PETER Sharman is coming home - and he can't wait to get started in his new role!

After a career which has taken him across the world, ending up as managing director of UK insurance giant Royal Insurance, Peter has returned to his home patch to head up the Darwen Employers' Forum.

The forum is one of three launched under the umbrella of the Blackburn Partnership and Peter's appointment is part of the beginning of an exciting new era for the organisation.

It has recently taken on a number of new roles under its wing including Employee Volunteering and the Blackburn Town Centre Forum to add to its current projects including Guardian Angel, Groundwork and the School Friends project.

The Employers' Forums, which also cover the Roman Road and Bank Top areas of Blackburn, are seen as a highly successful initiative bringing business and the community together.

Peter Watkins, who is heavily involved in the Roman Road forum, has now been appointed co-ordinator for the three forums which aim to improve disadvantaged parts of the borough by encouraging businesses to work closely with the local community. 'It can be as simple as a firm donating its waste paper to a local school or managers from a company giving mock interviews to pupils," explained Paul Holt of North West Water and the Bank Top Forum.

The Darwen forum is the newest of the three and the appointment of Peter is aimed at raising its profile.

"I'm thrilled about being able to get involved back in my home area," said Peter.

"I've been extremely impressed with the work the Partnership has done here. Bringing together so many different groups and interests to work together to help the area really is a major achievement and one which other areas are very envious of."

Peter began working for Royal Insurance at its Burnley office and later headed up the company's operations in the Australasian and the Pacific regions. He was managing director of the UK arm in Liverpool before he was forced to retire because of a medical complaint.

For Peter Robinson, chief executive of the Blackburn Partnership, the new shape of the Employers' Forum team bodes for an exciting 1998.

"Our work is all about people and to have such high calibre individuals on board is fantastic."

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