Bev Hurley was appointed Chief Executive of YTKO in 1999, a European economic development and business consultancy headquartered in Cambridge, which works with entrepreneurs, multinationals, universities, governments and regions across the UK and Europe. YTKO specialises in two areas, the knowledge economy and women’s enterprise, helping hundreds of businesses to start and grow.
Prior to YTKO, Bev’s successful UK entrepreneurial career encompassed growing three successful companies, in healthcare packaging, creative industries, and her own management consultancy. Her early career spans inner city regeneration in London, rising from Housing Officer to Housing Director and Deputy CEO, and a corporate career with a global north American mining company, where she pioneered equal employment opportunities for women and led the change management team in a non-unionised mine.
At YTKO, Bev created the Norfolk Network, a fast-growing collaboration, innovation and support community for entrepreneurs and businesses, and as part of this early stage support, she also founded Norfolk First, an angel investor forum.
Bev developed and directs ‘Enterprising Women’, a Women’s Business Network that supports, trains and promotes a rapidly expanding national community of almost 5000 women, and 250 stakeholder organisations. Among its services, it offers specialist Investment Readiness for Women support and a £10m growth loan fund.
An active mentor, angel investor, lecturer, and passionate UK Women’s Enterprise Ambassador, Bev was recently asked to join the Government’s committee for ensuring effective implementation of the new Enterprise Strategy for Women across the country.
Her appointments include:
- Board Member of the East of England Regional Development Agency
- Member of the East of England Science and Industry Council
- Trustee of the East Mentoring Forum
- Enterprise Fellow of the University of East Anglia
- Member of the Strategic Advisory Group, International Task Force for Women in Technology
- Entrepreneur in Residence, Anglia Ruskin University
She has a BA (Hons) in English and Psychology, an MSc in Science, is a qualified commercial mediator, and holds a Diploma in Performance Coaching.