Meet the Judges!

The Economic Growth team at Newark and Sherwood District Council understand the diversity of challenges that businesses face. They recognise that every business has a different requirement- from micro start-ups to expanding medium and established large businesses.

With a comprehensive range of business support, signposting, information and advice provided free of charge to include: Land and Property Information; Recruitment Support; Inward Investment; Business Networking and Events. All enquiries are dealt with on a confidential basis with support tailored to your specific needs. For more information on how you can be a part of the Invest Newark and Sherwood story contact our Economic Growth team.

Michael has been a Business Doctor for the last 2 years within the Newark & Sherwood district. Previously Michael worked within Sales, Marketing and Finance before running his own successful businesses as of 2007.Michaels aim is to assist local business owners as they strive to achieve their aspirations by working collaboratively with them to establish a plan and focus that adds value to the owner.

Lesley has run her own Newark-based marketing agency for 18 years, focusing on helping local SMEs develop their businesses. Trading under the name Nettl of Newark and Grantham, the company offers creative marketing solutions that help its clients get more customers. Lesley is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Marketing and sits on the Executive committees for Newark and Grantham Business Clubs.

Johanne is an experienced communications and marketing professional of over 15 years, working predominantly within housing and regeneration industry, across both the public and private sector.

With a degree in Public Relations with Law, Johanne has overseen communications on some of the Midlands’ largest housing and regeneration projects when working for the government’s Homes England agency, and prior to that led the communications and engagement team for the government’s New Deal for Communities programme in North East Coventry, where she also set up the regions first communications social enterprise.

Now with strategic land developer Urban&Civic, Joh leads the engagement of local business partners and communities in the development of Newark’s urban extension, Middlebeck, as well as overseeing the communications, communities and partnerships function across several of the business’s portfolio of largescale sites.

Johanne is also a Director on two Multi Academy Trusts linked to schools on Urban&Civic sites.

Lucy runs FUNDINGROUND Ltd, a commercial finance broker which supports SME businesses throughout Nottinghamshire and surrounding counties.

They focus on providing the banking relationship which so many businesses have lost over time, bringing much needed finance expertise to SMEs in the region.

Lucy has extensive experience working in financial services and ensures that FUNDINGROUND fulfils its regulatory requirements and maintains extremely high professional standards.

Ashley is Chairman of the Board and Managing Director at DB Wood.

He has over 25 years’ experience in the wealth management industry, qualifying as a Financial Advisor in 1994.

Ashley is highly involved in our business strategy, holding key roles as one of our lead Financial Planners as well as Chairman of our Investment Committee.

Interests: Ashley is a keen squash player, competing in the Nottingham Squash Leagues.

David Rogerson is a Solicitor and Partner at Chattertons Legal Services and works out of their Newark office.

David has been a local solicitor in Newark for coming up to 30 years and specialises in Dispute Resolution work. He has been an active member of the local business community and lives locally.