Business

Guy Douglas, left, and Tim Smith from Reading UK CIC are moving on
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Reading business leaders moving on

By Paul Cassell
July 26, 2012

A business leader who dedicated the past eight years to driving forward Reading’s economy is to move on this autumn.

Tim Smith will leave his role as executive director of Reading UK CIC on October 16 to take a up a position as business director for the new Thames Valley Local Enterprise Partnership.

The economic development company’s Business Improvement District (BID) manager Guy Douglas also left last Wednesday to pursue a project with the Association of Town Centre Management (ATCM).

The Oracle manager Steve Belam, who chairs Reading UK, praised the “valuable contribution” both Mr Smith and Mr Douglas had made to Reading adding their decision to leave was inevitable because of their success in the town.

He said: “Tim and Guy are very good at what they do and ultimately we should be proud to have developed and produced two people that have gone on to bigger and better things.

“They are both competent individuals who have done an exceptional job for Reading UK CIC and Reading itself, and the task ahead is to find someone with similar skills but who also might be able to bring something slightly different to both roles.

“I wish them both success for the future, and I would like to thank them publicly for what they have done for Reading.”

Broad Street Mall manager Steve Fawke said: “Tim has done so much to get us where we are.

“One of his phrases in board meetings was ‘row, steer and cheer’ in deciding whether we should lead, help something along or celebrate an event when we were looking at projects.

“We are going to struggle to get someone of his calibre in the time we have got.

“His success was getting to know everybody he needed to know and he would get things done.

“He is a ‘can do’ man, and Guy was very similar although in a different role.

“They are both going to be big shoes to fill and I wish them well in their future endeavours.”

Reading UK CIC was formed under the leadership of Mr Smith in 2007 to promote and sustain the economic development of the town and is led by a board made up of senior figures from businesses across the town.

Prior to this he was heavily involved in the regeneration of Reading as city centre manager and established the first BID two years earlier to secure commercial investment in the town.

Mr Douglas successfully instigated a five-year renewal of the BID after joining Reading UK CIC in 2008 and the company is now developing its third improvement plan.

The BID has helped cover the cost of extra policing, additional cleaning of the town centre, Reading’s Christmas lights and events including the Outside: Inside Festival, Open for Art and Eat Reading Live.

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Most recent user comments 12 of 12

Well Reading town center never seems to be empty. I think that we are (well at least I am) extremely fortunate to live somewhere, where it does attract

frownieface
31/07/2012 at 08:11

Well Reading town center never seems to be empty. I think that we are (well at least I am) extremely fortunate to live somewhere, where it does attract shoppers, where it does attract nightlife, where we hold one of the biggest music festivals. Reading has it's problems as any other town has, cut some slack, I am sure that whoever takes over will do as good a job as these two.

frownieface
31/07/2012 at 08:11

Personally I think it is anti-social behaviour to have more than one job - I am unemployed - I could do that - gissa job. dish out more ASBO's I say.

David Williams, Reading
26/07/2012 at 21:16

Mr Douglas left last Wednesday? That's been kept quiet...hmmm

Dave Smith, Reading
26/07/2012 at 14:53

Very sorry to see Guy go. He's understood that character and diversity in Reading town centre is extremely important, and has done a huge amount to promote it. All the very best to him.

Gareth Epps
26/07/2012 at 14:45

@ ilovenews.... that's not me, I'm much better looking than both of those guys, and younger ;)

Bruce Wayne
26/07/2012 at 13:11

Not too sure about the Batmobile,1979 Ford Cortina more like!

Dustybin, Reading
26/07/2012 at 12:29

@Damocles ... are you mad? Over the past few years there's been a big shift to making the town centre a great place to be. All the stuff like Jelly's La Nuit Blanche, the food festival, the Outdoor:Indoor stuff, even the way in which the Christmas light switch on has managed have been to Reading's benefit. We're going to miss this dynamic duo as they speed off in their batmobile. Hope whoever is next is better than or as good as them.

Arthur Mo
26/07/2012 at 12:12

Arthur Mo
26/07/2012 at 12:01

If this article is the truth then it surely is stranger than fiction. I would like a definition of success, please.

I guess Mr Fawke, Mr Belam and Mr Murrill the editor of the EP could not possibly be biased as they are all directors of Reading UK CIC and to describe the company as a less than beneficial contributor to the town might reflect on them. The BID has helped remove accountability for the town centre and created a less than even playing field economically and socially across Reading and indeed taking a very restricted mandate beyond its boundaries. I wish Mr Smith and Mr Douglas success in their new job and trust that with their departure Reading UK CIC will fold.