Alex is the Managing Director at Beards the Jewellers and the sixth generation of his family to run the historic business. Raised in Cheltenham and educated at Cheltenham College, he began with Saturday work before gaining experience at Cartier in London and later completing his Graduate Gemologist training in New York.

He returned to the family business to take on a leadership role and has been running it independently with his team since around 2014. Beards marked its 220th anniversary in 2024, making it one of Gloucestershire’s oldest businesses.

Alex also serves as Chair of the Cheltenham BID Board, championing the town’s business community.

Philip is the Director of Cheltenham’s Under The Prom and Coco nightclubs, bringing many years of experience in the licensed trade and entertainment sector.

He studied Marketing at the University of Gloucestershire, and has since built a diverse career across nightlife, events and hospitality, including operational leadership at Coco and involvement in multiple related businesses. He has also adapted his ventures creatively through challenges, such as outdoor events and virtual cocktail masterclasses.

Philip currently serves as Deputy Chair of the Cheltenham BID Board, using his industry expertise to support the wider business community.

Claire is the Brand Experience Manager at John Lewis & Partners.  As well as being responsible for the events and marketing team at the Cheltenham Store, Claire also oversees the many wider community projects that the Company gets involved with.  Living locally, Claire’s contribution to the BID a board member ensures she can make a meaningful difference in the town centre.

Scott is the Centre Manager at Regent Arcade.  He has more than 25 years of retail experience and has been managing shopping centres of different sizes accross the region for most of that time.

Scott was on the shadow BID board and formed part of the original BID board.  During the recent planning for the development of Regent Arcade, Scott took a short break from the board. He rejoined the BID board in March 2020.

Bridget has been the Managing Partner of Willans since 2016. With three years of shared experience before that, she previously headed the firm’s residential property team. Bridget’s passion for community building has been a major focus for Willans during her leadership.

As a responsible and ethical firm, she recognises the importance of contributing to the local community’s prosperity. From collaborating with local business organisations, such as the Chamber of Commerce and universities, to sponsoring popular events such as Cheltenham Festivals and the Gloucestershire Business Awards, Bridget and Willans are committed to putting Gloucestershire on the map.

With her wealth of experience and dedication to community-building, Bridget is a valuable asset to Willans, Cheltenham BID and the local area.

Demelsa has been the Marketing and Communications Manager for The Brewery Quarter since 2008, leading its annual marketing strategy, events, PR, advertising, and digital channels, and contributing to the £30m Phase II redevelopment.

She previously managed marketing, PR, events and commercial activity at Eastgate Shopping Centre in Gloucester and has also held marketing roles with Savills and Endsleigh Insurance, giving her extensive experience in retail and leisure marketing.

Councillor Hay is the council leader for Cheltenham Borough Council.  She was accepted onto the BID board in August 2021, following a successful renewal for a the BID’s second term.

Rowena has dedicated her life to Cheltenham.  Having been in politics since her days at Cheltenham Technical College, she has been a councillor since 2002. She has also been a local magistrate for 35 years.

Helen is Company Director and owner one of the UK’s top fine‑dining restaurants and a Michelin‑starred destination known for its hyper‑seasonal menus and exceptional hospitality.

A Cheltenham resident and business owner for over a decade, she brings more than twenty years of hospitality experience to the restaurant, where her warm, personal approach helps create the intimate, welcoming atmosphere Lumiere is celebrated for. Deeply passionate about independent businesses, Helen is committed to helping Cheltenham thrive not only as a place to live and work, but as a vibrant destination that draws visitors from near and far.

Nigel has been the Chief Operating Officer at Cheltenham Ladies’ College since 2016 and brings wide-ranging leadership experience from senior roles in the UK and Australia, including over a decade in multi‑channel retailing.

His earlier career includes positions at Brora, figleaves.com, iForce and Frank Daniels Pty Ltd, along with directorships at CLC Services Ltd and Friends of Cheltenham Ladies’ College in Hong Kong, plus eight years as a Non‑Executive Board Member for the National Gallery Company Ltd.

