Louise Third, Director of Integra Communications was appointed an MBE for services to enterprise and charity in the 2016 New Year’s Honours civil list.
Louise is recognised for her contribution to enterprise promotion and small business support as well as for her charitable work both in Nottinghamshire and nationally.
Services to Enterprise
In a business development and marketing career spanning 30 years, Louise has worked as a business adviser and enterprise programme manager for the Enterprise Agencies of Newcastle, Sheffield and London, leading campaigns to encourage self-employment and dedicating much of her expertise to promoting both youth and female entrepreneurship. Career highlights include campaigning for the establishment of a government-led Women’s Enterprise Task Force, working with Yorkshire TV on the EnterPrize programme over three years, developing and editing the national Business Adviser journal, and as a member of the ACCA Small Business Council.
Louise founded the PR consultancy Integra Communications Ltd with her husband Andrew in 2001. The company quickly established a reputation as enterprise experts and went on to handle the PR campaigns for leading UK organisations such as the Institute of Business Advisers (IBA), the National Federation of Enterprise Agencies (NFEA), PROWESS Women in Enterprise, the Social Enterprise Coalition, Women in Rural Enterprise (WiRE) and SFEDI. Since 2007 the company has developed a further specialism in the life sciences, handling PR for scientific business incubation sites, for individual companies and for the life sciences sector in the East Midlands.
Services to Charity
Being a director of her own company has enabled Louise to divide her time between fee earning and pro bono work and as a result she has devoted time to various charities on different projects.
As a Christian, she is motivated to work with faith-based organisations providing relief and support to those struggling to cope. Louise is a volunteer and committee member for the Clifton NG11 Food Bank and between 2011 – 2014 Louise provided pro bono PR for Emmanuel House base for homeless and vulnerable adults. Louise also volunteers with the TESO Development Trust, the Christian relief and development charity working in NE Uganda, taking a particular interest in work among women.
In 2008 Louise helped establish Nottingham Speakers’ Corner, retiring as Chairman in late 2015, and served as a trustee nationally for the Speakers Corner Trust; she is now a member of the Advisory Council for the Speakers’ Corner Trust.
Louise was appointed interim Chairman of the fundraising board for the Nottingham Trent University John van Geest Cancer Research Centre in October 2015, having tackled her own battle with breast cancer in 2013.
Comment
Reflecting on her appointment, Louise says: “I very much appreciate the recognition this award brings. Enterprise and charity are what drive me; I’m passionate about using every means we have to harness both to make a better society – whether that’s for better or more fulfilling jobs, or better life chances for those who need our support. It has been a privilege to work with many inspiring colleagues and clients who must also take some credit for this appointment.”
ENDS