Thames Valley entrepreneurs join FSB Board

The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) has appointed two regional entrepreneurs to its member-led national Board of Directors.

IT cyber security and digital transformation specialist Olu Odeniyi and information management entrepreneur Alison North are joining the Board as Directors.

Both are experienced member volunteers at FSB, and will join the existing national Board of Directors, which is made up of FSB member small business owners.

FSB National Chairman Mike Cherry said: “FSB is proud to represent the UK’s small business and self-employed community. Our volunteers, alongside a dedicated staff team, work hard to support entrepreneurs right across the country and in every sector, and to give small businesses the big voice they deserve. Olu and Alison bring a wealth of experience and enthusiasm, and I’m delighted to welcome them to the national Board of Directors.”

Olu Odeniyi, an FSB volunteer in Thames Valley, said: “As a small business owner, I am passionate about helping other businesses to achieve their ambitions. I have long been involved in projects and volunteer roles to achieve positive change and relish the opportunity to join the Board and continue this work at a UK level. I’m delighted to have the chance to play my part in helping FSB deliver superior value to members and to ensure it continues to represent the rich breadth of the small business community.”

Olu started his own business 18 years ago offering consultancy, technical services and strategic planning within the Information Technology, Cyber Security and Digital Transformation specialist areas, having previously held a regional leadership position for a global corporate organisation. Working with the Thames Valley FSB Area Group, Olu proposed a “High Streets” Special Interest Group and helped direct it. He also liaised with local government to help improve communication and access for Covid-19 business support.

Alison North, who has served as FSB’s Area Lead for Swindon and Wiltshire, said: “Having been in business for 35 years, I’m dedicated to bringing my knowledge and experience to listen to members and understand their needs on a practical basis for today, and as a future-thinking basis for tomorrow. I’m looking forward to working alongside other Board members and volunteers to bring inspiration, innovation and pragmatism to support FSB as an agile, connected, knowledgeable, diverse organisation continuing to support small businesses of all sizes.”

Alison set up her first part-time business at 19, but it wasn’t until 1986 in her 30s that she founded a unique services company focussed on managing information. Understanding that there was to be a huge move from paper to electronic filing, she started down the road that brought us to the world of data we know today.

Alison is patron of the New Information Professionals Award and was the first woman to work on a North Sea oil platform in the 1980s.