He holds a Chemistry degree from the University of Nottingham and is a strong advocate for sustainability initiatives at the College. In his spare time, he enjoys kayaking on the Severn and mountain biking in the Malvern Hills.

Richard King brings over 30 years of extensive experience, having worked with a variety of companies at both regional and national levels. He is currently the Head of Construction at Cheltenham Borough Council, where he is helping to deliver the Golden Valley Development, along with several other projects within the town.

His previous roles include senior positions at a property consultancy, social housing organisations, and a major national energy supplier, where he led a team delivering projects across the company’s UK corporate property portfolio. Additionally, Richard spent over 13 years working for a regional commercial property developer, where he led the construction of numerous new developments across Gloucestershire and the South West.

Being a local, Richard is excited to join Cheltenham BID and is looking forward to complementing his work at Cheltenham Borough Council and contributing to making Cheltenham an even better place to live and work.

Richard Barber is the Store Manager for Marks & Spencers on Cheltenham High Street.

He has worked for M&S for over 20 years, and although he has spent most of the past decade running stores in the West Midlands, he actually began his career as a Customer Assistant right here in Cheltenham.

With a passion for good governance and being a constructive critical friend when needed, he aims to remain available and accessible to represent the views and needs of BID members while helping ensure the BID’s key messages are heard and understood.

As the General Manager of Clockwise Offices Cheltenham, I am a results-oriented leader dedicated to driving business operations and strategic growth. Since taking the helm, we have led a complete operational turnaround, successfully growing our occupancy from 67% to 98% in just over a year through robust financial governance and community-focused planning. My professional background is rooted in high-performance environments, having transitioned from a career in Fitness & rugby to leadership in sales and business development. Outside of the office, I remain a keen sportsman and will take any excuse to train or get out on the field.

I am most excited about collaborating with civic leaders to ensure Cheltenham remains a premier destination to live, work, and do business.

Chris is one of the founders of Dodo Pubs, an independent pub company with a strong presence in Cheltenham and a real stake in the town’s success.

He joined the board to contribute an operator’s perspective on what helps Cheltenham function as a vibrant, commercially successful town centre. Chris is particularly interested in how the BID can help local businesses engage more effectively with the town’s events, footfall and wider economic opportunities.

He is excited to support a mission that helps Cheltenham thrive not only as a place to visit, but as a place where independent businesses can genuinely prosper.

Will is a Director of Patents at Albright IP, where he specialises in guiding innovative businesses through the full lifecycle of intellectual property protection.

With a technical background in chemistry and chemical physics from the University of Oxford and years of experience advising SMEs, start‑ups, and global companies, Will is known for his ability to translate complex inventions into clear, commercially focused patent strategies. Since joining Albright IP in 2013, Will has built a reputation for practical, business‑oriented advice across a wide range of technologies.

Based in Cheltenham, where he both lives and works, Will plays a key role in supporting the region’s thriving innovation community. He is keen to assist with the BID in steering Cheltenham to being as good a town as it can be.

Caroline is the Operations Director and Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) at CoreTech Security, and a founding member of the executive team that has scaled the business from 8 to 80 staff.

After starting her career as a software engineer, they moved to Gloucestershire 15 years ago and became part of the Cheltenham technical community. With a background in mathematics and software development, she brings a strong understanding of engineering teams and practical insight to problem‑solving and leadership.

She is excited to be working alongside my new colleagues to champion Cheltenham as a great place to live and work, and to ensure value-for-money for levy-paying businesses and the local community

Adam Pangbourne is the Pub Manager at The Moon Under Water, a JD Wetherspoon venue in Cheltenham, where he is known for his strong work ethic and commitment to customer service in a fast‑paced environment.

Under his management, the pub has achieved a five‑star food hygiene rating, with Adam crediting his team’s dedication to maintaining the highest standards. He graduated from the University of Gloucestershire with a degree in Physical Education and has called Cheltenham home for around 15 years. Passionate about sport, health and wellbeing, Adam also enjoys travelling and exploring new places around the world.

He is motivated to bring experience, perspective, and commitment to the organisation, and he looks forward to playing an active role in helping Cheltenham continue to thrive.