WITH an OBE, a CBE, and an appointment as Lord Lieutenant for North Yorkshire, as well as ten board positions on public and private organisations in the last ten years, Barry Dodd was named this year’s Lifetime Achievement award winner.

Described by peers as a serial entrepreneur and wealth creator, Mr Dodd works throughout North Yorkshire to support business, promoting the region on a national and international level, as well as attracting, managing and distributing almost £240 million of Government and European funding through his position as chairman of the York, North Yorkshire and East Riding Local Enterprise Partnership.

Mr Dodd was the first person elected to the role of LEP chairman, appointed to run the business-led partnership with the public sector, working to help businesses in the region improve and grow.

Collecting his award, Mr Dodd said: "This award could not have come in a more important community to me than the York business community.

"The Press do a great job in being behind these awards. They help to drive up the efficiencies and drive up the performance of business in this area.

"York is a great world wide brand. The people that are here tonight, the companies and organisations, all have a brand, and it is the most important thing you can have; it distinguishes you.

"Your brand is part of York's brand, and York can only be as good as you, so I wish you all very well for the future."

With a motto of "business needs delivery, not words", Mr Dodd began his working life as a graduate trainee with ICI and spent five years within ICI management working in London, New York and Teesside. He left when the urge to work for himself got the better of him.

He founded his first company, GSM Graphic Arts Ltd as a two person start up in Thirsk. Through organic growth and 15 acquisitions within the last 15 years GSM has grown to become the largest manufacturer of industrial graphic products in Europe. In the UK, GSM Group run 4 manufacturing plants and a software house.

Living up to his reputation as serial entrepreneur, Mr Dodd is also chairman of Varlink, a fast growing distributor of mobile computing solutions, and led the board of Addpower Technologies, a high tech start up which developed an instantly rechargeable battery.

Ten years ago Mr Dodd decided to devote one day per week to unpaid public service. Current public sector activities include being a member of the UK Automotive Industry Council, and chairman and Pro-Chancellor for the University of Hull. His roles are the latest in a a long and impressive record of public service, with previousy appointments including board membership of Yorkshire Forward, the chairman of CONNECT Yorkshire, chairman of Yorkshire and Humber Sustainable Development Company and Vice Chairman of Business Link, York and North Yorkshire.

Since receiving his OBE in 2006, Mr Dodd has accomplished many notable achievements. In recognition of his work, he was awarded a CBE in 2014 for services to the Yorkshire Economy and voluntary service to the community.

On September 1st last year, Barry was announced as the next Lord-Lieutenant for North Yorkshire, the Queen’s official representative for the district following the retirement of Lord Crathorne.