THE TEAM

We have a core team of five people brought together with the specific skills required to deliver our objectives.

Richard Arthur – Chairman

After serving as head of worldwide investments for a Commonwealth Development organisation, Richard created and ran a venture capital fund with a major bank. From 1993 to 2000 he was the elected Leader of Camden Council, which has received the highest ratings by the Audit Commission for overall performance and housing. He has been a member of various boards including the Audit Commission and the Housing Corporation.

Richard is chair of Renaissance Bedford’s board, working one and a half days a week to provide leadership and ensure the overall success of the organisation.

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Simon Jackson MBA, BA (Hons) IM – Acting Executive Director

Simon has created and delivered marketing and communications strategies in both the public and private sectors. In the public sector he has helped to attract significant new investment and jobs into locations. In the private sector he managed a buying team for one of the UK’s leading retailers and implemented the corporate social responsibility strategy and public consultation programme for one of the mobile telecommunication companies.

His role is assist leading and managing the organisation and to help ensure that Jobs targets for the Growth Area are achieved.

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Oliver Henry MA, BA (Hons), MCIH – Senior Project Co-ordinator

Oliver has fifteen years experience in public sector working on the delivery of strategic housing and green space projects in a regeneration and growth area. He is a qualified housing and regeneration specialist who has also worked closely with the Police and Local Authorities to deliver both sustainable communities and development in areas of high social and economic deprivation.

His role as Senior Project Co-ordinator is to maintain the Housing Trajectory and work closely with the Local Authorities, Housing Partners and the Development Sector to deliver the housing needed to sustain Bedford’s growth.

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Drew Marchant – Senior Project Co-ordinator

Drew brings a twenty seven year track record in project management across a variety of industries including chemicals, electronic publishing, market research and business consultancy. He spent two years establishing regeneration companies similar to Renaissance Bedford in Peterborough, Lowestoft & Gt Yarmouth and Harlow.

Drew looks after the programme that will ensure the timely delivery of infrastructure to support the roll-out of Oliver’s homes and Simon’s jobs programmes.

This will involve co-ordinating the physical contributions of the full range of responsible bodies from the traditional ‘hard infrastructure’ providers, including roads, rail, utilities and flood defences; through ‘community infrastructure’ including health and education; to ‘social infrastructure’ such as open spaces, culture and recreation.

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