Yorkshire Science

BarryDodd

After High School in the USA Barry Dodd began his working life with ICI and was sponsored at university obtaining a BSc Hons in Engineering. He spent five years as an ICI manager working in London, New York and Yorkshire. Barry left to found and become CEO of the GSM Group (www.gsmgroupco.uk). Through organic growth and 10 acquisitions in the last 11 years GSM has grown from a 2 person start-up to become the largest manufacturer of industrial graphic products in Europe. The company has four manufacturing plants in the UK (two in Yorkshire) and a software house.

GSM has been a host for the DTI 'Inside UK Enterprise' visit programme which showcases best practice, has won many business awards and been featured in several best practice videos.

In 2002 Barry became an investor in and non-executive Chairman of Addpower Technologies, a nano-tech start up company. Addpower have just completed the development of an instantly rechargeable battery. It is hoped that this will be the start of a new industry.

Barry's voluntary public sector duties include, Chair of the Yorkshire Universities Concept Fund, Vice-Chair of Business Link York and North Yorkshire and Board member of the Yorkshire International Trade Board. Barry is a member of the Yorkshire Forward Board, taking on a remit for Business and Innovation. He currently chairs a strategic review of Connect Yorkshire, a Yorkshire Forward initiative aimed at making high-tech start-up companies market ready.

In 2006 Barry was awarded an OBE for his services to business.