Place Board and Towns Fund

Attending organisations

Board Chair – Andrew Cropley, Principal and CEO, Vision West Nottinghamshire College

As the principal of West Nottinghamshire College, Mansfield, Andrew is passionate about FE and the wellbeing of young people. He is a strong advocate of the opportunities and experiences that education can provide, transforming the lives of individuals and encouraging communities to thrive.

Andrew has held senior posts in further education over the past ten years, and also has considerable experience from a variety of military roles. He has great empathy for the challenges facing young people, and sees his role as enabling everyone in the college to do their best for the benefit of students and the local communities.

Vice Chair – Richard Crisp, Commercial Development Executive, Mansfield Building Society

Richard enjoyed his first stint working in the town in the late 1990s, returning to Mansfield in 2015 to join the Executive Management team at Mansfield Building Society. After rebranding the Society to embrace the spirit and essence of Mansfield and surrounding areas, Richard remains as passionate about the society, the community, and the town, as he ever has.

Andy Abrahams, Mayor, Mansfield District Council

As the Executive Mayor of Mansfield Andy welcomes this opportunity to be involved in developing this scheme for the Towns Fund, which through a series of projects speaks to address a number of issues facing Mansfield.

This is now our opportunity to strive for best practice and to create opportunities for innovation. A long time Mansfield resident, Andy is committed to the town. Andy is confident that the board’s aims meet the vision for the district to “Grow an ambitious, vibrant and ambitious place” and to create a place to be proud of, to create a sustainable and safe place for residents, visitors and businesses. 

Ben Bradley, Local MP

Ben Bradley was elected as Mansfield’s first Conservative Member of Parliament following the 2017 election and was then re-elected in 2019 with a significantly larger majority. Ben has been a strong advocate for Mansfield both locally and nationally. He has been a strong voice in Parliament bringing Mansfield and Warsop to the forefront of Government’s agenda.

Ben’s priorities include town centre regeneration, education and skills for young people and improving transport provision across Mansfield and Warsop. He has consistently pushed for funding across the constituency, to make sure Mansfield is an even better place to live and work.

Stuart Richardson, Deputy Mayor and Portfolio Holder for Regeneration and Growth, Mansfield District Council

Born in Mansfield and a long time resident. Stuart is retired but stays engaged with the town through his role has Portfolio Holder and Deputy Mayor. Stuart feels that the health and vibrancy of the Town are crucial for the economic wellbeing of all residents within the District. He takes a very keen interest in the plans for the Town Centre.

Sajeeda Rose, Chief Executive of D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership

Sajeeda joined the D2N2 LEP in November 2017, as Senior Manager for Growth Deals and Capital Programmes, and acted as Interim Deputy CEO before taking on the Interim CEO role in September 2018 before taking the role permanently in December 2018.

Prior to joining D2N2, Sajeeda was Chief Operating Officer for the Northamptonshire LEP, where she was responsible for strategy development and delivery of all investment programmes by that LEP.

Sajeeda has a BA (Hons) degree in Politics & Economic History from the University of Leicester. She is married with two children. 

Gary Jordan, Local Business Owner, Mansfield and Ashfield 2020

Gary is a Self-employed Executive business coach following a 28 year career in the Mining industry, culminating in a role as regional mechanical engineer, his experience spans 11 years working in the water industry as Managing Director and a business owner of a Mechanical / Electrical / Civil engineering and fabrication company.

He is the Chair of Qinesis coaching group and Mansfield and Ashfield 2020 Business group, Vice Chair of Governors at Queen Elizabeth Academy, Mansfield as well as STEM Ambassador, Career champion, Fellow of IoD, member of IOM3, FSB, M&A Schools advisory group and the AMRC working party.

Adrian Smith – Corporate Director Place, Nottinghamshire County Council

Adrian Joined Nottinghamshire County Council in 2016 as Corporate Director of Place and became the County Council’s Deputy Chief Executive in January 2019.

Adrian has responsibility for ensuring that place based services are joined up to maximise their positive impact on outcomes. This includes working in collaboration with our District, Borough and City partners to drive the local and regional economy in partnership with the D2N2 LEP and to ensure that residents and businesses are resilient and prosperous.

Having worked with disadvantaged communities in the North East earlier in his career, as well as in one of the country’s fastest growing rural counties in the east of England. Adrian previously held responsibility for place based services in one of central London’s high growth boroughs.

Adrian has held a range of service based responsibilities, from cultural services to community safety, environment and neighbourhood services. Adrian has also worked in a range of corporate roles such as policy, performance and organisational development. A graduate of the Commissioning Academy and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts (RSA), Adrian has also volunteered with a number of voluntary sector organisations. A native ‘north easterner’. Adrian has moved to Nottinghamshire to live with his family.

Steven Morris, CEO, Mansfield CVS

Steven has a passion for Community, People and most of all Mansfield. He is proud to represent all of the Voluntary and Community Sector on behalf of this district.

Steven has several years’ experience in employment, skills, health and welfare. Throughout his life both professionally and personally Steven has shown a deep care about empowering people to help them achieve their potential.

Steven has experience in delivering several projects supporting people with multiple complex needs back to the labour market, with great success. Steven is a big believer in collaboration and working with our local partners and utilise innovative approaches to change people's lives for the better. 

Professor Sharon Huttly, – Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Nottingham Trent University

Professor Sharon Huttly joined NTU in April 2020 as Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Academic Development and Performance, and is responsible for development, enhancement and innovation of teaching and learning; management of the Executive Deans who lead NTU’s nine Academic Schools; academic oversight of the strategic planning cycle; and senior sponsorship of NTU’s Mansfield and Ashfield development programme.

Sharon was previously Pro Vice-Chancellor for Education and EDI at Lancaster University, and Dean of Studies at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine at the University of London. She has an extensive disciplinary background in statistics and epidemiology.

David Ainsworth, Locality Director, Mansfield and Ashfield CCG

David has worked in the NHS for over 25 years; starting his career as a nurse in Emergency care and nowadays is the Locality Director for Mansfield, Ashfield, Newark and Sherwood. He has a passion for making a real difference to people’s lives and to improve health outcomes. He has worked in the area for 6 years and day to day he works to bring services together in ways improve the experience people have across health, social care and councils. He works with GP practices to bring about improvements such as social prescribing; an initiative to bridge the gap between services for some of the most vulnerable in our communities. Often heard on Mansfield FM Radio station he works tirelessly to communicate with people living locally.

Rebekah O’Neill, Centre Manager, Mansfield Four Seasons Shopping Centre

Rebekah has been the Centre Manager of the Four Seasons Shopping Centre for over 15 years.

As well as working in the town, Rebekah was born here, lives here and has 2 children that went to school and college here. A graduate of University of Wales (Cardiff IHE) in Business Studies and Tourism, Rebekah’s background is in marketing having started her career at the Chad, followed by a marketing and Duty Management role at Westfield.

Rebekah is a Board Member of the Mansfield BID and believes passionately that by working together we can pool our skills, resources, and efforts to strengthen the viability and vitality of our town, and in turn our town’s businesses. 

Kath Jephson, B Jephson (Mansfield) Ltd

Michael Fischer, Director, Linney

Jean Sharpe, DWP

Christopher Sullivan, Nottinghamshire Police

David Ainsworth, Director, Sherwood Forest Hospital Trust

Ilana Freestone, Active Notts

Warsop Parish Council

Diverse Academies

David Wright, BEIS (As an observing body)