A leading North East businesswoman has been appointed as chair of the Bishop Auckland College Corporate Board. Pamela Petty, managing director of international manufacturer Ebac, takes over the reins from Prof. Alan Townsend.
Newton Aycliffe based Ebac, which manufactures water coolers, dehumidifiers and air conditioning units for industrial, office and domestic use, has grown from a small family run firm to a £25m turnover global business employing 220 staff.
Mrs Petty, an ex-student of the college who studied A Level Accounts there as part of her accountancy training nearly 30 years ago, is also governor of a primary school in Barnard Castle and a non executive board member of the Entrepreneurs’ Forum.
She joined Ebac, which was launched by her father John Elliott MBE in 1972, back in 1986 and headed up the Group IT department before being promoted to manufacturing director in 1997, then to her current position of Group MD in 2003.
Natalie Davison, Principal and Chief Executive of Bishop Auckland College, said she was delighted with the appointment: “Pamela has very good links with many local and regional firms, as well as being an excellent ambassador and role model for the manufacturing sector, is based in Bishop Auckland and hence knows our local context very well.”
In August last year the college announced a new partnership with South West Durham Training, in which the Newton Aycliffe based manufacturing and engineering training provider operates as a subsidiary trading under its own brand as a separate registered charity.
Under the new arrangements Mrs Petty and Ms Davison will also sit on the SWDT board while Steve Rose, chair of the SWDT board, and vice chair Andy Dunn will sit on the college corporation.
Pamela said: “The college works very closely with employers in a wide range of industry sectors across the region to match its course offer to emerging training needs.
Hopefully my own experience in manufacturing will prove valuable at a strategic level, supporting the college’s leadership team as it continues to promote the local economic development agenda.”
Pamela Petty, Chair of the Bishop Auckland College Corporation, with Steve Rose, Chairman of South West Durham Training.
