BOLTON and Bury Chamber has made two key appointments to its senior management team.

Kay Gregson who was formerly head of membership, has moved to a newly-created post of director of customer services while Steve Horrocks is health and safety manager.

Says Kay: "This new role is all about putting the needs of local businesses first and developing an exciting range of services and benefits to meet their precise needs.

"My major priority is to remain close to new and long standing Chamber members to listen to what they want and then to respond accordingly." She added: "We will be closely monitoring customer satisfaction levels to make sure that we succeed in this aim."

Kay has also taken the role of company secretary and has a major part to play in championing local economic regeneration through local partnership.

Heading up the Chamber's new health and safety management division is Steve Horrocks, who is helping local businesses to gain competitive advantage through good practice.

A former health, safety and quality manager with ICI, Steve was instrumental in the Chamber's drive to pioneer a new health and safety standard for construction firms which is winning a national acclaim.

It has been adopted by the Construction Industry Training Board from which a subsidy is available.

Steve said: "Good health and safety practice is essential to good business.

"Increasingly, companies are finding themselves excluded from the tender list if their health and safety standards don't come up to scratch."

He went on: "We are here to help local organisations raise their standards and minimise risks."

Kay Gregson can be contacted on 01204 374668 and members can ring Steve Horrocks on 01204 374690.