The chief executive of GTS Solutions CIC, Chris Thewlis, has been appointed as a member of the Policy Board of the Scottish Business Resilience Centre.

SBRC is a non-profit organisation, with close affiliation to Scottish Government, Police Scotland and The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service and exists to help safeguard, support and protect Scottish businesses, staff and customers.

As a social enterprise and public safety specialist, Chris commented: “This is a great honour to have been asked to support SBRC in the mission of public good.

“I hope that I can add value from the perspective of the Social Enterprise sector by encouraging and highlighting the innovative ways that the sector deals with social and economic issues through the delivery of an inclusive economy for all.”

Lynsae Tulloch, Chief Operating Officer of SBRC, welcomed Chris’ appointment to the Policy Board.

“I am absolutely delighted that Chris Thewlis has agreed to be part of our highly-respected and progressive Policy Board at SBRC,” she said.

“He brings with him tremendous expertise in the security industry and leisure economy sectors.

“He has also made an extensive positive impact in the social enterprise landscape in Scotland through understanding and supporting the intrinsic role it plays in enriching and supporting our business communities at local and national levels and that is particularly welcome.

“I am thrilled to be working with Chris and look forward to his support in our drive at SBRC to build a safer and stronger business base for Scotland.”

Since becoming the first social entrepreneur in the UK to make a viable exit from a business in the sector with his sale of Beer For Good CIC last year, Chris has been renewing his focus on public safety through his private security firm GTS Solutions.

As Scotland’s only certified experts in securing worshipful places, Chris represented GTS Solutions at an advisory meeting on this topic at Westminster Abbey in London in April.

He then subsequently addressed staff at St John’s Episcopal Church in Edinburgh regarding safety precautions in the wake of the Sri Lanka atrocities.

GTS Solutions was founded in Edinburgh in 2012 and remains Scotland’s only gold standard social enterprise operating in private security.

September last year saw the company announce its turnover had doubled to £1million in the previous 12 months, with growth forecast to hit £5m by 2021. As part of its continued expansion plans, Tracey Smith was appointed as GTS Solutions’ first operations director two months ago.

An advisor to the Scottish Government, Chris is also an ambassador for Big Society Capital, the independent financial institution with a social mission, set up to help grow social impact investment in the UK.

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