A lifetime of connections. A passion for Yorkshire.

Keith Madeley MBE: Connecting people, businesses and Yorkshire

Introducing Keith Madeley MBE, our first Your Virtual Board Ambassador.

Some people build impressive careers. Others have a particular gift for bringing people, businesses and communities together.

Keith Madeley MBE has spent a lifetime doing both.

Known to many as Mr Yorkshire, Keith brings a wealth of commercial experience, public relations expertise and an exceptional network of connections to Your Virtual Board. His career has taken him from the railways to financial services, business leadership, charity and ambassadorial roles – with a constant thread running through it all: people.

As our first Ambassador, Keith will help raise the profile of Your Virtual Board, build connections and open doors to opportunities across the business community, particularly in Yorkshire.

We asked Keith to tell us a little about his journey, the experiences that have shaped him and what continues to motivate him.

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A career built around people

I began my working life with British Rail at Bradford Forster Square, following on from being President of my school's Railfans' Society.

I joined as a Clerical Officer Grade 4, but my career progressed quickly. At eighteen, I was promoted to a role in rail freight on the Southern Region. Following a further promotion at nineteen, I studied the Station Manager's Rules and Regulations, passed them at twenty and, at just twenty-one, was appointed British Rail's youngest ever Station Manager – a record which, I understand, has never been surpassed.

I left British Rail aged twenty-five and returned to my native Bradford, where I entered the world of commerce as a PR Manager. Within three months, I had been promoted to General Manager.

Looking back, the experience I gained dealing with people on the railway gave me an exceptional grounding for public relations and the ambassadorial responsibilities that followed. Understanding people, communicating effectively and building relationships have been central to everything I've done.

From public relations to business ownership

In 1976, a family friend and I launched an Independent Financial Advisory business. We ran the company for around thirty years before selling it.

My PR experience proved invaluable. We regularly featured in the press and developed a reputation within the sector for being approachable, particularly when it came to new products and ideas.

It was a great example of how reputation, communication and relationships can help a business stand out and build trust.

Following the sale of the IFA business, I moved into a variety of roles as a Non-Executive Director, Chairman and Ambassador. Alongside these, I chaired the Yorkshire Society for sixteen years and supported a number of other charities.

It was during this period that one of the companies I was involved with presented me with the Mr Yorkshire domain name and website – a title that has stayed with me ever since!

Championing Yorkshire and its people

Today, I continue to help companies raise their profile, particularly across Yorkshire.

I'm Chair of the Scott Creative Arts Foundation, a charity supporting emerging artists in Yorkshire, and a Board Member of the Yorkshire Asian Business Association.

Both roles reflect something I have always believed in: the importance of supporting talent, creating opportunities and helping people make connections that can lead to something positive.

Yorkshire has an enormous amount to offer. Its businesses, people, creativity and communities deserve to be recognised, and I enjoy playing a part in making those connections happen.

A family passion with a wider reach

Away from my business and ambassadorial work, I also help market my wife Chris's Cones Children's Educational Books.

There are now 26 titles published, with more on the way. The books are designed for Key Stage 2 children in primary schools, using real-world projects to bring learning to life.

We've developed relationships with some major organisations, including Balfour Beatty, BAM Nuttall, Persimmon Homes, Laing O'Rourke, Colas, National Highways and National Grid. Some partners are now on their third or fourth titles with us.

The books cover a fascinating range of subjects and projects, from HS2 and the TransPennine Rail Upgrade to Everton FC's new stadium, the Lower Thames Crossing and a new power line running from Peterhead to Drax at Selby.

It's rewarding to see how real projects can become engaging educational resources, helping children understand the world around them and the industries shaping their future.

The value of making connections

I'm very active on LinkedIn and social media and get great satisfaction from connecting relevant people.

Over the years, I've seen how much can come from a good introduction, a conversation or simply bringing the right people into the same room. Sometimes the value isn't immediately obvious, but the connection can create opportunities that might otherwise never have happened.

That is one of the reasons I'm delighted to be involved with Your Virtual Board.

By Keith Madeley
Your Virtual Board Ambassador

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Bringing the right people together

Keith's career is a great example of the value of experience, relationships and the ability to connect people.

At Your Virtual Board, we believe businesses benefit when they have access to the right expertise, perspectives and connections – without necessarily having to build everything in-house.

Our model brings experienced people together around the specific challenges and ambitions of a business. Whether the priority is growth, strategy, finance, leadership, operations, sales or brand, we help bring the right people together around the right mission, at the right time.

Keith's reputation, commercial background and extensive network make him a valuable addition to that collective.

We're delighted to welcome him as our first Ambassador.

Welcome to Your Virtual Board, Keith!

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Connect with Keith Madeley on LinkedIn.
linkedin.com/in/keithmadeley