Vice President Dr Rebecca Gater, Principal and Chief Executive, Solihull College & University Centre Rebecca Gater, serving as Principal and Chief Executive of Solihull College and University Centre, holds a pivotal position within the Solihull borough, dedicated to enhancing residents' lives and bolstering economic prosperity. Since 2016, she has been a senior leader at the college, assuming her current role in 2022. With a Doctorate in Senior Leadership and 25 years in Further Education to date, including 18 years in leadership and management, Rebecca brings extensive experience to her position. Her focus lies in strengthening local businesses through targeted training and skills initiatives, addressing skills gaps, and nurturing talent pipelines to enhance efficiency and productivity. Rebecca's leadership is marked by a relentless pursuit of excellence, both shaping the educational landscape and fostering a vibrant local economy. Beyond education, she actively participates in the Solihull Chamber of Commerce's Executive Committee, further showcasing her commitment to excellence. Notably, Solihull College and University Centre stands as one of the largest employers in Solihull, further emphasising its integral role in the community's economic fabric. As a patron and headline sponsor of the Annual Awards, Rebecca ensures the college remains deeply intertwined with local business development and prosperity, reinforcing its position as a cornerstone of the community. Kim Hulse, Director, K Hulse Consulting and Co-Founder of Visit Knowle Kim has twenty five years of experience of product management and marketing. For the last ten years she has worked with independent retailers and small businesses as a consultant focusing on defining the customer offer, mapping the customer journey and developing trading & marketing strategies. Working with small businesses on growth plans and new projects, Kim offers a sounding board, creative ideas and action plans for businesses. Kim has been part of the Visit Knowle team since it founded in 2019, leading the marketing strategy and liaising with local businesses. Working with volunteers from the community and Knowle businesses she’s delivered projects including marketing Visit Knowle, Late Night Shopping, a new website and even knitted hanging baskets. Kim has worked with local stakeholders to deliver “support local” campaigns, to raise the profile of Knowle and its businesses and as such is a strong advocate for supporting local businesses and local places. In 2023 Kim joined Visit Solihull’s Tourism Steering Group. Local to Solihull, Kim is an active member of the Chamber and enjoys meeting local businesses. Having worked closely with independent businesses across retail, hospitality, and beauty she is aware of the challenges and opportunities local businesses face.
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