A town's industrial estates are moving forward with the help of a new manager.

David Cocker has taken on the role of manager for Witham Industrial Watch’s BIDs scheme.

In July WIW got an all-important ‘yes’ vote for its Business Improvement District initiative, which has meant firms contributing a levy of one per cent on their business rates and the cash being put towards future projects.

Directors of WIW interviewed a number of potential candidates for the post and with 35 years of working on the estates Mr Cocker was chosen.

He has worked in a number of roles for major companies on the estates and has experience of the shop floor in manufacturing through to technical development and production management.

In his first week in charge one of his first task was to request additional gritting for icy roads on the estates.

“I intend to make a difference in improving our industrial estates, their ongoing improvement and success is vitally important to the WIW members and to the wider community of Witham and the surrounding areas”, Mr Cocker said. “As we continue to improve there is a greater probability of new business being attracted to our estates.”

He will take on work that WIW volunteers, including secretary Kate Carling, have been carrying out in recent years.

Visit www.withamindustrialwatch.co.uk for more information.