Robert Edmiston
Encyclopedia
Robert Norman Edmiston, Baron Edmiston (born 1946) is a British motor trade entrepreneur and philanthropist based in the West Midlands
who has established a number of religious and educational charities, including Christian Vision
.
Bob Edmiston became a millionaire through his companies IM Group, a car importer, and IM Properties. In 1974 he was finance director at sports car manufacturer Jensen Motors
, and used a £6,000 redundancy payout when the company went bankrupt to set up International Motors, which acquired the UK franchise for Subaru and Isuzu cars. He later branched out into property and vehicle finance. In the Sunday Times Rich List 2009
ranking of the wealthiest people in the UK he was placed 178th with an estimated fortune of £300million. IM Group is now managed by his son, Andrew Edmiston.
In 1988 he founded Christian Vision
, a large international evangelical charity, based at Coleshill, Warwickshire
, near Birmingham
.
and Grace Academy (Solihull)
and more recently Grace Academy Darlaston and is chair of the governors of all three academies.
The academies follow a Christian ethos.
, which he supported with a £2million loan, later converted into a donation.
He was one of the businessmen behind Midlands Industrial Council, a Conservative Party political campaigning organization.
In 2005 The Times reported that he was on a list of proposed new working peers
; however, his nomination was overtaken by the "Cash for Peerages
" scandal and was blocked by the House of Lords Appointments Commission.
On 19th November 2010 it was announced that Edmiston is to be created a Life Peer
. He sits as a Conservative
in the House of Lords
, with the title Baron Edmiston of Lapworth
in the County of Warwickshire
.
West Midlands (region)
The West Midlands is an official region of England, covering the western half of the area traditionally known as the Midlands. It contains the second most populous British city, Birmingham, and the larger West Midlands conurbation, which includes the city of Wolverhampton and large towns of Dudley,...
who has established a number of religious and educational charities, including Christian Vision
Christian Vision
Christian Vision is a large international Christian religious organization in the United Kingdom, established in 1993. It is registered charity under English law and in 2007 had an endowment of £200 million, making it one of the 100 largest charities in the UK....
.
Bob Edmiston became a millionaire through his companies IM Group, a car importer, and IM Properties. In 1974 he was finance director at sports car manufacturer Jensen Motors
Jensen Motors
Jensen Motors Ltd was a British manufacturer of sports cars and commercial vehicles, based in the Lyng – West Bromwich...
, and used a £6,000 redundancy payout when the company went bankrupt to set up International Motors, which acquired the UK franchise for Subaru and Isuzu cars. He later branched out into property and vehicle finance. In the Sunday Times Rich List 2009
Sunday Times Rich List 2009
The Sunday Times Rich List 2009 was published on 26 April 2009.Since 1989 the UK national Sunday newspaper The Sunday Times has published an annual magazine supplement to the newspaper called the Sunday Times Rich List...
ranking of the wealthiest people in the UK he was placed 178th with an estimated fortune of £300million. IM Group is now managed by his son, Andrew Edmiston.
Charitable activities
Edmiston is an Evangelical Christian and has made large donations to charities which he has established.In 1988 he founded Christian Vision
Christian Vision
Christian Vision is a large international Christian religious organization in the United Kingdom, established in 1993. It is registered charity under English law and in 2007 had an endowment of £200 million, making it one of the 100 largest charities in the UK....
, a large international evangelical charity, based at Coleshill, Warwickshire
Coleshill, Warwickshire
Coleshill is a market town in the North Warwickshire district of Warwickshire, England, taking its name from the River Cole. It has a population of 6,343 and is situated east of Birmingham.-Location:...
, near Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
.
Education
Through two other charities he is the sponsor of three secondary schools within the English academy programme — Grace Academy (Coventry)Grace Academy (Coventry)
Grace Academy is an Academy in Coventry, England. It has an expanding sixth form which is part of the North East Federation. It was formerly Woodway Park School and Community College, and was converted into an Academy on 31 August 2008 using the same buildings, prior to housing the new academy in...
and Grace Academy (Solihull)
Grace Academy (Solihull)
Grace Academy is a non-selective co-educational secondary school within the English Academy programme, at Chelmsley Wood, Solihull, West Midlands.It opened in 2006 and replaced the old Whitesmore School...
and more recently Grace Academy Darlaston and is chair of the governors of all three academies.
The academies follow a Christian ethos.
Politics
He has also been a backer of the Conservative PartyConservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
, which he supported with a £2million loan, later converted into a donation.
He was one of the businessmen behind Midlands Industrial Council, a Conservative Party political campaigning organization.
In 2005 The Times reported that he was on a list of proposed new working peers
Peerage
The Peerage is a legal system of largely hereditary titles in the United Kingdom, which constitute the ranks of British nobility and is part of the British honours system...
; however, his nomination was overtaken by the "Cash for Peerages
Cash for Peerages
Cash for Honours is the name given by some in the media to a political scandal in the United Kingdom in 2006 and 2007 concerning the connection between political donations and the award of life peerages...
" scandal and was blocked by the House of Lords Appointments Commission.
On 19th November 2010 it was announced that Edmiston is to be created a Life Peer
Life peer
In the United Kingdom, life peers are appointed members of the Peerage whose titles cannot be inherited. Nowadays life peerages, always of baronial rank, are created under the Life Peerages Act 1958 and entitle the holders to seats in the House of Lords, presuming they meet qualifications such as...
. He sits as a Conservative
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
in the House of Lords
House of Lords
The House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminster....
, with the title Baron Edmiston of Lapworth
Lapworth
Lapworth is a village and civil parish situated in the east of the county of Warwickshire, England. It lies close to the border with the West Midlands and in the 2001 census had a population of 2,100....
in the County of Warwickshire
Warwickshire
Warwickshire is a landlocked non-metropolitan county in the West Midlands region of England. The county town is Warwick, although the largest town is Nuneaton. The county is famous for being the birthplace of William Shakespeare...
.