 After Doroshenko's departure he was then responsible for the appointment of the current director, Godfrey Wordsdale, and discussions with the University of Northumbria were begun which led to the current partnership between the two institutions.Prior to becoming a Member of Parliament, he worked in the City at National Giro Bank and began his working life in Middlesbrough at the Midland Bank.He is a former chairman of the Northern Region CBI and was founder chairman of the Northern Business Forum.