Bringing business and politics closer together since 1997

The Enterprise Forum is pleased to announce that Royston Smith has joined the Board of Directors at The Enterprise Forum

Roston Smith said: “I am thrilled to be joining the Enterprise Forum as a director. In my former role, as a Member of Parliament, I attended many of the forum’s events over the years. The events provide an independent setting for politicians to be informed, first-hand, of the issues affecting businesses across the length and breadth of the UK. I am looking forward to working with the Chairman and directors as the country navigates the significant challenges facing both business and Government in the coming years.”

Andrew Cumpsty, Chairman of The Enterprise Forum said: “I am delighted to welcome Royston to The Enterprise Forum Board of Directors. Royston brings with him a decade of experience as a Member of Parliament and a wealth of knowledge from previously running his own business. I look forward to working with Royston and other directors in developing a programme of events that will bring to the forefront the wide range of challenges that UK businesses are currently tackling.”

Royston Smith’s biography can be found here.

The Enterprise Forum is run by an unpaid board of senior directors from business and industry with a membership that includes commercial organisations (FTSE 100 companies to SMEs), trade associations and charities. The organisation does not take a position on policy and does not donate to or receive donations from any Political Party.

For more information on The Enterprise Forum please contact Mark Beckett on 020 4534 7576 or email markbeckett@enterprise-forum.co.uk.

The Enterprise Forum is pleased to confirm that Lisa Hayley-Jones has joined the Enterprise Forum Board of Directors.

Lisa has a career background working in financial services including as Director of Political Relations at KPMG and private equity. She was also Head of Parliamentary Affairs at the CBI and Chair of Westminster Forum. Currently Lisa is involved in the restoration programme for the Palace of Westminster.

Andrew Cumpsty, Chairman of the Enterprise Forum said: “Lisa joins the Enterprise Forum after around 20 years supporting the organisation as a member. On behalf of all the Directors, we are delighted she will be bringing her knowledge of the financial services sector as well as vast public affairs experience to The Enterprise Forum Board.”

Lisa Hayley-Jones biography can be found here.

The Enterprise Forum is an independent, not-for-profit organisation founded in 1997 to facilitate discussions on policy between the business community, the Government, politicians, and other stakeholders in the EU, National, Devolved and Local Government. The Enterprise Forum is run by an unpaid board of senior directors from business and industry with a membership that includes commercial organisations (FTSE 100 companies to SMEs), trade associations and charities. The organisation does not take a position on policy, and does not donate to or received donations from any Political Party.

For more information about The Enterprise Forum please contact Mark Beckett on 020 3627 3866 or email markbeckett@enterprise-forum.co.uk.

The Enterprise Forum is delighted to confirm the appointment of three Vice-Chairmen, Jill Andrew, Ian Twinn CBE and Lionel Zetter.

Andrew Cumpsty, Chairman of The Enterprise Forum said: “I am pleased to be able to announce that Jill, Ian and Lionel have agreed to be our new Vice-Chairmen. All have been directors of The Enterprise Forum for many years and now will deputise on Enterprise Forum events going forward. They all bring a wealth of experience covering Politics, Law, and Business.”

Jill is one of the original directors of the Enterprise Forum. A solicitor specialising in employment law by profession, Jill also has experience in representing business as a former director of the London Chamber of Commerce and of Business Link London South, where she chaired the Remuneration Committee. From 1994-98 she was a Councillor for the London Borough of Bromley, during which time she lead on economic development. In her final year she was Deputy Leader of the Council. She stood in Walthamstow in the 1997 election and has held a number of senior positions on the voluntary side of the Conservative Party.

During his professional career Lionel was an associate director of the Media Information Group, and company secretary of Political Research and Communications International. He went on to become managing director of Parliamentary Monitoring Services Ltd, Political Wizard Ltd, and Zetter’s Political Services Ltd, as well as non-executive deputy chairman of Dod’s Parliamentary Communications Ltd. He has been Chairman of the Government Affairs Group, President of the Chartered Institute of Public Relations, and Chairman of the PRCA Public Affairs Board. He is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute for Public Relations, and of the Public Relations Communications Association. Lionel is a former chairman of Enfield Southgate Conservative Association, and fought Edmonton for the Conservatives in the 2005 general election. He was elected to Enfield Council in 2010. As well as being a Director of the Enterprise Forum, he is also Vice President of PublicAffairsAsia, He has written, spoken and taught widely on politics and public affairs, and is author of a books on political campaigning, political lobbying and the Conservative Party. He was awarded Public Affairs News Personality of the Year in 2008, Public Affairs News 'Outstanding Contribution' in 2012, CIPR Lifetime Achievement Award in 2016, and PRCS Outstanding Contribution award in 2019.

Ian Twinn is a former UK Conservative Member of Parliament for Edmonton in north London (1983-1997) and a former Conservative Member of the European Parliament for London (2003-4). He was an alternate member of European Economic and Social Committee 2013-14. Ian was also the London Regional Chairman of the Conservative Party. From 1975 to 1983 Ian was a Senior Lecturer in Town Planning at the then South Bank Polytechnic. He has a PhD from Reading University on pressure groups and road planning and a degree in Geography from the University of Aberystwyth. Ian was the Director of Public Affairs at ISBA – The Voice of British Advertisers from 1998 to 2017. He was responsible for UK and European Union affairs, internal and external communications and is still a media spokesman. Ian was also Chairman of UK ICC Marketing and Advertising Commission