Dave’s drive leads the way

Dave Benstead: speaking at the One Oldham Business Awards

DAVE Benstead, chairman of the Oldham Business Leadership Group, and director for HR, IT and Systems at Diodes Inc, has been nominated for a Pride in Oldham award in the business category.

Although he doesn’t live in the town, Mr Benstead has devoted much of his private and personal time to supporting a range of initiatives in the borough from his office base at the semi-conductor manufacturer in Scottfield Road, Chadderton.

Mr Benstead has worked with the public sector in a voluntary capacity to facilitate economic growth in Oldham since 2004 when he formed the Economic Partnership.

He chaired the Economy and Enterprise Board and has been instrumental in establishing the increasingly influential Oldham Business Leadership Group.

Making the nomination, Oldham Council’s principal economic and business liaison officer June Smith describes Mr Benstead as a “tireless and selfless worker for Oldham”.

She added: “Dave gives his time to provide a business perspective to drive forwards local projects and sits on the board of the regional science centre and MAHDLO.

“He is a regional taskforce chairman for Young Enterprise and uses this position to raise the profile of enterprise activity across Oldham’s youth — for which he was awarded the Queens Award for Enterprise Promotion in 2011.

“As chairman of Business Leadership Group he is leading the setting up of the Community Interest Company which will seek to deliver activity across Oldham in furtherance of the economic growth agenda.”

Mr Benstead said: “There have been so many worthy nominees and winners of these awards over the past ten years. I feel privileged to be in their company.”