Advancing UK Aerospace, Defence, Security & Space Solutions Worldwide
  • Home
  • /
  • Aerospace
  • /
  • Robert McConnell wins IoD Start-Up Director of the Year award

Aerospace

Robert McConnell wins IoD Start-Up Director of the Year award

Robert McConnell, a Co-founder and Director at Northern Ireland business growth advisory firm Pinnacle Professional, has received a prestigious award from the Institute of Directors (IoD) Northern Ireland, scooping the Start-up Director of the Year title at the Institute's recent awards ceremony.

Robert was one of just 11 local business leaders from across Northern Ireland who were recognised for leadership excellence at this year’s awards. Coming from the public, private and third sectors and across a range of industries including communications, construction and manufacturing, the award winners were acknowledged for their proactive approach towards business growth, corporate governance and responsible leadership.

Advertisement
DSEI 2025

Robert joins an illustrious list of former recipients of IoD Director of the Year Awards and now also has the chance to be shortlisted for the overall UK ‘Director of the Year Awards’, which take place in London later this year. Robert is also a former winner of the Young Director of the Year award (2017).

Pinnacle is a business advisory firm, established with the key goal of enabling business growth for their clients. Co-founded and led by Dr Scott King and Robert McConnell, their vision is to be the foremost business growth advisory partner within the UK & Ireland. Robert previously worked for CCP Gransden for 6 years, as Engineering Director, leaving to form Pinnacle in early 2018. His career began in Thompson Aero Seating, followed by a stint at B/E Aerospace (now Collins Aerospace). Robert is a graduate of Ulster University, with a BEng(Hons) Engineering Management, and an MSc International Business. Robert, also a Chartered Engineer, was accredited as Northern Ireland’s youngest ever Chartered Director in 2017 and is a fellow of the Institute of Directors.

Pinnacle (www.pinnacle-ni.com) is a unique business advisory firm founded in February 2018 by Dr Scott King and Robert McConnell. Scott and Robert are internationally networked, award winning business and engineering professionals with over 30 Years combined experience spanning multiple industrial sectors across the globe. Using their combined experiences, they identified a gap in the market for a pragmatic, hands on, honest advisory service that was solely focused on achieving real terms business growth for their clients, for example increased turnover, increased profit margins, new jobs, based upon their real life commercial, operation and technical knowledge gathered across multiple business sectors within the global economy.

After just over one year in business Pinnacle have supported approx. 50 clients of different sizes and from diverse business sectors. The business strategies, business introductions, processes improvements developed by Pinnacle and funding secured (over £800,000 in grants) for their clients have generated over £5M in new business and identified over 120 new jobs.

Advertisement
Leonardo RT

Robert said, “Business advice and consultancy plays a vital role in the Northern Ireland economy and it is only right that successes in the sector be recognised in the NI Business Economy. It’s a fabulous boost for Pinnacle Professional and we’ll continue on our journey of innovation and growth to ensure that Pinnacle is at the forefront of providing specialist advice and consultancy to companies in Northern Ireland and beyond.”

IoD NI Chairman Gordon Milligan said the calibre of this year’s winners was a testament to quality of leadership in Northern Ireland business: “Congratulations go to all this year’s winners at the Institute of Directors Northern Ireland Director of the Year Awards that prove once again that the Northern Ireland economy benefits from leaders across the private and public sector, performing to the very highest standards.”

 

Advertisement
Cranfield University
Advanced Engineering 2025 extends additives and composites spotlight

Aerospace Events

Advanced Engineering 2025 extends additives and composites spotlight

7 July 2025

Taking place on 29th and 30th October 2025 at the NEC Birmingham, Advanced Engineering will have a new expanded Composites Pavilion, SME Village, the ADS Pavilion, AM2 Forum (Additive Manufacturing and Advanced Materials Forum) and a focused Electronics Zone.

CAA appoints experts to strengthen economic regs and growth

Aerospace

CAA appoints experts to strengthen economic regs and growth

7 July 2025

The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has appointed a team of specialists at the forefront of economics and competition policy to provide strategic advice to the aviation regulator on economic regulation and the challenges and opportunities in enabling the aviation sector to transform and grow.

Skyports and Ajman Transport to advance AAM in Ajman

Aerospace

Skyports and Ajman Transport to advance AAM in Ajman

7 July 2025

Ajman Transport Authority has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Skyports Infrastructure, with the aim of exploring opportunities for cooperation in the field of advanced air mobility (AAM) for smart aerial transport, including air taxi services, in the Emirate.

IASL trials AGlaze Aviation Sealant

Aerospace

IASL trials AGlaze Aviation Sealant

7 July 2025

Island Aviation Services Limited (IASL), operating as Maldivian, has become the second floatplane operator to trial the AGlaze Aviation Sealant product, with AGlaze International Ltd and Gryphon Aviation Partners (UK) Ltd reporting it is already delivering positive results.

Advertisement
Teledyne
Birmingham Airport supports young care experienced adults into work

Aerospace

Birmingham Airport supports young care experienced adults into work

7 July 2025

Birmingham Airport has supported care experienced young adults into work, as part of a specialised Midlands-wide initiative aimed at tackling youth unemployment.

Malaysia Aviation Group orders 20 more A330neo

Aerospace

Malaysia Aviation Group orders 20 more A330neo

7 July 2025

Malaysia Aviation Group (MAG), the parent company of national carrier Malaysia Airlines, has placed a firm order with Airbus for 20 more A330-900 aircraft.

Advertisement
Teledyne