Lancashire's new High Sheriff Jim Carter on his passion for helping turn lives around

By Rob Kelly

17 Mar 2025

Jim Carter

Former property chief, Jim Carter, who is a 'passionate' advocate for youth and prison charities, is taking on the role of Lancashire's new High Sheriff this week.

The 69-year-old, who first became involved with the national charity OnSide around 15 years ago and was until recently a board member of the Preston and Chorley Youth Zones, is still hugely supportive and involved with its ground breaking work.

He said: "I honestly have found it to be fabulous.

"I've had a lump in my throat from seeing what can be achieved by kids who've come in, troubled, with no self-esteem and left with careers.

"Some have gone on to become singer/songwriters, others have come in with little to no communication skills and have become youth workers in their own right.

"Engaging with local businesses has occasionally led to careers with them."

Jim is also a member of the Employment Advisory Board at HMP Lancaster Farms, working alongside chairman of British supermarket chain Booths, Edwin Booth to help released prisoners to find work and accommodation.

Talking to prisoners on the wing has been particularly enlightening.

 

He said: "They are adults who have been in trouble and we are trying to rehabilitate them by getting them back into accommodation and work.

"It's very moving – you go on these visits and talk to some of them, and they tell you that they do wish they hadn't done it, and I would like to give them the chance to speak to young people and let them know where they went wrong.”

During his year of office, Mr Carter plans to bring the national charity 'Getting Court' to Lancashire.

This organisation is a preventative and educational initiative that aims to keep young people out of trouble.

A proud holder of a Master of Laws and Fellow of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), Jim has notched up an extensive career in property and construction across public and private sectors.

It includes nearly four decades at the Eric Wright Group, a large Lancashire based company providing services in construction, property and civil engineering, where Jim rose through the ranks to become Chief Executive Officer and Deputy Chairman before retiring completely at the end of 2024.

Philanthropy has also shaped his professional life somewhat, since the company is owned by the Eric Wright Charitable Trust, which invests profits back into the community by  working with a broad range of charities, mainly in the north-west of England. 

Other strings to his bow include senior positions in his professional body, the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), where he became the first chairman of the newly created management board, leading significant modernisation for which he received an award for an outstanding contribution to the profession. He also became an Honorary Fellow of the University College of Estate Management.

"My own professional skills have been relevant in my support for establishing new Youth Zones particularly in the development phase and working with local authorities,” he adds.

As a long time board member of the Lancashire Enterprise Partnership, Jim also chaired the City Deal Board – no mean feat, since it secured more than £400m of government infrastructure funding for Preston and South Ribble.

Yet despite all his professional accolades, the father of one, who moved to Chorley from Bolton with his wife, Annabel, more than 30 years ago, says his 'heart skipped a beat' when he received the phone call from the Palace, notifying him of his appointment as High Sheriff of Lancashire.

"I'm hugely proud," he admits, adding that his father Frank and brother Robert, together with his daughter Rachel will be on hand at the Installation ceremony on  4 April at County Hall.

He added: "My father will be 98 in June – I don't think he ever anticipated that the troublesome son at Thornleigh Salesian College in Bolton would end up being Lancashire's High Sheriff."

Although the High Sheriff role incorporates all the traditional, ceremonial functions of promoting the county and engaging with communities, as well as providing support to the judiciary, the Police and Crime Commissioner and Lancashire Police, Jim also hopes that in addition to achieving his charitable aspirations, his year in the role will also bring people together.

"I have never wanted to do something just for the sake of doing something," he said.

"When I said yes, I made up my mind to try to do something positive for Lancashire, and the role of High Sheriff does give a chance to bring people together and encourage them to speak to each other.

"If people are at odds, I will encourage them to talk, not for political reasons, but simply because I think it's better when people talk to each other, and work together for the benefit of the wider community."

