Business growth

Photo left to right: Austin Owens, Geof Jones, Nadine Kinsey, Jim Cairns, Sharon Smith, Adrian Speller, Graham Biggs, Rob Hunter, Roger Allonby.

Jim Cairns

Born in Edinburgh, I relocated to Hereford in 2009 during my military service. After leaving the military in 2017, I founded what is now Technical Solutions Group - a niche technology company based in Rotherwas specialising in Radio Frequency (RF) technologies, providing expert witness and reporting services, specialised equipment, and training to government, policing, military, and criminal justice sectors both in the UK and internationally. I bring firsthand experience of transitioning from public service to entrepreneurship and growing a small, focused business in Hereford.

Rob Hunter

As part of the Herefordshire Business Growth Board, I am looking forward to making a difference to businesses and people in Herefordshire. It's a great county to live, work and run a business in and has much to offer that makes our county unique. Together, we need to maximise the potential of Herefordshire, its people and businesses.

I'm the CEO of Igne, a business providing comprehensive ground investigation and sustainable drilling services for the UK's construction and infrastructure sectors. Our services include borehole construction, geothermal energy, and materials testing. We have over 400 colleagues based throughout the UK, and our headquarters are in Ross-on-Wye.

I bring a track record of success in steering companies through periods of significant change and growth. I have a strong focus on creating and nurturing high-value teams, as well as forging robust relationships with both internal and external stakeholders. I hold a deep commitment to social mobility and sustainable change. I am driven by the conviction that providing equitable opportunities, regardless of your background, is not just a corporate responsibility but a societal imperative. I am a school governor at St Mary's High School in Lugwardine.

Jon Melton

One of the main reasons for moving to Hereford from central London in 2019 was to be an active part of a real community. I am truly honoured to join the Herefordshire Growth Board in 2025 and look forward to playing my part in continuing to promote growth in this beautiful county. 

I'm co-founder and COO of Momentum Pharma. We are a global Clinical Research Organisation working on first in human medicines and medical devices in the clinical trial industry. Momentum works with Pharmaceutical and BioTech companies, across 45 countries, to bring these new treatments to market and provide solutions to patients where there is an unmet need.

Since the relocation our UK company to Herefordshire we have continued to thrive and have been honoured with the Queens Award for Enterprise in 2022. We have brought onboard additional Herefordshire based employees and are truly invested in expanding our footprint here.

I am personally looking forward to helping other businesses thrive here and within the county more widely. I have a passion for entrepreneurship, problem solving and building new and existing relationships.

There is no doubt there are a number of challenges we need to tackle, but we have a strong and accomplished board with a varied amount of expertise across different sectors. I am very excited to be a part of this board and I know that as a team, we will make an impact.

Austin Owens

Born and raised on a working farm in north west Herefordshire, I developed an early appreciation for rural challenges and opportunities.

After mechanical engineering studies and experience in the automotive industry, I founded Grove Design, an engineering design company, now employing 18 people and currently expanding. We undertake complete product design projects going from concept through to arranging production. This involves mechanical, electronic and software engineering as well as more aesthetic aspects.

I'm Co-chair of the Manufacturing Assembly Network, a group of companies dedicated to sharing best practice and encouraging young people to consider a career in engineering. To this end I run the Design and Make Challenge, one of the UK's largest STEM events. I'm eager to see more links between art and engineering education both locally and further afield.

I support my wife in running the family farm with regenerative practices. We have two sons, both studying engineering.

Adrian Speller

I'm excited to join the Herefordshire Business Board, I look forward to driving the ability for business to grow and prosper with the county, attracting new business and skilled workers, identifying barriers to growth and capitalising on opportunities. Presented with little choice at the time, I left the county briefly to further my own education before returning. Through growth of prosperous businesses and educational opportunities within Herefordshire, I would look to retain younger generations to share in and contribute to future prosperity. I am extremely passionate in promoting Herefordshire due to the excellent quality of life, its welcoming people and the stunning natural environment.

I am second generation Joint Managing Director for Speller Metcalfe, a local family run construction company with a headquarters in Malvern. We have 250 staff and turnover circa £162m per annum, 47 of my staff reside in Herefordshire. I have worked as Director for 10 years, and in the construction industry since 2004 in project delivery roles. Having grown up in the county attending school in Ledbury, I now live near Ross-on-Wye with a young family of my own.

I have been fortunate enough to have led the design and construction of several key capital projects in the county over the last decade. These include: NMITE Skylon Park Campus; West Midlands Centre for Cyber Security; Hereford Hospital Elective Surgical Hub; St Michael's Hospice and Ledbury Master's House. It gives me an immense sense of pride to deliver projects in the county, especially where the organisations inhabiting these building will be catalysts for long-term sustainable prosperity.

Geof Jones

I have been running technology businesses in Ross-on-Wye for over 36 years and I am now the CEO and Founder of Crucially Digital (CDL) and CX Auto Group. At CDL, the focus is on delivering cutting-edge digital signage and AV solutions, including conference room installations. Recent highlights include providing corporate communication systems for Tenants and Bulmer, as well as leading a nationwide rollout for Kia Motors UK. This ambitious project featured interactive touchscreen kiosks, wall displays, and striking video walls across their dealership network.

Meanwhile, CX Auto is shaking up the automotive industry with its revolutionary customer handover solution. If you've seen videos online of a car cover seamlessly retracting into the Airshroud unit, that's our work. With installations in over 50 countries, CX Auto is a global success story, now proudly incorporating more UK-made components in its designs.

My vision doesn't stop there - my latest venture, Hub & Cup in Ross-on-Wye, is set to redefine the concept of a business café. Designed exclusively for professionals, this acoustically optimised workspace offers flexible options for members, private pods for calls, AV-equipped huddle spaces for collaboration, and, of course, exceptional coffee and doughnuts. Passionate about fostering innovation, Hub & Cup will also serve as a launchpad for young startups, supporting their growth and success.

I am deeply committed to the local economy as a member of the Herefordshire Business Growth Board. I will work tirelessly to attract funding and investment for small businesses, startups, and entrepreneurial ventures, ensuring Herefordshire and its five market towns thrive as hubs of innovation and economic growth. Through strategic partnerships with local manufacturers and service providers, I am championing the region as a premier destination to work, build, and succeed.

Sharon Smith

I am delighted to join the Herefordshire Growth Board in 2025. As the CEO of the Herefordshire and Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce, putting businesses at the heart of consultation and decision making is a must in all we do. In an economic environment of change and challenge, it has never been more important for the business voice to be heard and I am looking forward to representing our Members and the local businesses that we work with day in, day out to input their views to the group.

The Chamber's role is simply to support economic growth and as part of the group I hope to also be able to take away information, ideas and new projects to share with businesses, adding to the services and support the Chamber offers.

Personally, I have lived and worked in both Herefordshire and Worcestershire all my life, working firstly in the manufacturing sector and then business support for 25 years. I am passionate about the growth and success of the two counties and want to leave a legacy of positive change for the generations to come.