Meet the Team
The Halesowen BID Board of Directors are from all different sectors and bring a wealth of experience to the team.
Director
Mat McSwiggan
With over 25 years of experience in Commercial Business Insurance, Mat is proud to be part of the Norton Insurance Group, where he continues to support local businesses through tailored insurance solutions.
Outside of work, Mat is a passionate football fan—often found on the terraces at Halesowen Town or travelling the country to cheer on his son, Shae. Mat also enjoys taking part in charity challenges, including mountain climbs, wing walks, parachute jumps, and abseiling. From time to time, Mat lends a hand as a compère at local events.
Mat has been part of the Halesowen community for more than 20 years and joined the BID team in November 2021. As a Director of Halesowen BID, Mat is proud to play a role in helping the town thrive—ensuring it remains a safe, vibrant, and welcoming place to visit, shop, eat, and enjoy. Long may the BID continue!
Director
Jamie Morgan-Green
Jamie Morgan-Green is the Head of Student Services at Halesowen College, where he has worked for the past 19 years in a variety of roles. Originally from Hull, he has lived in the West Midlands since the age of 19. He has collaborated with Halesowen BID for several years, with college students contributing to numerous events and initiatives, including the Rowley Regis train station project and Halesowen in Bloom.
Director
Philip Smith
Phil began Aikido in 1968 and became a student of T.K. Chiba in 1970. He achieved Shodan in 1976 and continued to develop his practice through extensive training with senior teachers including Y. Yamada and M. Kanai in the USA, K. Asai in Germany, and M. Kanetsuka in the UK. In 1988 he visited Japan, accompanying Kisshomaru Ueshiba, the 2nd Doshu, to O-Sensei’s grave in Tanabe.
A senior instructor of the United Kingdom Aikikai, Phil was recognised as a Shihan by the Aikikai Foundation in 2011 and awarded 7th Dan in 2017 by Moriteru Ueshiba, the current Doshu. He teaches nationally and internationally and leads regular Aikido and Iai-do (3rd Dan) classes at Ren Shin Kan, Halesowen.
Alongside his martial arts career, Phil is a Chartered Physiotherapist who worked in the NHS, private practice, and later lectured at Coventry University. He also supported medical teams at major sporting events. Phil now serves as a director of Halesowen BID, contributing to local business support, community initiatives, and town-centre development.
Ambassador
Ellie Hunt
With a strong background in customer service and operations, Ellie excels at building relationships, supporting others, and contributing to a team that achieves meaningful results for the town. She thrives in roles that involve working with people at all levels and values the diversity that each day brings.
Raised in Halesowen, Ellie lives locally with her family, and has a passion for travel, theatre, eating out, and spending quality time with friends.
Chair
Andy Hancock
Andy serves as the Executive Pastor at Lifecentral Church and has called Halesowen home since beginning his role in 2012. While not originally from the area, Andy is deeply passionate about contributing to the growth and success of the town. Lifecentral Church is dedicated to supporting Halesowen in meaningful ways, and Andy’s position on the Halesowen BID board reflects this commitment. It is both an honour and a priority for the church to actively engage in the town’s development through this partnership.
Manager
Vicky Shakespeare
Vicky joined Halesowen BID in 2019 after a 19-year career with West Midlands Police as a Police Community Support Officer, spending her final five years in Dudley Town Centre. In 2018, she received the prestigious Force Diamond Award and was named PCSO of the Year, inspiring her to take the next step in her career — which led her to the BID.
She enjoys walking, travel, cooking, working out, socialising with family and friends, and experimenting with different gin cocktails, as well as watching her favourite movies with the family.
Director
Graham Hyde
With 33 years of experience in Financial Services gained through his career in Global Banking, Graham brings an independent perspective to cost management and budget forecasting for Halesowen BID. He coordinates the organisation’s working relationship with the DMBC revenue team and provides excellent cost discipline, ensuring value for money for levy contributors.
Having lived in Halesowen for 25 years, Graham not only supports the organisation’s financial operations but is also a strong contributor to Halesowen in Bloom, serving as both Treasurer and gardener for the town.
Director
Simon Phipps
Simon has lived in Halesowen his whole life and has been privileged to represent the Belle Vale ward on Dudley Council since 2015. He began his career as an apprentice IT technician before moving into communications and campaign work for Members of Parliament in the region. As an officer of the Halesowen Conservative Association, he is partially based in the organisation’s offices in Church Chambers on the High Street.
When the BID was first formed, he sat on a local Community Forum that contributed to its initial start-up costs. Since then, he has witnessed the success the BID has achieved despite some of the most challenging circumstances town centres have ever faced.
Simon was delighted to join Halesowen BID as a Dudley Council–appointed director in October 2022 and has supported the organisation through financial planning and by liaising with senior management at the council.
Director
Peter Hunt
Peter is the owner of Moneywatch Finance, who provide independent mortgage and insurance advice, on all aspects of buying a home. He qualified as a financial adviser in 1990, and he is also the finance expert for channel 4’s Grand Designs show.
Peter loves to travel & visit as many different places as possible, along with spending time with his large family. He also has a keen interest in football, and he enjoys spending time in his garden growing his own fruit and vegetables in the green house.