New expert brought in to boost government’s relationship with small businesses

An experienced business leader has been given the task of boosting the relationship between the government and small businesses.

Martin Traynor OBE is the deputy chairman of the University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust, runs his own training and consultancy business and is the former Group Chief Executive of Leicestershire Chamber of Commerce.

He has now been made the government’s new Small Business Crown Representative – a role which will see him make sure the government gets the best value from small business and small businesses have the best possible opportunity to work with the government.

Martin Traynor said:

I’m delighted to take on the role of Small Business Crown Representative and to build on the work of my predecessor, Emma Jones.

The government buys a wide range of goods and services from businesses right across the country.

This represents a huge opportunity for many of the UK’s small businesses and I will work with colleagues from across the government to tackle any barriers to our procurement processes.

As well as his extensive business background, Mr Traynor is also the non-executive chairman of the King Richard III Visitor Centre Trust, which set up a visitor attraction following the discovery of the former King’s remains underneath a car park in Leicester.

He is also a non-executive chairman of The Forest Experience Ltd and helped raise the £15 million needed to build a new visitor centre in the National Forest.