About Simon Knighton

Simon began his career in the oil business working both as a project financial analyst in the UK and then in exploration internationally as a drilling engineer. After becoming Managing Director of two international oilfield service companies he left to start up and run his own businesses.

Over the next 5 years he grew his own companies to form a national and international leisure industry group that were subsequently successfully sold when Simon made a personal decision to work in the social economy.

Since then Simon has worked at Director or Chief Executive level for some of the UK’s best known charities and social enterprises. His main contribution has been to bring commercial and entrepreneurial expertise to operational or trading activities for efficiency or income generation. Many of the initiatives that he has led, or initiated on behalf of others, have become nationally recognised and, as well as raising funds and building corporate partnerships, have had significant impact on public policy. These include:

· The initiation of corporately sponsored homework study clubs in Wales for Business In the Community later adopted in a UK education white paper

· The organisation of the Millennium Debate of the Age for Age Concern UK, raising the nations public policy makers awareness to the impact of the aging population profile on all walks of life (link to Millennium Papers)

· The leadership of the £3bn Motability Schemes award winning Customer First initiative through its 3000 dealers

· The set up of subsidiary multi million pound turnover finance and insurance companies (with private shareholders) for the Enham Trust

· The outsourcing of an DH/NHS service for people living with long term health conditions to form England’s first national community interest company (CIC)

He is currently the non executive Chairman of Sirona Care & Health (one of Britain’s leading social enterprises), the Cavell Nurses’ Trust (a national benevolent charity) and of the governing body of St Michael’s C of E Primary school

Outside the workplace Simon is a keen sailor and mountaineer. In addition to his recent expedition in the Himalaya’s he has climbed in South America, Europe , around Britain and has twice sailed the Atlantic as skipper.