Ruth Lowbridge MBE is currently Executive Chair of the SFEDI Group of Companies, all of which promote and support enterprise and entrepreneurial skills development throughout the UK. As a business owner herself for over 20 years, with successful ventures including a bistro, conference centre, software company and training consultancy, Ruth knows more than most how it feels to start up and run an enterprise. In terms of ‘being enterprising’ it is no exaggeration to state that she leads by example. Ruth has always had a strong determination to make a positive impact on the lives of others.
Prior to setting up in business on her own she chose to dedicate her working life to working within disadvantaged communities, including training young people (as part of the Youth Training Scheme in the 1980s) in locally deprived areas and working with pre-release prisoners. The experiences of her early career confirmed her commitment to enterprise skills and helping to develop those who need it most, a passion for which has continued as her influence has grown.
Through her resourceful, tenacious and entrepreneurial approach she has gone from working at a local, to a regional and then national level to ensure that enterprising skills are recognised, developed and promoted to all. Indeed, the current enterprise landscape would not look the way it does without her contribution. She is truly an ambassador for enterprise.
Ruth’s ambassadorial role includes being part of our governments small business advisory board and the board of the Small Business Charter which includes University Business Schools. She is also chair of Trustees at a local Secondary Single Academy Trust.