Pictured above: Beverley Nielsen

Birmingham City University has appointed Beverley Nielsen as Director of Employer Engagement with a focus on building stronger links between the university and regional businesses and other employers.

Beverley will facilitate collaborations between the university and businesses in order to develop higher level skills, help close the regional productivity gap and encourage innovation. She will also be focusing on enhancing student employability, workplace learning and continuous professional development.

Beverley said: "I am delighted to have been appointed to this new position.  I strongly believe that with our focus on developing top quality graduates that have applied skills and knowledge, Birmingham City University has an important role to play in driving the competitive position of the greater Birmingham region."

Prof David Maguire, Pro Vice-Chancellor, added: "Birmingham City University has a long history of mutually beneficial engagement with businesses in Birmingham and the region. In order to strengthen our work in this area I am very pleased that someone of Beverley's calibre has joined our team."

For the past two years Beverley has worked at Birmingham Institute of Art & Design (BIAD) at Birmingham City University - ranked in the top 10 UK Art & Design faculties for research, developing knowledge transfer and teaching collaborations between business and the university. In her new role she will take on university-wide responsibility for engagement with business.

Previously Beverley worked as Regional Director, CBI West Midlands, Chief Executive Heart of England Tourist Board, Director, Aga Foodservice Group plc, then a FTSE 250 business, now known as Aga Rangemaster plc and MD Fired Earth. She was elected a County Councillor in Worcestershire in June 2009. Beverley was recognised as Midlands Business Woman of the Year in 1998.