Ken Nelson has extensive involvement in economic development, business start up and growth as chief executive of Local Economic Development Company (LEDCOM) Ltd. Ken has over 27 years’ experience working as a business advisor, mentor and trainer with entrepreneurs, start-up companies, small businesses and social enterprises. He has wide ranging experience in designing and delivering support initiatives for economic development, business incubation, managed workspace development, social entrepreneurship and small business growth.
Ken was one of the founding directors and former Chairman of Enterprise Northern Ireland, the association of NI’s local enterprise centres. In 2010 he was the sole Northern Ireland recipient of the Queen’s Award for Enterprise Promotion.
Brought up on a farm and married with six children, Ken began his career in the textile industry working in production management and product management.
Ken is a voluntary member of the board of directors of two social enterprises. He has a BA in Business Studies, MBA and MSc in Human Resource Management as well as being a Chartered Manager (CMgr) and Fellow of the Chartered Management Institute (FCMI). He is also a member of the Board of Governors of Stranmillis University College.
Ken is a regular speaker at economic development and entrepreneurship conferences locally, nationally and internationally, as well as writing an occasional columns on business issues for local media.
In April 2012, he was appointed to the Board of Invest Northern Ireland by the Northern Ireland Minister for the Economy. He was re-appointed to the Board of Invest NI in April 2015.
In December 2016, he was appointed as Chairman of InterTradeIreland by the North South Ministerial Council and in 2018 was awarded an MBE in the New Year's Honours List.