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© Copyright 2021 Inspire Youth Zone. Registered Charity Number 1167309. Registered Company Number 09972518. Website by ATTAIN.
Matt Hirst is the CEO of leading energy technology provider ESG with over 700 staff and operations in the USA, Canada and the UK. ESG’s UK headquarters are based in Chorley, Lancashire.
ESG empowers global leaders in energy to deliver on the future promise of energy through its SAAS solutions for Customer and Market Data Management and Smart Metering. Matt has a background in Sales and Marketing and led a MBO of UK company Utiligroup in 2014 before it was acquired by ESG in 2017 and has been with the business for 24 years. Matt won an EY Entrepreneur of the Year award in 2016 as well as being a judge in 2018 and in 2017 his team was awarded the UK Regional and National Mid Market Management Team of the Year awards by the BVCA. Matt holds a BSc (Hons) degree from The University of Salford and a MBA from Lancaster University.
Chorley Borough Council’s Deputy Chief Executive, Chris Sinnott, is a trustee and board member for Inspire Youth Zone and has been instrumental in the success since opening.
Chris is an extremely enthusiastic manager working in the public sector. He has significant experience in leading change and improvement across local authorities. In addition, he has a successful track record in developing successful partnership working and engaging and communicating with residents and other stakeholders.
Inspire Chorley Youth Zone has close ties with CG Professional and have cemented that further with the appointment of Heather Aust to the Board in 2021.
Heather qualified as an employment law specialist in 2008 and developed her career in Manchester at a top 100 UK law firm as part of a Legal 500 Tier 1 team. She joined CG Professional as Partner in November 2020.
Providing support to clients across wide ranging industries including in the charity sector, Heather advises on day-to-day HR workplace issues and larger restructure and litigious matters. As such she is well placed to support the Board with people issues including recruitment and retention and sits on our Remuneration Committee.
Heather has always taken a pro-active stance to Corporate Social Responsibility, previously being involved in the University of Manchester’s Legal Advice Centre and participating in Young Enterprise schemes.
Heather provides Inspire with her legal expertise from her office a stone’s throw from the Youth Zone. She is motivated and enthusiastic to support young people in the local area and in assisting Inspire Youth Zone and the Board in achieving their objectives to help make a difference.
With a background in accounting, banking and venture capital, Matt assists the team with Finance / Treasury related activities at Inspire. Matt is a Chartered Accountant, having qualified with Deloitte, and subsequently went on to work in the Leveraged Finance team at RBS.
Following this, Matt moved into the world of private investment, managing and leading a wide range of investments into fast-growing companies at Seneca Partners. He graduated from the University of Manchester with a degree in Management with Accounting & Finance.
In his spare time, Matt enjoys watching and playing almost all sports, although predominantly football and golf, as well as spending time out and about with his two dogs. Matt also mentors a young person at Wigan Youth Zone.
Andrew started working in the banking industry in 2008 following a number of years working in SME businesses throughout the Northwest. Initially Andrew worked in card acquiring with Barclaycard before moving to Lloyds in 2010 where he spent 6 years.
Whilst at Lloyds Andrew worked in a number of roles and took up his 1st role in the commercial bank as a Relationship Director working with SME clients in 2013.
In 2016 Andrew left Lloyds to take up a position at Lombard, part of the RBS Group, as a Business Development Director targeting both SME and blue chip clients.
Over this 10 year period Andrew completed numerous transactions with substantial lending throughout.
Andrew is an accredited chartered banker having passed his chartered banking lending diploma. He also has diplomas in manufacturing (accredited by Warwick Manufacturing group) and management (accredited by The Open University).
Andrew not only brings a wealth of banking experience but an extensive portfolio of professional connections which will help support new and existing clients.
Hi, I’m Ryan and I’m the Head of Operations at Inspire Youth Zone.
Email: ryan.powell@inspireyouthzone.org