BESST is led by a private sector steering group, comprising of Ricoh, DENSO, Simmonsigns, Epwin and Lyreco, with the secretariart provided by One Telford.
The Steering Group has representation from different sectors, including manufacturing, logistics and distribution, and business and professional services, this ensures as a network we meet all our members needs.
Andy Whyle – Ricoh – Chair
In 1986 Andy Whyle joined Ricoh UK Products Ltd, a subsidiary of Ricoh Japan, the world’s leading manufacturer of office automation equipment. In Telford Ricoh manufactures photocopiers and consumables utilising its 2050 Plan and People Planet Profit sustainability principles.
He began as a quality Inspector, then moved into production supervision, and then became a specialist in developing production systems to meet the required ISO standards.
He achieved the position of Environment Officer in 2001. His experience covers Zero Waste, Resource Conservation, Biodiversity and Corporate Social Responsibility.
He was asked to be Vice Chair of BESST in 2002, and proudly accepted the position of Chair in 2006.
Since then he has represented Ricoh, the Steering Group and BESST membership in the arena of sustainability in several areas including:
Business
National Industrial Symbiosis Program: Chair of West Midlands Program Advisory Group
Sustainability West Midlands: member and one of the inaugural Top 50 Green Leaders
Rethink Energy Stafford: Organisors Group member
Telford Business Network Chair’s Group member
Education
University of Wolverhampton: Masters Degree program external validator and program critical friend.
Aqueduct Primary School: School Governor for Sustainability
Stafford Sustainability Action in Further Education Steering Group member
Sustainability guest lecturer for Harper Adams and Wolverhampton universities
Biodiversity
Shropshire Wildlife Trust Trustee and Corporate Advocate for the Wildlife Trusts
These aspects have contributed to Ricoh being recognised with awards from Business in the Community, Business Excellence, Environment Agency and the Business Commitment to the Environment.
He has presented several case studies, (including events at the National Exhibition and the Sydney Conference Centres) and numerous best practice tours to companies as diverse as local SME’s and international study tours.
Andy’s ethos as Chair is to encourage networking of environmental best practice, explaining that environmental impact reduction and business benefits are synonymous, and that the journey to sustainability is one that we should take together.
Manel Roura – Denso – vice chair
As the Environmental Officer at Denso, Manel is responsible the environmental performance of a 600+ employee Telford site. The most notable achievements that Manel has made are the development of the eco-garden, zero-waste to landfill and implementing resource efficiency measures.
Mark Simmons – Simmonsigns – vice chair
Mark Simmons has been employed by his family business for the last 23 years, helping the business grow from a four person team to a successful award winning multi-million pound company employing in excess of 75 people.
During his time with the company Mark has carried out and lead a wide range of functions including, delivery driver, payroll, sales administration, purchasing, supply chain management and developed the computer and business management systems including ISO9001 and more recently directed the team that achieved ISO 14001.
Mark was made a Director in November 2003 and as a member of the Institute of Directors gained his diploma in Company Direction in 2006. His latest professional development achievement was to become a Licensed Business Practitioner of Neuro–Linguistic Programming.
When BESST was first launched in 1997 Mark was proud to be there and also at its 2006 re launch, in 2007 Mark was pleased to accept the position of Vice-Chair looking after the interests of the small to medium sized members.
As a loving husband and father of four children he has carefully honed his negotiation and diplomacy skills and has a vested interest to ensure a sustainable future for his family.
Paul Nelms – Epwin group
As Group Environmental Manager, of the Epwin Group, Paul has been heavily involved in the Group’s drive towards sustainability in the plastics industry. Paul fully participated in a European initiative, jointly organised by The Natural Step and the Blekinge Institute of Technology, entitled “Leading Change for a Sustainable Chemicals Industry”, the aim of which is to promote best environmental practice throughout the key players of the plastic industries supply chain. Paul’s project work within the Group includes rainwater harvesting and zero waste to landfill. As a member of the BESST steering committee, he plays an active role in promoting best environmental practice and supporting businesses that wish to develop and improve their own environmental core skills.
Paul Hayward – Environment Agency
His work for the Environment Agency has enabled Paul to present at Legislation Update events to keep BESST members informed about the legislation that affects their business.
Mark Anderson - Ricoh
Mark is currently the department manager responsible for all maintenance activities on Ricoh site in Telford. A Cumbrian by birth & brought up in the West Midlands, resident in Telford since 1984. An electrical engineer whose previous experience involves work as a service engineer, installing and commissioning welding robots into heavy industries, production engineer in Denso, Telford plus production engineer and manufacturing department manager in Ricoh prior to his present post.
Mark Joined BESST in 2011 when he assumed line management responsibility for energy reduction and environmental activities on Ricoh site, utilising his qualifications in excellence assessing, management, quality management and health & safety. Mark is also a governor at BRJ Catholic College in Wellington.
Kirsty Burns -One Telford
Since graduating from the University of East Anglia in 2010 with a degree in Environmental Geography and International Development Kirsty has completed a number of internships. Including working for the Stop Climate Chaos Coalition organising the Big Climate Connection campaign in the West Midlands. She was on the Keele Connect graduate placement scheme with the BESST network. Her main role was to develop a carbon monitoring tool for the members to use. The tool enables organisations to input their energy and fuel usage and then the company’s carbon footprint is calculated and output summaries and graphs generated. Following the departure of Scott Charlton she became the co-ordinator of BESST.
Phil Challinor - One Telford
Phil has a wide range of commercial experience working in a variety of industry sectors including both: public (education, local government & central government) and private (engineering, financial, fmcg, tele-communications and IT) sectors.
He is an experienced export practitioner and prior to joining One Telford in September 2008 held the position of Head of International Trade for Shropshire responsible for the overall management, strategic planning and delivery of the UK Trade and Investment services and was also the West Midlands lead for the International Tourism and Leisure Cluster for Advantage West Midlands.
Recently he has taken up the position of Business Sector Development Officer responsible for the development of the Business and Professional, ICT and Environmental Technologies business sectors within borough of Telford and Wrekin.
