The Institute of Directors (IoD) has strengthened its North East (North) branch team with the appointment ealier this month of Steve Rawlingson.

Steve is chief executive and founder of Newcastle-headquartered Samuel Knight Group, which supplies project manpower solutions to the global renewable energy and sustainable transportation sectors.

Over the last eight years, Samuel Knight Group has grown from four to 100 employees and is now a £30m turnover company operating throughout the UK and US.

Steve is passionate about the North East business community and helping local entrepreneurs to scale and grow their businesses.

IoD Ambassadors ensure that everything the Institute does places the member first. They enable greater connectivity, create influence and drive professional development opportunities while giving the Institute its all-important local voice.

Steve said: 
“It is a tremendous privilege to be joining the North East committee and to advocate for the talent that we are lucky enough to have in this region. I take huge pride in being able to inspire and support people throughout their business journeys with the IoD and look forward to working closely with my fellow members in the coming months.”

Sarah Waddington, who was appointed chair of IoD North East (North) in 2021, said: 
“Steve is an outstanding addition to our team. He shares the IoD’s passion for creating better directors, a better economy and a better world and will help to ensure the voice of the North East business community is heard loud and clear.”

The Institute of Directors is a non-party political organisation, founded in 1903, with approximately 20,000 members. Membership includes directors from right across the business spectrum – from media to manufacturing, professional services to the public and voluntary sectors. Members include CEOs of large corporations as well as entrepreneurial directors of start-up companies.

The IoD was granted a Royal Charter in 1906, instructing it to “represent the interests of members and of the business community to government and in the public arena, and to encourage and foster a climate favourable to entrepreneurial activity and wealth creation.”

The Charter also tasks the Institute with promoting “for the public benefit high levels of skill, knowledge, professional competence and integrity on the part of directors”, which the IoD seeks to achieve through its training courses and publications on corporate governance.

KeyFacts Energy Industry Directory: Samuel Knight International