recognised as a Gold Standard organisation by Investors in People.
The D2N2 Growth Hub is part-funded from the European Regional Development as part of the European Structural and Investment Funds Growth Programme 2014-2020.
For further information, go to www.d2n2growthhub.co.uk