TWO non-executive directors of Larne and Ballyclare-based business enterprise agency Ledcom have officially retired after both serving 36 years.
Arthur Henderson and Roy Beggs have been members of Ledcom’s board since the company’s inception in 1985, where they oversaw the early days of the enterprise and watched it go from strength to strength alongside their 13 non-executive director colleagues.
Beginning his career as an engineer for Harland & Wolff, Arthur was chairman from 1992 until 2013, having volunteered to be a member of Ledcom’s board after reading an advertisement in the local newspaper in 1984.
Roy, a former Ulster Unionist Party councillor and MP for East Antrim, also joined the board in 1985 and says one of his highlights has been seeing the growth of employment opportunities that Ledcom has provided over the years.
“The consistent growth and progress of Ledcom has just been remarkable,” Roy said.
“This is all due to the steady commitment of the board of directors and the reliable staff who are under good leadership.
“Ledcom has been a fantastic asset to the area, especially when we’ve seen some of the large companies making redundancies, the company has been able to assist those who lost their jobs and help them set up their own businesses.”
Earlier this month Ledcom's annual report revealed that 212 jobs were created in Antrim and Newtownabbey in the year to September, and combined with the trading and employment investment of tenants’ businesses, the economic impact of Ledcom activities is more than £10 million.
Ledcom chair Dr Norman Apsley described the time and commitment given by Arthur and Roy to Ledcom and the local community as “far reaching” .
He added: “Their dedication and work ethic has been outstanding over the last three-plus decades. Happily they continue as members of the company and we shall continue to call on their advice and experience.”
