Chair of the West of England Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) Colin Skellett and Bristol & Bath Science Park chief executive Bonnie Dean are among prominent businesspeople receiving the OBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List.
Mr Skellett, (pictured), who is also executive chairman of Bath-based Wessex Water, has been honoured for services to business and the charity WaterAid, while Ms Dean is rewarded for services to design, technology and innovation.
Mr Skellett has been a major figure on the business scene in the region for more than a decade, particularly in Bath where he helped establish partnership organisations such as Bath Tourism Plus and the Bath city centre management body Future Bath Plus. He said he was proud of linking the business community and local authorities for the common good.
Throughout her career, Ms Dean, (pictured below) has worked principally in engineering companies where it was vital to invest in research, development and innovation to survive and prosper.
Design played a particularly critical role in helping define how to respond to changing user needs and market trends.
She was also a trustee of the Design Council for six years and was very involved in a programme to introduce design into early stage technology companies to help them accelerate their access to markets and customers.
More recently, she has worked on the Bristol & Bath Science Park at Emersons Green where incorporating design into the buildings and use of space has made a substantial contribution to its success.
US-born Ms Dean said: “I am honoured and delighted. The UK excels in design, technology and innovation. As a result of our strengths in these areas, the UK and the South West in particular has the potential to launch new industries which could bring decades of growth and create new jobs. It has been a privilege to work in three areas about which I am passionate.”
Kerry and Michelle Michael, the owners of Weston-super-Mare’s Grand Pier, have also been recognised in the Honours List.
The brother and sister masterminded the rebuilding of the pier following the devastating fire in 2008.
Kerry Michael said: “This fantastic honour is recognition for everyone who was involved in the design, building and re-opening of the Grand Pier in record time and we are delighted to be going to the Palace to collect this honour on their behalf.”
Mr Michael made his fortune from the 2002 sale of his Weston-super-Mare extended warranty insurance company The Regency Group.
