silk heritage Trust welcomes Simon spurrell as new chair

We welcome Simon Spurrell to the team as our new Chair of the Board!

Simon Spurrell is a lifelong Maxonian. He grew up in Tytherington and attended Marlborough Primary and Broken Cross Schools. He now lives in the local village of Rushton Spencer with his wife Becky and Otto, the Sausage Dog. They have one grown-up daughter, Abby, and most recently a granddaughter, Ivy Rose, who lives at Pikehall Farm, Hartington, where they look after their 300 dairy cows.

Simon is a serial entrepreneur who has founded several successful businesses in various sectors, including technology, cheese, distilleries, and classic cars. He began his career as a graphic designer, embracing the first Apple Mac technology in 1986. This experience led him to establish ITG Technologies, a local IT firm, in 1998, operating in both the UK and India, where he continues to serve as Chair.

Since 2010, Simon has launched a series of ventures, including the Cheshire Cheese Company, which he sold for a six-figure sum in 2022. At its peak, this company was the largest online cheese seller in Europe. His other projects include a passion for car restoration through his Hungarian workshop, The Classic Mechanic, and investments in artisan producers like Hartington Creamery and The Church Farm Craft Company.

Simon brings forty years of design, IT, technology, and communications expertise to the board. His specialised skills include leadership, branding, e-commerce, and digital transformation.

“I have long been fascinated by our local history, and my first job was in the former Frosts Silk Mill. It feels fitting that at the end of my career I am involved in preserving our town’s silk heritage. I aim to continue the great success achieved by my predecessors and to raise awareness of the museum and our objectives to a much wider audience while creating long-term, self-sustaining revenue streams.”

Welcome Simon! We look forward to working with you as chair.