Community & Business Partners' Amanda takes semi-retirement

Amanda Meachin, who has headed up Community and Business Partners CIC (CBP) since 2004, is semi-retiring.

Amanda, who as CEO has led the organisation to a series of awards, will continue to work three days a week but operations director Jaydee Davis will assume day-to-day leadership of the business.

Under Amanda’s guidance CBP has become a one of the region’s most highly respected business support organisations and one with a unique focus on delivering community impact. It focusses on four specific areas of social impact — business, community, environment and skills.

CBP has a specialist bank of 200 industry experts offering some of the most comprehensive business support services in the UK. It launched a membership offering in 2022 and reinvests all of its profits back into the community. 

Its CSR focus is carried out through the work at SAMS @ Community & Business Partners, rescuing manufactured materials which would otherwise head to landfill and taking in surplus food. The manufactured materials are then repurposed and sold on through their on-site scrap store to community groups, schools and individuals across the country.

The food service takes in food that would otherwise head to landfill and supplies it to families in need and works on specific local authority food distribution, providing access to food for families in need.

During her time as CEO Amanda has steered it to become the first independent social enterprise outside of London to be accredited with the International Quality Standard ISO9001 over ten years ago. It was also the first not-for-profit to complete a £1m asset transfer from their local authority.

She says: “I was a single mum at 14, left home at 16 and have worked for 46 years so I think I’m ready for semi-retirement! Joking apart I’d like to think my story might inspire young people who face big challenges making their mark in the world. It wasn’t easy for me but I’m living proof that through hard work and resilience you can get through it. 

“I am really proud of what the CBP team have been able to achieve over the last 19 years. The organisation has been changed massively but our values have never wavered. Thanks to that, we have been able to transform the lives of 1,000s individuals and businesses we have supported.

“I’m not finished yet, I’ll still be guiding and supporting the team, but the business has a very clear succession plan in place, and I know that with Jaydee stepping up we are well set for the future.”

CPB is one of very few Community Interest Companies to be a Legacy Endorsing Body for the Home Office’s Tier 1 Innovator and Start-Up Visa Programme, supporting oversees entrepreneurs to the UK. 

It also won the accolade of Top Team at the North West Employer Engagement Awards 2021, the Corporate Social Responsibility Award at the Red Rose Awards 2021.