Airedale NHS Foundation Trust has appointed construction industry leader Mark Andrews OBE from a strong field of over 30 candidates to join the board as a Non-Executive Director.

Mark is a chartered engineer with extensive experience in construction, most recently with Laing O'Rourke. He has previously been Chief Executive of NG Bailey and Managing Director at Balfour Beatty.

He was awarded his Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 2010 for services to apprenticeships, training and education in the construction industry. At that time, Mark was Chair of the Regional Work and Skills Board for Yorkshire and the Humber.

Having recently retired from his full-time role in the construction industry, Mark, who lives in Ilkley, was moved to apply for a Trust Non Executive Director role given his desire to contribute and support the NHS in any way he could.

Mark says: “My personal circumstances meant I came face to face with how amazing the NHS is in the last year. Having recently retired, I found myself with both the time and the desire to help, if I could.

“I believe I can make a real contribution in estates and facilities management. I am a civil engineer by background and have spent much of my life working with all things concrete. I understand the issues associated with aerated concrete and the challenges with replacing it safely.

"I have been responsible for hospital maintenance in the past and understand the underlying major equipment elements in complex systems. I have also been heavily involved in the project management, design and construction of many large hospitals in the UK and abroad.

“I am delighted to be joining the board and actively contributing to their continuing efforts towards securing Airedale’s future.”

Andrew Gold, Chair of Airedale NHS Foundation Trust said: “We are very pleased to welcome Mark to join our board. He shares the Trust values and has extensive experience of working strategically and collaboratively in the construction field, as well as being familiar with the New Hospitals Programme.

"All Mark’s skills and experience will help the Trust at a time when we look forward to building a new hospital.”

Mark joined the trust on 1 June and replaces Andrew Dumbleton whose term of office expired on 31 May.