Team introductions

Rachel Clark

Director of Trade and Investment

An experienced inward investment professional, experienced in the public, private and charity sectors, working to build investment and expansion into South Yorkshire.

Knowledgeable, personable and experienced in working with senior business leaders across sectors, enhancing their organisations by giving a high level of support and assistance enabling profitable and easy expansion into South Yorkshire.

Email: rachel.clark@southyorkshire-ca.gov.uk

Steve Carroll

Business Support Advisor

Steve has worked with the South Yorkshire Access to Finance team for over five years on a range of projects including inward investment, grants and advisory work. With over 20 years management experience in senior finance roles in retail, manufacturing and service sector companies, before this Steve qualified as a Chartered Management Accountant with a leading international advisory firm. He understands the importance of effective collaboration in achieving commercial success. With strong family roots in Sheffield, Steve has a real desire to help the region prosper.

Email: steve.carroll@southyorkshire-ca.gov.uk

Andy McKenna

Business Support and Access to Finance Advisor

Andy has worked within the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority for 6 years on a range of projects including Access to Finance, grant advisory and assessment, and latterly supporting businesses recovering from Covid related issues. His role is to support businesses looking for funding either from the Public or Private Sector. Andy was a banker with Yorkshire Bank for 26 years before leaving the industry and setting up his own business working with a number of organisations and businesses, including supporting a number of Local Authorities across the UK with their grant programmes. Andy is a keen (but slow) runner and plays bassoon with a number of orchestras.

Email: andrew.mckenna@southyorkshire-ca.gov.uk  

Mustaq Birander

Mustaq is Investment Manager, with the Inward Investment team promoting South Yorkshire to overseas investors across the globe to help build their investment and expansion into the region. In working with businesses and organisations by giving support and assistance enabling profitable and easy expansion into South Yorkshire.

Mustaq has held a variety of appointments with UK Trade Investment including Deputy Head of Mission and Head of UK Trade Investment in Kolkata and has enjoyed over 30 years of Trade and Investment work. He brings a wealth of extensive experience working with vast range of businesses across many sectors and having worked overseas serving in Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Iraq, Jordan, India, UAE and have travelled extensively in many international markets. He has worked in the private sector in a senior role with a large private investment group in UAE. Mustaq has an in depth knowledge of UK Trade Investment environment and deep expertise in working with businesses. When not working he enjoys walking, travelling and watching football.

Email: mustaq.birader@southyorkshire-ca.gov.uk  

Rachel Fletcher

Rachel has worked within the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority for 6 years on a range of projects including Access to Finance, grant advisory and assessment, and latterly supporting businesses recovering from Covid related issues on behalf of both Sheffield City Council and Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council. Rachel established her own bespoke consultancy company which employs a team of 3 consultants FCS Associates Ltd in 2004 to provide grant and public sector tender writing services and business support working on behalf of public and private sector customers. Prior to setting up FCS, Rachel was Managing Director of Beta Technology Ltd, a regional technology and grant funding consultancy. Rachel enjoys travel and running.

Email: rachel.fletcher@southyorkshire-ca.gov.uk  

Nicola Bladen 

Enquiries and Proposal Development Manager

Nicola is from Barnsley and having lived and worked in South Yorkshire all her life, Nicola has an excellent knowledge of all things South Yorkshire!  From business contacts and transport routes to where to locate your business.  Nicola has a broad knowledge of inward investment and business support having previously worked in our Growth Hub Team advising businesses on a whole range of business related enquiries.  She has a range of experience including business development, finance, HR, health and safety and quality and has worked in both the private and public sector across a span of organisations in the Business and Skills sector.

Email: nicola.bladen@southyorkshire-ca.gov.uk  

Rachel Hughes 

 Events and Programme Visit Officer

Rachel's background is in events as well as programme and business support. She has a range of experience in communications in local government, higher education and private sector organisations, as well as customer service experience. Rachel has worked at South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority for over six years now and moved to the Trade and Investment Team in 2023.

Email: rachel.hughes@southyorkshire-ca.gov.uk