Welcome

Lawrence Barton is an entrepreneur, businessman and community champion. He is a senior director of a cross-sector business group and holds a variety of prominent community leadership roles, including Festival Director of Birmingham Pride and Leadership Commissioner for the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA). In recognition for his community activism, in March 2020 Lawrence was appointed to be a Deputy Lieutenant of the West Midlands.

About Lawrence Contact

Business Expertise

Lawrence is a senior consultant on skills and apprenticeship provision in the UK. For over two decades he served as the Managing Director of GB Training, a leading skills and apprenticeship provider based in the West Midlands. He is also a senior director of a family-owned business portfolio that covers several sectors.

Community Champion

A community champion, he holds notable roles with Birmingham Pride, West Midlands Lieutenancy, West Midlands Combined Authority Leadership Commission, and Birmingham Southside BID, a community regeneration initiative.

Skills & Apprenticeships

Lawrence is also a regular commentator and opinion former on skills and apprenticeship policy. He has contributed extensively regarding challenges facing the industry often advocating opportunities for reform.

Business & Community Portfolio

Birmingham Pride

Birmingham Pride is Birmingham’s weekend-long LGBTQ+ festival held annually in the Gay Village over the Spring Bank Holiday weekend. Birmingham Pride is the UK's largest two-day gay pride festival.

www.birminghampride.com

West Midlands Lieutenancy

The West Midlands Lieutenancy serves to represent the Monarch in the region. The office works to promote a spirit of cooperation and good atmosphere by supporting local voluntary and benevolent organisations as well as broader business and social life.

www.wmlieutenancy.org

Birmingham City Council Night-Time Economy Champion

The role of the Night-Time Economy Champion is to work with the city council, business improvement districts, and local stakeholders to represent the needs of Birmingham’s thriving nightlife.

www.birmingham.gov.uk

Southside Birmingham

Southside BID is an initiative within Birmingham’s Southside district in which the local business community work together to collectively invest in projects and services to improve the business environment.

www.southsidebid.co.uk

AM2PM

A leading recruitment consultancy, AM2PM connects workers with employers on a temporary or permanent basis. Its areas of expertise cover the automotive, professional driving, e-commerce, food, warehouse, and manufacturing sectors.

https://www.am2pm.uk.com/

The Loft

The Loft bar specialises in premium spirits, cocktails and craft beer and offers an award-winning weatherproof garden that is open all year round.

www.theloftbrum.co.uk

The Nightingale Club

The Nightingale Club is the vibrant heart of Birmingham’s LGBTQ+ community, a role it has served for more than 50 years.

www.nightingaleclub.co.uk

The Village Birmingham

The Village Inn is one of the longest established and most popular bars located in the heart of Birmingham’s gay village.

www.villagebirmingham.co.uk

James Mayor Home

James Mayor Home delivers real design skills to the creation of luxury furniture that is truly bespoke and entirely British made. Its furniture is designed and drawn by hand, enabling a focus on the detail of shape, proportion and style.

www.jamesmayor.co.uk