Directors and Biographical details

Jon Peter Pither – Non- Executive Chairman, aged 73
Jon Pither brings considerable experience of public and private companies and is a non-executive director of St Helen’s Capital plc. For 20 years from 1969 he developed Amari plc, an international group of engineering companies which was acquired by Glynwed International plc in 1988.
Subsequently Jon has developed a range of corporate interests, including the chairmanship of Active Capital Trust plc, and a number of other public and private companies. He is also deputy chairman of the PLUS Markets Advisory Group and was a member of the AIM advisory board.

Christopher William Dalton – Executive Director, aged 53
Christopher Dalton served an apprenticeship with APV-Hall International where he was trained in all aspects of pipework, both in the workshop and the drawing office. Christopher joined Tarvail in 1984 as a tradesman and since this time he has worked on every type of contract undertaken by Tarvail and has progressed through the various management stages of the business to directorship. In addition to his overall responsibilities as CEO, Chris is responsible for the sales, and management of major projects.

Neil Grant McGowan – Non– Executive Director, aged 69
Neil McGowan graduated from Cambridge University in 1962 with a BA honours degree in economics and law. He started his business career with Thomson McLintock & Co in London, qualifying as a chartered accountant in 1965. After a further four years in the profession he joined The Charterhouse Group as deputy financial controller, subsequently becoming group company secretary and thereafter finance director of its electrical wholesaling subsidiary. During the 1970’s Neil was head of finance at the Highlands & Islands Development Board. He later joined International Distillers & Vintners Limited, the wine and spirit division of the Grand Metropolitan group of companies, and was finance director from 1984 to 1988. Neil left Grand Metropolitan in 1990 and has since pursued a career acting as part time finance director to a variety of companies. He is currently finance director of The Weather Lottery plc and IQ Holdings plc.

Steven Robert Hancock, Executive Director, aged 42
Steven Hancock is an experienced engineer in the gas industry. Prior to joining BGC, Steven was with British Gas for fourteen year and Stoke-on-Trent City Council for seven years, undertaking various engineering and management roles at both. Steven has extensive knowledge and experience of working with local authorities and housing associations and has maintained excellent contacts with them since
leaving to join BGC. Alongside Mark Sims, Steven oversees the management of BGC and has been responsible for marketing and corporate strategy. Steven is a qualified engineer with Engineering Council incorporated engineer status and a member of the Institution of Gas Engineers.

Mark Sims, Executive Director, aged 35
Mark worked as a sub contractor for British Gas prior to setting up his own gas and boiler retail business in the early 1990s.  He subsequently refocused the business to the servicing and maintenance of gas fired boilers and central heating services before taking up employment at Stoke-on-Trent City Council in 1995.  Having left Stoke-on-Trent city council in 2000 he reverted back to his original sole trader business, which became BGC in 2002.  Mark oversees the management of BGC, initiating and leading its growth strategy. Mark was appointed to the board of Spectacle in March 2008

John Christopher David Parsons – Non-Executive Director, aged 62
David Parsons has had an extensive career spanning the UK, USA and Africa. He has held a wide number of positions including group chief accountant and group company secretary for Dean Developments Group Limited, finance director for Cornish Leisure World Limited and vice president – US operations for David Neiman of London Inc. More recently he has worked as an administration and business consultant through Prime Administer Limited. David is a member of the Institute of Chartered Secretaries & Administrators and the Chartered Management Institute and holds an MA in strategic financial management.

In the temporary absence of Neil McGowan through injury, David is acting as the temporary finance director