New High Sheriff for Derbyshire
Liz Fothergill CBE, Immediate Past President of East Midlands Chamber and Chairman of Derby-based Pennine Healthcare, will be appointment as High Sheriff of Derbyshire today.
Liz started her working life as a librarian but in 1977 found herself between jobs and started helping out in the family company, founded by and named after her father, Ivor Shaw.
The business evolved from engineering, filling stations and car sales and by the end of the 70s was manufacturing a small range of plastic medical disposable products from a new site on Pontefract Street, Derby.
Decades later, Liz still has the manufacturing bug and today the business, now known as Pennine Healthcare, turns over in excess of £30m a year, has 380 employees and produces 250,000 items a day, of which 70% are exported to 70 countries worldwide.
As a keen exporter, Liz is a Catalyst member, a global network of business leaders promoting UK excellence internationally under UK Trade and Investment.
Away from work, Liz gives a lot back to the city and communities of Derby. She is passionate about the positive influence business can have in education and community development.
She was HRH the Prince of Wales’ Ambassador for Business in the Community in the East Midlands from 2012 to 2014. She is Derby City business representative for D2N2 – the Derby, Derbyshire, Nottingham and Nottinghamshire Local Economic Partnership – and a member of Derby Renaissance Board.
Liz was Deputy Chair of the University of Derby from 2003-2013, is Chair of Derwent Stepping Stones (a neighbourhood nursery and training academy). She is a business champion of YMCA Derbyshire and a governor of Landau Forte Moorhead Academy and was formerly Chair of Derbyshire Dales Careline.
She is also Chairman of the Derby Book Festival, which had its very successful first event in 2015 and will stage an even more inclusive and exciting festival in June this year.
Liz said: “I am honoured to have been invited to be High Sheriff for Derbyshire and I hope I will make the most of the opportunity this office presents.
“During my tenure, I would like to really fly the flag for all that is great and good about Derby and Derbyshire, including its businesses, and ensure that the East Midlands remains a flag-bearer for the rest of the UK.”
Scott Knowles, Chief Executive of East Midlands Chamber, said: “The chamber would like to congratulate Liz on her appointment as High Sheriff for Derbyshire.
“Liz has been the driving force behind Pennine Healthcare, in Derby, and is a very active member of the local community. She is the immediate Past President of the Chamber and remains a very influential member of our Board of Directors.
“I’m sure Liz will take her enthusiasm for business and for Derby and Derbyshire into her new role and we wish her every success.”
