Lawrence Barton appointed Deputy Lieutenant of the West Midlands

Southside BID director and local business owner Lawrence Barton has been appointed a Deputy Lieutenant of the West Midlands.

Lawrence was invited to serve as a deputy lieutenant due to his significant community contribution to the region. As well as serving as a Southside BID director since 2011, Lawrence is managing director of GB training, one of the UK’s largest work-based learning providers, Festival Director for Birmingham Pride, and commissioner on the West Midlands Combined Authority Leadership Commission.

As a deputy lieutenant, he will support John Crabtree OBE, Lord-Lieutenant of the West Midlands, in his own time in a variety of ways. These will include: attending on royalty during official visits to the region; promoting nominations for Honours and Queen’s Awards for the county of the West Midlands; encouraging charitable and voluntary work and local initiatives to benefit the community.