The Piece Hall CEO named transformational leader

CEO of The Piece Hall Trust Nicky Chance-Thompson DL has been named Transformational Leader at TheBusinessdesk Northern Leadership Awards 2023.

The North’s business community come together to celebrate the best in business leadership at a glitzy ceremony at The Midland Hotel in Manchester city centre last night.

Joining The Piece Hall Trust in 2015, initially as a Trustee, Nicky has been at the helm since 2017 overseeing The Piece Hall’s ascent to world class visitor attraction. Alongside the Board she has successfully steered the business through the turbulent waters of the global pandemic, securing this precious asset’s long-term future.

Under her leadership an outstanding arts, culture and community events programme has seen the award-winning heritage destination welcome more than 11 million visitors. Growing in both repertoire and reputation the organisation has been described as an exemplar business model and an example of “Levelling Up” in action.

Working alongside the wider team, Nicky has been instrumental is ensuring The Piece Hall delivered on its promise to be the catalyst for continuing regeneration in Halifax and the wider Calderdale borough.

The Business Desk created the Northern Leadership Awards to celebrate the people that are role models within their organisations and raise the bar for their competitors.

All winners show the qualities of extraordinary leadership and demonstrate the positive impact this has had.

Nicky said: I’m so honoured to have been given this award. It’s a complete privilege to be the custodian of this unique and precious heritage site and working with my team to breathe new life into it is a labour of love. I’m incredibly proud of the transformation, of what we’ve achieved so far and what it means to Halifax and the wider Calderdale region.

Chair of The Piece Hall Trust Sir Roger Marsh OBE, DL said: “This is such a well-deserved accolade for Nicky. I couldn’t be prouder of the work she has done leading the trust and the team over the last few years. Overseeing the transformation of The Piece Hall was always going to be a challenge, but that challenge was amplified beyond measure when we plunged into a pandemic with the lockdowns and restrictions it necessitated. It’s testament to Nicky’s skill and determination that the Piece Hall not only survived the challenge but it now thriving, recently experiencing its best year yet! And under Nicky’s continued stewardship I know the best is still yet to come.”