The Directors General of the British Chambers of Commerce, CBI and Institute of Directors, have appointed Oonagh Harpur to be the first Chief Executive of Enterprise Insight, the joint business venture to create a more enterprising Britain.
Enterprise Insight is a partnership of organisations successfully delivering enterprise programmes to young people: Young Enterprise; Understanding Industry; Shell LiveWIRE; Prince’s Trust; Business in the Community; the National Federation of Enterprise Agencies; and the Education Business Partnerships.
A significant feature of Enterprise Insight is its Enterprise Forums bringing business ‘ambassadors’ together with young people and its partners.
The launch of Enterprise Insight in June was marked by a forum held at Downing Street involving the Prime Minister and members of the Cabinet.
Welcoming the appointment Tony Blair said today, “An enterprise culture is vital - for young people, for business and for Britain. I welcome business working closely with a range of key organisations to help create the spirit of enterprise in practice which we all need to see.”
Oonagh Harpur’s appointment is with immediate effect and follows an open recruitment process. Her appointment was the result of a combined advertisement and search recruitment process, undertaken pro bono by Barry Gould of Whitehead Mann GKR as their contribution to the campaign.
Oonagh Harpur, who will be based at the CBI in Centrepoint in London said, “If we are to bring about a genuine enterprise culture in the UK, it is vital that we engender an enterprising spirit of creativity in our young people and that they have every opportunity to express that in their working lives. Its up to all of us to achieve this: employers, teachers and parents”
The Chairmanship of Enterprise Insight rotates between BCC, CBI and IoD on a six monthly basis. George Cox, Director General of the Institute, will now take up the chairmanship for the next period following on from Chris Humphries Director General British Chambers of Commerce.
