It's all change at Keighley Business Forum, where deputy director Elaine Pearson has replaced Iain Copping as director. The move results from Mr Copping's appointment as chief executive of the newly-launch-ed National Centre of Excell-ence for Environmental Man-agement (NCEEM), following the separation of KBF's pioneering waste minimisation initiatives as a stand-alone company.

Mr Copping was appointed KBF director on its inception in 1992, and has led its rapid expansion and development in terms of both staff and service provision. It now has nearly 500 members, and continues to act as a leading local provider of business support services, helping to attract £2 million worth of inward investment into Keighley.

KBF has become a leading national and international force in waste minimisation, and last June was given Government approval to lead on the creation of NCEEM - a national centre of excellence which is well placed to deliver, shape and co-ordinate a range of environmental, sustainable and innovation-based services to industry, the City, environmental groups and organisations of all kinds.

Mr Copping's increasing involvement with NCEEM made him the natural choice to head the organisation, with Elaine Pearson his obvious successor at KBF's helm. Born and bred in Keighley, she joined the organisation last September after a 20-year career in banking.

Lesley Ord, formerly project officer with KBF, has also moved to NCEEM as communications and liaison manager. Chris Sealey, who led the KBF waste minimisation and management team, becomes NCEEM's policy and research manager.

Recent KBF recruit Dorothy Maher leads the administration team, with responsibility for co-ordinating the annual One Stop Business Exhibition, and Debbie Hopkinson's appointment has been confirmed as manager of KBF's tourism arm, Bront Country Tourism.

KBF president Sir James Hill says: "These important changes will allow Elaine and her team to concentrate on KBF's core objectives of providing members with enhanced services. An enhanced programme of personal contact and relationship-building through member-company visits will effectively improve our lines of communication.

"KBF and its members now appear extremely well placed to meet the challenges and opportunities of the new millennium with every confidence."

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.