ICE chair sits in his father’s place
The Welsh Innovation Centre for Enterprise (Welsh ICE) has appointed William Record as chairman.
The 50-year-old takes over from his father Anthony Record, who served as Welsh ICE’s chairman since its inception in 2012 and will now continue supporting ICE in his role as director.
William entered the business world fresh out of university, founding a mineral water company in London in the ’90s. After 10 years of hard work, the company employed more than 120 people, with depots across the city. The firm was backed by venture capitalists 3i Plc and named as the Financial Times’ Venture of the Year before eventually being bought by Chinese investors.
William and Anthony’s business, the WCR Group Ltd, invests in a variety of SMEs and has been supporting ICE since 2012.
Will said: “I feel privileged to have been appointed to chairman and am relishing the opportunity to play a larger role in our 10-year vision for Welsh ICE. There are so many wonderful businesses and passionate entrepreneurs here and it’s our priority to continue supporting the unique gifts and talents of the community.
“We have plenty of challenges to face and opportunities to seize over the coming years, but I am confident that our board, stakeholders and members are up to the task. We operate under the ethos that everyone has their own idea of success, whether that’s just working enough to afford a good life or building a company with thousands of employees – it’s up to us to provide the right environment.”
William’s appointment follows the news of investment expert Myra Tabor joining the ICE board in a non-executive capacity.
ICE CEO Gareth Jones said: “Since launching in 2012, the commitment of Anthony and Will has been crucial and I’m not sure many people will ever realise just how much they have given to the cause – as is their way.
“With Will taking the role of chair at ICE, and as a co-founder, I have a mentor who I know will help us to continue to grow in a responsible and impactful way. Our plans for the next 10 years, both on campus and beyond, fill me with great excitement and this announcement, along with recent appointments to our board and management team, are further steps toward a very exciting future.”
Welsh ICE recently announced its latest intake of ICE 50, the fund designed to give start-up businesses a structured route to sustainability, creating jobs and boosting the Welsh economy. Though the application deadline has now passed, prospective entrepreneurs should still contact ICE if they have an idea for a business and need support.
ICE will also be opening a business hub in Wrexham later this year, with the aim of creating 100 new businesses and 260 new jobs.