THANK YOU , JOHN ! Aycliffe Business Park Ambassador calls time with retirement
BY MARTIN WALKER
Aycliffe Business Park Community ( ABPC ) has said thank you to one of its biggest ambassadors as he calls time on his career .
Business Durham ’ s John Parnell has retired after a lengthy career in business support and as a civil servant .
John was part of the original Aycliffe Business Park steering group which was set up informally in 2012 , and has continued as a trusted advisor since the organisation was formalised in 2016 .
He was awarded the coveted Ambassador gong at Aycliffe Business Park ’ s 2018 Make Your Mark awards ceremony in recognition of his services to the park .
John retires next month after nearly 10 years with Business Durham – and he looks back on his relationship with Aycliffe with great pride .
“ I ’ ve been associated with Aycliffe since the 1980s , when I worked for the Department for Trade and Industry ,” said John .
“ So I ’ ve seen the development of the park over the years and it ’ s been great to have played a part in the formation of Aycliffe Business Park Community .
“ Sometimes you can ’ t always make progress as quickly as you ’ d like – and , of course , Covid hasn ’ t helped over the last 18 months
– but the ABPC board is made up of loyal directors who give up their own time to do what they do .
“ We ’ re now seeing events coming back and a couple of new appointments which I ’ m sure will have a positive impact , so I look forward to seeing its development in the coming months and years .”
The ABPC board presented John with a large signed picture collage and gift vouchers at his final board meeting held on August 3 .
ABPC chair Kerina Clark said : “ We ’ re so grateful to John for his outstanding contribution to Aycliffe Business Park and all that we ’ ve achieved over the last nine or so years .
“ I ’ d like to also personally thank him for his consistent support and his ‘ above and beyond ’ approach to all he does .
“ His knowledge of the park and his connections with businesses has always been a huge asset , and he leaves a big void as we continue the work we ’ ve done as a group with John ’ s fantastic support .”
John is looking forward to spending more time with his family and added : “ I ’ ve never given up the hope of getting better at golf !
“ But I ’ m looking forward to just having a better relationship with time generally . Walking was always my passion so I ’ ll be doing a bit more of that . “ My family and grandchildren are also relocating from Norwich back to the North- East soon so I ’ m looking forward to seeing more of them .”
Originally from Croydon in South London , John moved to the North-East as a youngster and spent most of his schooling days in the Peterlee area .
The 68-year-old has also worked in the civil service , including roles for the Department for Trade and Industry , the Department for Education , the Funding Agency for Schools , Government Office North East and One North East , the regional development agency which was dissolved in 2012 .
He has spent more recent years as Business and Engagement Manager Account ( South ) for Business Durham , the business support service for Durham County Council , helping to deliver more and better jobs and a strong competitive economy .
Working within the Business Engagement Team , his role has been to engage with and proactively support businesses , connecting them with the right funding , advice , and networks they need to grow and thrive , and building long-term relationships to foster sustainable growth in County Durham .
Register your business for free on the Aycliffe Business Park website at aycliffebusinesspark . co . uk / put-me-on-the-map /
The magazine for Aycliffe Business Park | 29