BID Board
Ian Follington, Director & Chair
Engineering
Ian has more than 24 years of practical experience owning and operating a range of businesses in the UK and overseas, and understands the challenges of running a business.
He believes that the strong local team that have come together in BID can help the town grow and prosper in these difficult trading conditions.
Ian is passionate about trying to make a positive difference to the Oswestry business community and excited by the opportunities to help get Oswestry the recognition it deserves.
Patrick Evans, Director
Industrial
Managing Director of Evans Enterprises Ltd, owners of Artillery Business Park, Park Hall, along with other commercial premises on the established Oswestry industrial areas. Running a thriving business park on the outskirts of the town, along with The Fort Serviced Offices, Patrick recognises the needs of growing Oswestry businesses in terms of demands for quality property and how this reflects on their business profile.
Artillery Business Park accommodates two award winning Shropshire Businesses and so Patrick hopes his involvement with BID will lead to other Oswestry based businesses of all sizes, alongside their existing valued tenants, getting the best platform to promote themselves, be found and succeed.
James Woodward, Director
Industrial
James Woodward is a born and bred Oswestrian and wants the very best for the town. Working life started at his family logistics business Cold Move, on the Maesbury Road Industrial Estate, in the late 80’s and has worked his way up to his current role of Managing Director. James is also a Director of his industry federation, the FSDF.
Tim Morris, Director
Independent/Retail
Tim is co-owner of Booka Bookshop. Prior to opening Booka in 2009, Tim was a Chartered Town Planner for over 20 years. He worked in planning policy teams at Cannock Chase Council in Staffordshire before joining the former Oswestry Borough Council in 2001 and then Shropshire Council.
Tim is passionate about the future of the town and is proud to have established and grown Booka into one of the leading independent bookshops in the UK.
Lee Lucks, Director
Tourism
Lee has been involved with Oswestry Borderland Tourism since it was formed in 2003 and with Oswestry Tourism Association before that and she is currently Chairman. Previous experience includes running a family owned hotel for over 20 years and various jobs in Local Government mostly involved with IT or Marketing.
Lee feels that BID is the ideal opportunity for Oswestry to build on the promotion of the town that OBT has been doing and is enthusiastic about the projects and opportunities that will bring more visitors to the town and area.
Stuart Phillips, Director
Professional Services
Stuart, who runs the the Commercial Property Consultants, Celt Rowlands & Co in Oswestry was born and bred in Shropshire. After a long stint in London and Spain, he has also practiced his profession in Telford and Shrewsbury prior to establishing the Oswestry office.
He has extensive experience in all aspects of commercial property matters including sales and lettings, landlord and tenant work, RICS valuations, Business Rates, and other professional work. These areas of work and his relationship with commercial landlords and tenants gives Stuart a good understanding of what businesses require from the town to give them a better chance of success.
Tania McGee, Director
Professional Services
Tania is a solicitor with over 20 years experience specialising in commercial and agricultural property, and is based full time in the Oswestry office of Lanyon Bowdler. She has lived on the outskirts of Oswestry for the last 10 years, having previously lived and worked in the North West and East and West Midlands.
Tania loves Oswestry and all it has to offer and that it can accommodate her interests of history, theatre, cinema and books.
Tania wants to be involved in the BID so as to build on the opportunities that are available to enable Oswestry to grow, prosper and thrive and to establish itself as a place where people want to not only visit, but to work and live.
Mark Derham, Director
Food & Drink
Mark is the owner of Bridge Coffee, a specialist coffee supplier based on the Whittington Business Park. He is also the current Chair of Oswestry Chamber of Commerce.
He has lived in Oswestry for the past 13 years having worked his way up the county from his family roots in Bridgnorth. Passionate about Oswestry and all that it has to offer, Mark sees BID as a catalyst to the future redevelopment and growth of Oswestry and the surrounding area.
Duncan Tipton, Director
Large Retail
Shropshire born and bred, Duncan has worked in retail for 33 years, having been at Wilko Oswestry for the last 16 years.
Wilko has been serving Oswestry since 1982 and is an important training centre for new and assistant managers around the UK.
Samantha Cleal, Director
Hospitality
Sam has enjoyed a rich business history having a business abroad for several years to becoming Vice President of Romsey & District Chamber of commerce, and was semi-finalist in the Hampshire Women’s Business awards for Customer service and Business Mother of the Year categories.
She recently started a business at the beginning of the first lockdown from home, and now 18 months on, it has organically grown into a strong high street presence. Samantha is one of three at the helm of Niche Patisserie Ltd - the high-end bespoke patisserie showcasing in the heritage Grade 2 listed building of The Black Gate, Oswestry.
Graeme Kirkham, Director
Hospitality
Born and bred in Oswestry, Graeme spent the first 9 years of his career at TNS FC, working his way up from the bottom into the role of Operations Manager, before leaving for Australia. There, he was employed at the International Convention Centre (ICC Sydney) and later contracted with opening a brand new bar for Ardent Leisure Australia.
On returning to the UK in 2018, he opened his own (now three year old) cocktail bar known as Knock & Snitch Oswestry. Graeme is hoping to bring some imaginative ideas to help develop and grow business in Oswestry.
Kevin Griffiths, Director
Trade Counter - Industrial Estate
Kevin and his brother, Paul, run the family business Griffiths Hire Shops with locations in Oswestry, Wrexham and Whichurch, and have traded in the area for over 40 years. The business was originally started in Gobowen, but the current head office has been based on the Maes-y-Clawdd industrial estate since 2000.
Kevin is hands-on working on the trade counter, and was asked by BID to represent the Trade Counter sector on the estate. He and his brother both live in Oswestry and take pride in the area and are always keen to support local events.
