Jill Poet, CEO

Jill is the founder and driving force of BSTLC. Her professional background is as a management accountant. Apart from an initial couple of years in the city, she has always worked for smaller, local SMEs and has always adopted a very hands-on approach. Her specialities were solicitors accounts and she also worked for several years in the leisure industry where, she says, she was just as happy pulling a pint as finalising the year end accounts. Jill is also the Chairman and MD of the Organisation for Responsible Businesses, a national membership organisation for businesses that want to demonstrate they are operating ethically and responsibly. She has lived in Southend since 1972 and launched BSTLC in Southend because she is passionate about making a difference in the borough.

Mike Wilson, Director

As well as being business partners, Mike and Jill are also husband and wife.

A Southend boy born and bred, he is passionate about supporting his local community.

Mike’s professional background was as an electro-mechanical designer, mostly working with larger companies on a contract basis, but also operating his own business for several years.

When he changed career to become a self-taught graphic designer, he produced several magazines and websites. He is particularly proud of Healthy Life – Mind, Body and Soul, an A4 free issue, 52-page glossy magazine which was the forerunner to the Healthy Life Essex website.

Mike offers across the board strategic support.

Mike is a long-standing Freemason, an organisation that raises funds for charitable purposes and is second only to the National Lottery in terms of how much it raises.