Bill Holroyd
Charles William Holroyd CBE DL (born 7 February 1953) is a British investor and philanthropist.[1]
Career
Holroyd joined Forte's group supply division where he stayed for eight years, setting up and running their national distribution network.
In 1982, he left to set up his own foodservice distribution company, Holroyd Meek. By 1994, the company had a turnover of £190m serving over 7,000 restaurants across the UK. In 1995, Booker acquired the company and Holroyd started his own investment company.
Between 1995 and 2015, he has invested in over 25 start-up and second-stage companies.[2]
Philanthropy
In 2008 Holroyd set up OnSide Youth Zones,[3] a charity providing safe, state-of-the-art facilities for young people in their leisure time. As of 2016 eight Youth Zones were complete with fourteen in process. Over 30,000 young people were regular users of the Youth Zones.[4][5]
In 2013 he was awarded the CBE for his charitable works.[6]
Bill and Julie Holroyd set up The Holroyd Foundation in 2014. The foundation seeks to promote health, welfare, education and opportunity with particular emphasis on young people. The foundation makes donations to charities associated with young people, cancer associated charities and many local charities in Cheshire.[7]
In 2015 he had the privilege of fulfilling the role of the High Sheriff for Cheshire and the honour of a Beacon Fellowship for Philanthropy.[8]
He was Chairman of Bolton Lads & Girls Club and Committee Member of the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme.
Awards
- Deputy Lieutenant since 2008 [9]
- CBE 2013 [6]
- High Sheriff of Cheshire 2015
- Beacon Fellowship Award for Philanthropy 2015 [8]
Personal life
Bill is married to Julie. They live in Cheshire with their children, Olivia and Harrison. Bill has two older children Laura and Nicholas. Bill has two Grandsons James Holden and Elliot Holden.[10]
References
- ↑ "BILL HOLROYD CBE DL - UK Case Studies - Coutts Million Dollar Donor Report".
- ↑ Rhodes, Jon. "Bill Holroyd CBE - Business Growth Fund".
- ↑ "Subscribe to read".
- ↑ "Our Board".
- ↑ "How one phone call led to a millionaire setting up youth centres across the UK". 7 January 2016.
- 1 2 "Bill Holroyd, founder and chair of OnSide, awarded a CBE in the 2012 New Years Honours list - Blackburn Youth Zone".
- ↑ "THE HOLROYD FOUNDATION :: OpenCharities".
- 1 2 "Beacon Awards".
- ↑ Council, Cheshire West and Chester. "2015-16 High Sheriff Of Cheshire Mr Bill Holroyd CBE, DL - The Cheshire Lieutenancy".
- ↑ "tarporleynews".