Marianne moves up as new BPF Chair

Bradford Chamber of Commerce Property Forum has a new chair. Marianne McCallum has taken over from Allan Booth, the chair of the last two years. Marianne, Planning Director with WYG Group, will now lead the property network up to 2021.   The Property Forum has regular networking meetings, but also contributes to the Chamber’s lobbying and representation activities with the support of its specialist businesses. Marianne previously contributed to a recent success for the Forum follow on from work it did in 2018: businesses had been telling agents and the Chamber direct that they were struggling to find alternate premises to relocate to or were in unsuitable buildings to expand in. The Chamber’s 2018 report, ‘Creating Space for Future Success’, saw Bradford Council appoint consultants to update the District’s Employment Land Review, last published in 2011. Marianne contributed significantly to the writing of that report, its subsequent promotion, and reference to it in lobbying activities. “I’m pleased to be heading up BPF for the next two years,” said Marianne. “The Forum does a lot of good work, spear-headed by the Steering Group, and I thank them for their contributions. Allan Booth also needs to be mentioned, as he’s done a great job and I’m pleased that he’s staying with us on the group. Bradford is making good strides but I’m confident that we can push that progress further and faster, so I’m up for the challenge.” Marianne only joined WYG in 2018; she had previously been with Turley for 11 years. She is a school governor and has visited Freetown in Sierra Leone, twice, to work with local charities supporting the disadvantaged in the community. She helped with building projects at a school and hospital and visited orphanages and other charities. Allan Booth is a founding Director of Rance Booth Smith Architects. Marianne will be supported by incoming vice-chair Jonathan O’Connor of Walker Singleton Chartered Surveyors.