This article appeared in The Press on Monday 1st October 2007.

David’s New Varsity Role

David Dickson Managing Director

David Dickson has been appointed the treasurer of the University of York.

Mr Dickson, Managing Director of Garbutt & Elliott, the York-based chartered accountants and business advisers, was invited to take up the voluntary post on the University’s advisory council, consisting of staff and lay members. He is a former Chairman of the University’s Audit Committee.

He succeeds Deian Tecwyn, of PricewaterhouseCoppers who remains as Deputy Treasurer.

Last year Mr Dickson won The Press Business of The Year Lifetime Achievement Award.

Mr Dickson’s long list of business associations, past and present, include Non-executive Director of Business Link; Chairman of York Business Development Ltd; Non-executive Director of York Inward Investment Board; member of the strategic Board of Science City York; Director of Moores Rowland International; main Board Director of MRI (UK); Director of Medipex Ltd; Director of Customer First UK Ltd; and former Vice-chairman and Head of Finance at the Theatre Royal York. He is also a member of the Chamber of Merchant Adventurers; and a Governor of St Peter’s School.

His role as Treasurer on the Advisory Council comes at a crucial time for the University, which is undergoing a £500 million extension to its campus.

Hilary Layton, the University’s Director of Communication, said “He is a man of huge influence and knowledge”.

This article appeared in the Yorkshire Post on Friday, 26 October, 2007.

Bank boss to run science network

YORKSHIRE Bank chairman Richard Gregory has become executive chairman of Science City York, following the sudden departure of its chief executive.

Dr Richard Hutchins quit his £120,000-a-year job as chief executive of the public-sector funded company after just five weeks.

Dr Hutchins, formerly corporate director of economic development at regional development agency Advantage West Midlands, left in late September for "personal reasons".

Mr Gregory will receive a £10,000 'honorarium' a year as executive chairman plus £1,000 per week – all paid for by the public sector – until a new chief executive is appointed.

Once a new chief executive is found, probably in the new year, Mr Gregory will revert to his previous role of non-executive chairman, which also carries a £10,000-a-year salary.

The Science City York initiative was founded in 1998 as a
partnership between York Council and York University to encourage science and technology-based businesses to establish an operation in North Yorkshire.

It became a joint venture company involving the university and the council this summer.

Mr Gregory said yesterday: "The previous arrangement for Science City York was a very successful partnership, and that served the city and surrounding areas very well.

"The new company has been set up to accelerate the development of Science City York."

Apart from helping University of York spin-outs – companies set up by academics – to find financial backers and accommodation, Mr Gregory said he also wanted to attract more hi-tech firms to North Yorkshire.

"The new company demonstrates the real joint commitment by City of York Council and the University of York and will help focus and drive future expansion.

"The new advisory board which will be announced shortly will build on the tremendous network of support among business and community leaders which has already served Science City York so well."

Mr Gregory is Yorkshire Bank chairman on the board of National Australia Group Europe, and also chairman of Yorkshire Science, the region's science council. He was awarded an OBE in 2004 for services to Yorkshire.

Mr Gregory said he was doing some work on behalf of Science City York "virtually every day". He also chaired the Science City York stakeholder board for more than a year in a non-executive role. He is joined by David Dickson, managing director of the York and Leeds accountancy firm Garbutt and Elliott, who will chair an advisory board including several of the city's business and community leaders.

Simon Hill, executive director for business at Yorkshire Forward, also joins the board of Science City York, together with founding partners Prof Brian Cantor, vice-chancellor of the university, and York Council director of city strategy Bill Woolley.

Science City York company secretary Philip Lewis Ogden, of the law firm Harrowell Shaftoe, will also be paid a salary, but the amount has still to be decided.

York was recognised as one of Britain's official Science Cities by the then Chancellor of the Exchequer, Gordon Brown, in 2005.