30th June 2023: The Institute of Telecommunications Professionals (ITP) today announces a new Chair of its Board of Directors, Tim Creswick, currently the CEO of Vorboss.
Tim takes over from Kevin Paige, who held the post for five years.
The appointment comes after The ITP identified Tim as an industry leader in breaking down historic employment barriers - The Sunday Times recently picked Vorboss as one of the best places to work in the UK, particularly for women. Tim was selected from a large number of applicants for his proven record of supporting equality and diversity in the workforce, and access to the industry.
Tim and his team at business ISP Vorboss work with The ITP to employ apprentices from all backgrounds. Vorboss ensures that a career in telecoms is accessible to anyone with the right attitude. The ITP helped Vorboss launch its training academy in 2021.
The ITP’s mission is to champion and transform the UK Telecoms Sector. They are addressing the UK’s digital skills gap by supporting their members and wider industry to build a sustainable and diverse workforce for the future. Tim’s experience and his efforts to champion a more diverse industry make him an excellent fit for the leadership role.
Tim's new responsibilities will involve collaboration with regulators, government associations, and other leading bodies on a wide variety of projects that are important to the future of the industry. He will share ITP best practice with global businesses and educational institutions.
The Board of ITP UK Limited, which governs the ITP, is made up of skilled professionals from the telecoms industry who bring expertise gained in a broad range of industries and have all spent significant periods in senior management roles.
Tim Creswick, ITP chair and Vorboss CEO, said: “I am really looking forward to chairing The ITP. In the last five years I have worked closely with the organisation, which has been an instrumental component to Vorboss’s growth, and I’ve seen first hand the great work the team does.
“I’m passionate about improving access, diversity, and equality in a traditionally rather stale sector. While we’ve been able to make great strides at Vorboss, the ITP role provides an agnostic platform from which I can champion these ideas across industry, with a far greater reach than we could ever achieve as just one company.”
“Vorboss took on our first apprentices and grew our female workforce with support from the ITP. The concept of hiring on attitude and training the skills fits perfectly with the ethos we have at Vorboss, and I’m excited to help spread the word.
“Finally I’d like to take this opportunity to thank Charlotte Goodwill for all her help and I look forward to returning the favour.”
CEO of ITP, Charlotte Goodwill, said: “Tim is not taking this role for kudos; his passions and values align with everything that the ITP stands for.
“As an employer he's shown what can be done to improve diversity and equality. He understands you need to find the right people to work with and it can't all be done internally.
“He's shown that the impossible is actually possible, and a lot of employers just don't know where to start.
“In his new role as Chair, he will drive change and help more companies and people in the industry do exactly what he’s done with Vorboss. I look forward to working with him in inspiring exciting change in telecoms.”
Kevin Paige, the previous Chair of the ITP, commented: “It has been a real pleasure to lead the ITP over the last five years, achieving some key success during difficult times. The organisation is key in supporting the industry's evolution.
“The technology landscape continues to change rapidly, which means the ITP needs to stay relevant and continually develop new approaches. I am delighted that Tim has taken up the challenge, which means the ITP leadership, supported by some recent board member changes, is in good hands for the future.”
Tim's appointment is accompanied by the addition of three new board members:
Joanna Parker, Business Development and Delivery Director at Ricoh
Joshua Fowler, Process Analyst at GTT
Nigel Linge, Professor of Telecommunications at the University of Salford
The ITP also thanks Andy Valdar and Stuart Blythe for their many years of service as board members, as they transition into Associate Board Director roles to continue to support the ITP.