CEO Today Global Awards

54 UNITED KINGDOM www.ceotodaymagazine.com CEO Today Global Awards 2020 DAVID REID CEO of Birtenshaw What has been your proudest moment at Birtenshaw in recent years? I am absolutely delighted about a number of things that our organisation has achieved, and the difference we’ve made in the lives of so many people. I am delighted to be the person in a privileged position that is able to employ so many incredible people, who can in turn help so many people. In terms of the things that I am happiest about that we have achieved, most recently is the opening of a brand-new special school in Liverpool which is a partnership arrangement with the City of Liverpool Council and the only partnership of this type in the UK. It’s a service that has only opened last September andwehadexpected it to take3–4years T: 01204 304230 | W: www.birtenshaw.org.uk About David Reid David Reid is the Chief Executive of Birtenshaw, an organisation that provides a unique range of services for children and young adults with special educational needs and disability. Birtenshaw operates as a social enterprise – while they are a profit-making organisation, all of their profit is reinvested for growth and success in order to improve their services. Although the organisation was founded in 1956, it was technically bankrupt when David became CEO in 2006. When he took over, it had roughly 6 months left of life, had he not made difficult decisions at the time to restructure the business, changing contracts and the way that they sold their services. After four years of hard work, the business turned around for the better and has since then seen 400% of growth from 2012 until today and established itself as a larger employer in the area.