New beginnings at Bryson
Bryson Charitable Group’s new Chair, Hugh Crossey, outlines his vision for the organisation.
The leading Northern Ireland social enterprise, Bryson Charitable Group, has appointed ex-PwC Managing Partner, Hugh Crossey, as the organisation’s new Chair.
Bryson employs over 660 people, with an annual turnover of more than £ 31 million and is amongst the top 2 per cent of companies in Northern Ireland.
Before accepting the Chair’s position, Hugh toured Bryson’s seven subsidiary social business companies and its shared central service operation. During discussions with management on the organisation’s Vision, financial performance and commitment to the local community; and after a detailed appraisal of Bryson’s performance and potential, Hugh had no qualms about signing-up: “I am enormously impressed by the commitment of the staff and their focus on delivering an excellent service across Northern Ireland and into the Republic of Ireland. I am particularly struck by their commitment to the most vulnerable and disadvantaged people and communities in our society.
“I was initially concerned that, moving from a vibrant Private Sector company into the so-called Third Sector, would mean cultural and operational challenges, but I was delighted to discover that Bryson is an organisation which already reflects a culture of innovation and enterprise, that challenges anything I have seen anywhere in the Private Sector.”
One of the factors that helped persuade him to take on the Chair’s role was Bryson’s recent Queen’s Enterprise Award for Enterprise in Sustainable Development. He was also impressed by the commitment of the volunteers and staff and their determination to embed its Vision of “building better futures” in the Bryson Mission.
Hugh spent over 30 years with PwC becoming a Partner in 1987 and was elected Managing Partner and Regional Chairman in 2007. He has considerable regional, national and inter-national experience and as a highly respected management consultant, he worked on some of the UK’s largest Public Sector technology and transformation projects. Yet, for a confirmed Private Sector Manager, the transition to the Community Sector seems to have been a seamless transition: “I was delighted to be offered the opportunity to Chair and lead an organisation like Bryson.
“This is a socially focused enterprise, but with a real commercial edge and for over 100 years Bryson has been making a real difference to people’s lives in Northern Ireland.
“At PwC I was closely involved in discussions with Public and Private Sector leaders in relation to re-balancing a Northern Ireland economy. It was clear then and is even more evident now, that the Private and Third Sector must take up the slack of vastly reduced Public Sector funding.
“Many of the issues that are hampering recovery are beyond the ability of the Northern Ireland Executive – and even the UK Government – to solve. That means there will be no quick fix for the local economy and we need to face that reality. However, in the current climate of economic austerity, social enterprises will become an invaluable part of the ultimate solution. I am certain that strong and commercial social enterprises, like Bryson, have the potential to profoundly alter the shape and cost of Public Sector service delivery.
“I expect Bryson to be at the forefront of thought leadership and action, as a partner with the Public and Private Sectors, in re-balancing economy and building better futures for all the people of Northern Ireland.”
For more information check out www.brysongroup.org