Enjoyed this? Read more from Rob Kelly

Latest news

1

Final call for investors: Rossendale community solar project must hit target by November Gary McEwan managing director of Interfloor

Final call for investors: Rossendale community solar project must hit target by November

10 Sep 2025

2

Lancashire Combined County Authority unveil plan to Get Lancashire Working Lancashire Combined Authority

Lancashire Combined County Authority unveil plan to Get Lancashire Working

10 Sep 2025

3

Lockheed Martin Skunk Works and BAE Systems’ FalconWorks announce strategic collaboration Collaboration between BAE Systems FalconWorks and Lockheed Martin Skunk Works

Lockheed Martin Skunk Works and BAE Systems’ FalconWorks announce strategic collaboration

09 Sep 2025

4

High street retailers urged to ‘take advantage’ of new funded support programme Brian Moore, Lee Johnson, Anne Williamson and Andrew Leeming

High street retailers urged to ‘take advantage’ of new funded support programme

08 Sep 2025

5

Beaverbrooks invest in the high street in difficult conditions Mark Adlestone And Anna Blackburn Beaverbrooks

Beaverbrooks invest in the high street in difficult conditions

08 Sep 2025

Background image for hub sign up block

LBV Hub

Leverage Lancashire Business View platforms

Post your news
Post your events
Post your offers
Build your network
Improve your SEO
Gain coverage in the magazine
Sign-up
Events
Sub36 Networking - Follow the signs
Sub36 Deaf Village Social1200
Networking
17 Sep 2025

Sub36 Networking - Follow the signs

The Deaf Village, Blackburn, BB2 5EN

10:00 - 12:00

LBV124 September/October Launch Event
MBP Arc Cinema Preston Opening 205
Networking
18 Sep 2025

LBV124 September/October Launch Event

The Arc Cinema, Preston, PR1 2BL

08:30 - 10:30

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Management and Leadership Course

Preston Campus, Preston , PR1 2HE

09:00 - 17:00

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course
UCLanAerialCampus.jpg.jpg
LBV Hub Seminars
21 Feb 2025 - 21 Feb 2026

CMI Level 5 Project Management Course

Preston Campus, Preston, PR1 2HE

08:00 - 17:00

Longridge Soap Box Derby
Screenshot 2025-06-10 090035.png.png
LBV Hub Fundraisers
14 Sep 2025 - 14 Sep 2025

Longridge Soap Box Derby

Berry Lane, Longridge, PR3 3WH

10:00 - 16:30

Preston Tech Connection - The Ultimate Tech Quiz!
Preston Tech Connection Sept 25.png.png
LBV Hub Networking
16 Sep 2025 - 16 Sep 2025

Preston Tech Connection - The Ultimate Tech Quiz!

Society1, Coworking Space, Preston, PR1 3LT

18:00 - 19:00

The Business Network Central & East Lancashire
LBV Hub Networking
17 Sep 2025 - 17 Sep 2025

The Business Network Central & East Lancashire

Stanley House, Blackburn, BB2 7NP

11:30 - 14:15

Cumbria Business Expo 2025
https---cdn.evbuc.com-images-880461633-4862066883-1-original.20241022-110415.jpeg.jpg
LBV Hub Exhibitions
19 Sep 2025 - 19 Sep 2025

Cumbria Business Expo 2025

Carlisle Racecourse, Carlisle, CA2 4TS

09:00 - 15:00

Preston Freelancer Meet-Up: September
Sept Freelancer (1).png.png
LBV Hub Networking
23 Sep 2025 - 23 Sep 2025

Preston Freelancer Meet-Up: September

Society1, Coworking Space, Preston, PR1 3LT

10:00 - 11:30

Your Business, Your Region: Making sense of devolution and Local Government Reorganisation
Chorley Council breakfast event new
LBV Hub Networking
23 Sep 2025 - 23 Sep 2025

Your Business, Your Region: Making sense of devolution and Local Government Reorganisation

Worden Hall, Leyland, PR25 3DH

08:00 - 11:00

Speed Networking with BNI
2.png.png
LBV Hub Networking
24 Sep 2025 - 24 Sep 2025

Speed Networking with BNI

Chorley Football Club, Chorley, PR7 3DU

16:00 - 19:00

The Marketing Meetup IRL: Lancashire - September
TMM Lancashire
LBV Hub Networking
25 Sep 2025 - 25 Sep 2025

The Marketing Meetup IRL: Lancashire - September

Chorley, PR7 2SL

18:00 - 20:00

Advertise with us

Reaching 50,000 members, our print, digital and event platforms offer a fantastic way to raise your business profile and help you grow.

Find out more LBV 123 Online Graphic
Subscribe now

Weekly news bulletin