Nicky Kirkwood joins the Bailey Board as a Non-Executive Director

Nicky brings with her a wealth of leadership and advisory experience across multiple sectors with a proven track record of delivering large scale business transformation and change. Nicky has previously served as a Board Director in her executive career and currently acts as a Non-Executive Director for a global engineering technology company.

Her particular area of expertise is engaging and empowering people to help make a positive impact on an organisation’s performance and culture.

Bailey has made important strides in this area recently with the introduction of a new grading structure for the Operations Team which has assisted in retaining and attracting staff by offering them competitive salary and a clear pathway for progression. The company has also recently made important changes to its employee benefits package such as extending full Maternity Pay to 24 weeks (6-months) and the funding of HRT (Hormone Replacement Therapy) prescription costs.

Nicky will look build on this work and assist in shaping a new ‘people focused’ approach to the company’s future development.

In addition to Nicky’s appointment, Bailey has further strengthened its Senior Management Team by promoting Paul Hayward to the position of Director of Supply Chain, David McDonald to Director of New Product Development and Daniel Clay to Director of Human Resources. This triple promotion recognises the positive impact all three have had on the business in extremely challenging circumstances over the past two years and important role they will play in taking the company forward in the post-COVID economic climate.

Founded in 1948 Bailey Caravans is the longest established UK independent manufacturer with seventy years’ experience in leisure vehicle production and design. During this period, it has grown to become not only the UK’s favourite caravan brand, accounting for approximately one in three new caravan sales, but also one of the largest producers in Europe. More recently, in 2011, the company brought this same level of expertise to the motorhome market as well as expanding into new exports markets as far afield as New Zealand and South Korea.

Today Bailey employs over 500 local people across its three sites in Bristol and currently manufactures 5,000 leisure vehicles per year.

Commenting on these developments Bailey Managing Director Nick Howard said; “To have somebody of Nicky’s pedigree joining the Bailey Board will be a huge asset to our company going forward. She has a proven track record of performance in a wide variety of industries making her an excellent addition to our business.

Nicky’s appointment plus the promotion of Paul, David and Daniel means our Senior Management Team is in excellent shape as we look to maximize the opportunities afforded by the recent surge in demand for outdoor leisure vehicles and accessories” he added.