Alan Walker, Financial Controller at Jaguar and Land Rover's Halewood Operations, received an OBE in the Queen's New Year's Honours for 'services to the Automotive Industry and to disadvantaged people in Merseyside'.

Alan has played an instrumental role in Merseyside's economic, social and environmental regeneration over the past 12 years through his public sector activities. His current roles include Chair of the Merseyside Employer Coalition, Director of the Liverpool Land Development Company, Director of the Northwest Automotive Alliance, and until recently Chairman of the Merseyside Manufacturing and Automotive Group and Chair of Automotive Sector Skills and Productivity Alliance.

Alan joined the Halewood plant in 1995, bringing with him a wealth of knowledge and experience gained from two decades of global posts under Ford. Alan was a key member of the transition team, which managed the plant's change from Ford to Jaguar in 2000, which resulted in one of the automotive industry's greatest turn around stories. Alan led the plant's culture change programme and continues to support initiatives which reinforce Halewood's key values such as respect and teamwork.

Alan has been instrumental in the regeneration of manufacturing in the North West and has embraced opportunities to create partnerships between the public and private sectors in the region. Alan was one of the founding directors of the Speke Garston Development Company, and remained on the Board when it was expanded to become the Liverpool Land Development Company. Alan has been a Director for over 12 years, and has played a pivotal role in enabling the public and private sectors to work together to redevelop both Speke Garston as well as other key strategic areas of Liverpool. Major sites like the Estuary and Boulevard Industry parks in Speke are a result of this regeneration effort, setting a standard for inward investment and acting as the forerunner for other similar developments in the City region.

Alan also chairs the Merseyside Employers Coalition which helps the Government deliver its Welfare to Work program. The Coalition is an influential group of employers from a range of industries including automotive, energy, construction and IT which works closely with Liverpool City Council, the Learning and Skills Council and Jobcentre Plus to address high unemployment in the region. Reporting directly to Ministers through Working Ventures UK, they provide valuable advice on labour market and workforce development policies. The Coalition has delivered a number of innovative projects including Kickstart, an initiative which trains and places ex-offenders into jobs in the construction industry and 'The Chef School' – a project that aims to train and place 12 New Deal young people as chefs with ten of the most prestigious hotels and restaurants in Merseyside.

Alan has been driving forward the region's automotive industry for a number of years and supports a number of different organisations. Most recently, Alan was instrumental in establishing the Northwest Automotive Alliance, the regional cluster organisation for the industry, where he gives his time voluntarily as a Director. Alan also chairs the regional Automotive Sector Skills and Productivity Alliance, the key regional body which oversees the skills strategy in the region. This reflects Alan's personal commitment to training and development. He believes in lifelong learning and often takes time out to walk the shop floor and personally 'coach' individuals.

Up until recently, he was also Chairman of the Merseyside Manufacturing and Automotive Group (MAG). MAG was established to support to the automotive sector and related industries in Merseyside, and acts as a channel of communication between the private and public sector bodies. Alan has been a key driver behind the success of the group, by listening and responding to the needs of SMEs in the supply chain. As a leading manufacturer in the region, he believes that the plant has a role to play in supporting and encouraging those further down the supply chain through coaching and sharing of best practices.

Alan said "I am extremely proud and flattered to receive an OBE. I have worked with various groups to regenerate and improve employment prospects in Merseyside over the past decade. As well as finding this work enjoyable and rewarding, I have been proud to represent Jaguar and Land Rover and help the Company build strong relationships with key stakeholders in the local community".

Thomas Klein, Operations Director at Halewood Operations said "I'd like to congratulate Alan on this achievement. He is a true business leader and his involvement in Public Sector activities has made a real difference to the local community. Alan has been a key driver in promoting the North West's automotive industry and the successful regeneration of Liverpool over many years and his commitment has never wavered, even when dealing with challenging issues. He is a real asset to Halewood Operations and his enthusiasm for the automotive sector, North West region and its employees is immense."

Norman Williams, Head of Automotive at The Northwest Development Agency commented "The award acknowledges the enormous efforts of Alan and his team in transforming Halewood, over a number of years, into the most efficient plant in Ford's global operations. This in addition to Alan's efforts in helping to improve the competitiveness of the wider base automotive base in the Northwest and his other work in the community meant that we were delighted to put forward his nomination. The phrase 'best practice' is widely used these days but in the case of Alan, it is absolutely justified; he is a true exemplar of a Northwest business leader with a regional and community vision with the talent and commitment to match".

ENDS

For more information, contact Kate Birkenhead on 0151 448 3543.