Meet the Board: David

My name’s David Jepson, I’ve lived in Bristol for about 10 years and have worked previously in economic development consultancy work. I was also a city councillor in Birmingham before I moved to Bristol.

I have got quite a long background in private sector business development so I know how consultancy companies and those sorts of things run, on the one hand, on the other hand, I have got quite a lot of experience of economic development and working with employers and also working in an international context which I think perhaps is useful to the team.

I got to know some of the staff and directors in Ashley Housing and Himilo a while back. I was really taken by the approach which is to see refugees and migrants as an advantage and opportunity – somebody that should be integrated properly into a society. Following that, I decided to get more involved in the work of ACH and Himilo and then I ended up being a director of the company.

I think Himilo needs to build up as a business. I think the track record we’ve done in the last couple of years is really good. I think we need to work more closely and directly with employers and we’re beginning to do that and I think we need to make sure that Himilo has got the right decision-making capacities and that the staff and the board work really well together to build the business for the future.