A BUSINESS group dedicated to promoting a borough as good place to invest has a new boss.

Neil Evans, the managing director of VEKA plc, has been announced as the new chair of Burnley Bondholders.

The group, which now has more than 200 members, was formed to drive forward the borough's ambitions of becoming a place where businesses could flourish.

The organisation was established more than a decade ago to help encourage investment in the borough and make the town a more attractive setting for firms.

Many new companies joined in the past two years as the coronavirus pandemic highlighted the importance and benefits of supportive networks

The Burnley Brand and Burnley Bondholder scheme is led by the Focus Burnley Group, of which Mr Evans is the new chair.

He will carry out his duties alongside his role at VEKA - a leading manufacturer of uPVC profile used to fabricate window and doors.

It has a 35-acre factory on Burnley's Rossendale Road Industrial Estate.

VEKA employs more than 400 people, the majority of whom live in the local area.

Mr Evans said: "It’s been a challenging time for our town over the past couple of years, but I’ve been amazed at how the Burnley Bondholders and other businesses, along with our community groups and residents, have pulled together during this period.

“I’ve been hugely impressed by the passion for Burnley, not only in VEKA, but across all the businesses in our borough.

"This was evident within the first hour of my interview for my role at VEKA with my predecessor Dave Jones.

“It’s an honour to have firstly, joined the Focus Burnley Group and secondly, to have subsequently become the new chair.

"I look forward to working with the bondholders, Burnley Borough Council and our other partners to help steer the town further into recovery and to attract further investment to Burnley, which includes the recent announcements about UCLan and Burnley College expansions and work starting on Pioneer Place.”

Mick Cartledge, chief executive of Burnley Council, said: “Neil will make a fantastic chair, he’s made an impactful contribution to the borough already and I look forward to working more closely with him.

The previous chair of Burnley Bondholders was Burnley Football Club chief executive Neil Hart.