The Institute of Licensing is pleased to announce the appointment of John Garforth, JP as vice-chair.

John joined the IoL in 2004 when he came into licensing full time (having moved from the managing licensing in the courts).  In 2006 he was elected regional vice chair and the following year Regional Chair and Director, a position he held until 2013.  He re-joined the board in 2016 as NW Regional Director, a position he still holds today.

As a Director, John has chaired the Institute’s Management Committee and have sat on all its committees at one time or another.  In addition, John is a member of the IoL Taxi Working Party and have been involved in the planning of several of its courses and has helped deliver some.

Speaking about his appointment, John said: “I am honoured to have been voted the Institute of Licensing’s vice-chair by the board of directors.  I am passionate about licensing, its practitioners and difference it can make.  The Institute of Licensing plays a leading role in support, training and development of the profession and I welcome the opportunity to be further involved alongside its team of dedicated directors and staff.”

Daniel Davies, chair of the institute said: “The Institute of Licensing is extremely fortunate in the commitment and hard work shown by all Board members, key contacts and regional volunteers.  Myles Bebbington has served as Vice Chairman for many years now and we are sincerely grateful to him for that commitment and unwavering support.   John is an extremely experienced local government licensing practitioner and a long term Board member, and I look forward to working with him in his capacity as National Vice Chairman alongside his existing role as Director for the North West Region.”

Gary Grant, co-vice chair said: “John brings a wealth of experience and expertise in local authority licensing to the Institute’s leadership team.  I am really looking forward to working alongside him as co-vice chair of the institute in moving the institute ever forward.”

The IoL board is currently made up of seventeen Directors from the field of law (6), local government (4), trade (3) and consultants (4).