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Hampshire Business Leaders Urged To Do More On Diversity



The positive contribution of neurodiversity to the workplace was one of the key themes of Hampshire Chamber’s latest annual general meeting.


Members were urged to review their company recruitment practices and view greater inclusivity as a strategic advantage in business. Guest speaker Marie Greenhalgh, Relationships Director at specialist education provider Inclusion Education, told the Basingstoke gathering that businesses which embrace neurodiversity are better positioned for future growth, especially as Gen Z enters the workforce with higher rates of cognitive variance. Marie said:

“In today’s competitive and evolving world, businesses need more than just traditional talent, they need diverse minds that bring fresh perspectives, creative problem-solving and unique strengths."

“Neurodivergent individuals, those with conditions such as autism, ADHD, dyslexia, dyspraxia, and others, offer exactly that. They often possess exceptional attention to detail, creative thinking, resilience and strategic insight, qualities that are not only valuable but often rare.”


Marie’s call was echoed by fellow speakers Barry Smith, chair of Hampshire Chamber’s Basingstoke Business Strategy Group, and Matthew Cleaver, Chief Executive of Anvil Arts.


Their presentations complemented a meeting formally organised to review the Chamber’s business performance over the past year and confirm its Board configuration. Describing 2024-25 as a ‘year of investment’ which resulted in a small financial loss, Ross McNally, Chief Executive and Executive Chair, said the forecast was a return to surplus in 2026. And he stressed that events and training income had increased by 16%, one of a series of positive developments.


Ross said two external compliance audits had passed the Chamber’s support for international trade with 100% scores. Activities included the issuing of more than 5,700 documents, with nearly 800 being export or import declarations.


At the same time, more than 2,500 bookings had been made for Chamber training sessions, networking opportunities and other events.


Major occasions included the Southampton business symposium SOGROW, the annual Southampton Boat Show lunch, the fourth year of the Portsmouth & South Coast Business Week and, in Basingstoke, the business sustainability conference and expo Unlocking Hampshire’s Green Potential.


Ross also highlighted the signing of an international UK-EU accord between Hampshire Chamber and Drogheda & District Chamber in Ireland. There was a focus on skills too, with Ross reporting more than 400 engagements between businesses and the Chamber-led Local Skills Improvement Plan for the Solent.


Skills support was a key policy area where the Chamber had lobbied or provided direct insight to government, Ross explained. Other priorities flagged with Ministers included business grants and financial support, transport infrastructure and connectivity, CSR and sustainability.


The meeting, held at the Absolutely Offices in Grove House, Basingstoke, confirmed the re-appointment of Mandy Boughton of Ancasta Yacht Services as Chamber President, a role with both an ambassadorial and lobbying remit and the internal function of providing corporate governance to the Board.


As well as Mandy, two other non-executive directors were given the green light to serve a second three-year term of office: Andrew Kaye of South Hampshire College Group and Richard Thompson of RJT International.


Ross praised the contributions of former President Peter Taylor of law firm Paris Smith and fellow non-executive director Joe Jeffers of Hambledon Vineyard, who are both stepping down after seven years’ service each.


And he thanked Donna Jones, Police and Crime Commissioner for Hampshire & the Isle of Wight and Chair of the National Association of Police & Crime Commissioners, who was appointed a non-executive director in 2024 and stepped down earlier this year.



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  • Writer: Sophie Andrews - Editorial Assistant
    Sophie Andrews - Editorial Assistant
  • Sep 24, 2023
  • 3 min read

Updated: Oct 27, 2023


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The fast-growing chain of gymnastics clubs named after Leeds-born Olympic medallist Nile Wilson is continuing to expand with the acquisition of a Beth Tweddle Gymnastics centre based in Mansfield.


Established in 2019 with the vision of increasing participation in the sport at all levels, the first Nile Wilson Gymnastics Club opened in Dinnington, Rotherham, and was quickly followed by a second club in Bramley, Leeds, last year and a third club in Coventry in early 2023.


The acquisition of the Nottinghamshire gymnastics club enables the business to expand into the East Midlands as it pursues its vision of creating a network of gymnastics clubs around the UK that ‘change the game’ by delivering unique and more engaging activities, balanced against the requirements of gymnastics programmes. The clubs are suitable for all ages, offering pre-school programmes and recreational gymnastics for 4-16 year olds, through to adult gymnastics.


Beth Tweddle Gymnastics will be re-branded as Nile Wilson Gymnastics Mansfield and is already open at Portland Retail Park. The venue features an 8,000 square foot facility with state-of-the-art equipment for gymnasts, and Nile Wilson Gymnastics has also taken a lease for the entire first floor of the premises which it plans to refurbish to provide a 21,000 square foot gym in total which will make it one of the most significant facilities in the Midlands, able to host regional and national gymnastics events. The venue also features parent viewing areas with cafeteria facilities, as well as changing and toilet facilities. It is expected that more jobs for coaches in the Midlands will be created as the club more than doubles capacity at the Mansfield club.


The acquisition completed on 2nd August with Nile Wilson Gymnastics once again supported by Leeds law firm Clarion which also advised on its Leeds and Coventry sites. The Clarion team included Caitlin Hare (corporate) and Grace Allison (property).


Luke Sutton, director of Nile Wilson Gymnastics said: “We are absolutely delighted that we have made this acquisition and opened Nile Wilson Gymnastics Mansfield. As a group of people, led by Nile, we are laser focused on creating the best possible gymnastics experience for both gymnasts and parents at all our clubs. Our aim is for everyone to leave our clubs with a smile on their face."


“We have some major development plans for our club in Mansfield and it will become a centre point for gymnasts and coaches in the Midlands. Our overall business continues to go from strength to strength and this acquisition is another step forward in an exciting journey that we have mapped out.”

Caitlin Hare of Clarion adds: “It’s really satisfying to see such a successful Yorkshire-based business continuing to grow and expand beyond the region. We look forward to work alongside the Nile Wilson Gymnastics team as it pursues its ambitious vision.”


Nile’s passion for gymnastics began at Leeds Gymnastics Club when he was just five years old. In March 2014, he won the British Junior Champion title and, in the same year, he became the first British gymnast ever to win five gold medals at the European Junior Gymnastics Championships. Nile went on to compete in the In 2016 Rio Olympics where he won a bronze medal in the High Bar final, again a first for GB in gymnastics. In 2017, Nile was placed sixth in the All-Round World final and in 2018 he won five medals at the Commonwealth Games, three Gold and two Silver, to take his Commonwealth medal total to nine.

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