EOL's Jan Smith takes Chair of Business Forum
A Maldon businesswoman, who recently won a NatWest Business Woman national award, is bringing her expertise to a new organisation aimed at boosting business and skills in the town.
Jan Smith, Chairman of EOL IT Services, was voted Chairperson of Maldon District Business Forum at its inaugural meeting at the Three Rivers Country Club in Cold Norton. In a vote among more than 50 people from town businesses, she beat former Maldon District Councillor Terry Quinlan for the role.
Jan said: “I am very pleased to have been elected and for the chance to put something back into the town in which EOL has developed in to the nationally respected company that it is today.”
“Our aim is to help Maldon prosper even more by developing business ideas and skills to the benefit of all. I am very keen to start driving this forward.”
Twelve years ago Jan started the highly-successful EOL IT Services, an asset recycling, data security and IT managed services company, from her kitchen table with start-up capital of just £20. She is also Principal of Little Owls Day Nursery in Danbury and manages Newko, which supplies serviced office and conference facilities.
Her latest Maldon-area venture, LOTA, is a dynamic Training Academy formed to respond to training needs at EOL, Little Owls Nursery and the business community as a whole. LOTA is aimed at bridging the gap between education and employment.
With its wide programme of courses it is Maldon’s only training provider and is expected to bring many benefits through providing well-trained staff to Maldon area employers.
With this emphasis of linking business needs to education, the Maldon District Business Forum audience of business people and council officials heard the views of representatives of the area’s three main secondary schools – The Plume, Maldon; William de Ferrers, South Woodham Ferrers; and St. Peter’s Burnham who all support Jan’s vision.
The meeting was also addressed by Mike Brophy Director, East of England, for Business in the Community, who spoke about the impact that businesses have on society and the environment through their responsible business/education programmes.
The aim of Maldon District Business Forum is to provide a discussion platform to advance the interests of businesses in the area. It is in line with the council pledge to maintain a dynamic commercial environment.
The district has a varied business community and is home to many long-established home-grown firms, large and small and from a variety of sectors. Membership is free.
