RECRUITMENT agency founder Angela Fletcher has been named the new chair of the Dorset branch of the Institute of Directors (IoD).

She established Rock Recruitment in 2007 and now operates from branches in Christchurch and Poole, employing a total of 10 staff. Her clients include Manchester Airport Group, Merlin Entertainments, PruHealth, RNLI, Carphone Warehouse, M&S, Farrow and Ball, and many other local companies.

She was named Entrepreneur and Businesswoman of the Year in the South West Venus Awards in 2010 and 2011 respectively and has been a finalist in both the IoD Director Awards and Dorset Business Awards.

In 2013, Rock was a finalist in the Recruitment and Employment Confederation (REC) Best Company to Work For with under 20 employees.

She said: “I have a passion for business and connecting people and my sole ambition is to make a difference.”

Ms Fletcher works to support schoolchildren across Bournemouth and Poole and in 2013 established the Rock Star Awards to give local young people the opportunity to ‘up-skill’ and be recognised for their achievements.

The winners are offered training opportunities, job offers and business support.

She said: “The Institute of Directors has played an absolutely critical role in my professional development and one of my key objectives will be for the branch to support the next generation of directors through training and mentoring.

“It is essential that the education and business communities work hand in hand to deliver the right skills for growth in the region.”

Her appointment with the IoD sees her succeed Warren Munson, founder and director of Inspire Accountants, who steps down from the role at the end of his three-year term.