Chair appointed to lead Town Centre East and Fingerpost Neighbourhood Board
St Helens business leader Mike Denning has been appointed as Chair of the Town Centre East and Fingerpost Neighbourhood Board. Mike will lead the Neighbourhood Board which will help to oversee £20million investment into the area over the next ten years through the Government's Pride in Place programme.
Article date: 13 July 2026
Mike, who was born and raised in St Helens, is Founder and Director of Stapleton Derby Group, a company specialising in property sales, lettings and development and employs over 15 staff across three offices in St Helens Borough, including one within the Town Centre East and Fingerpost boundary.
His career has spanned over 30 years across legal services, commercial enterprise and property development. He brings extensive experience operating as Chair, Trustee, and Committee Lead, overseeing regulated organisations, delivering large-scale funded programmes, and representing organisations with government bodies, national governing bodies, funders, commercial partners, and community stakeholders.
Alongside his professional career Mike has been deeply involved with community initiatives for over 25 years including serving as Chair and Trustee of one of the UK's largest and most successful community Rugby League clubs, Thatto Heath Crusaders ARLFC. Chairman of The Steve Presccott Foundation for 10 years and Trustee of St Helens Autism Support as well as an honorary member of the All Parliamentary Rugby League Group.
Mike will now work with St Helens Borough Council and Marie Rimmer MP for St Helens South and Whiston, to appoint the wider Neighbourhood Board following an open recruitment process.
Mike Denning said: "I am passionate about change in St Helens Borough. This is a great opportunity for those who live and operate in the Town Centre East and Fingerpost areas to have a say on how funding is spent and to frame their future. Engagement is crucial and together with the board I will work to get the funding to the people and projects that will have the most impact."
Councillor Jack Benyon, Portfolio Holder for Regeneration, Property and Planning at St Helens Borough Council said: "We are delighted to have someone with Mike's experience taking up the role of Chair of the Town Centre East and Fingerpost Neighbourhood Board. Mike's proven track record in both business and community initiatives is exactly what is needed to drive forward transformation in the area and I look forward to seeing Mike and colleagues help to deliver real, meaningful change for the people of Town Centre East and Fingerpost."
Marie Rimmer MP for St Helens South and Whiston said: "I am delighted to welcome Mike as Chair of the Board. His passion for our community and wealth of experience make him a brilliant choice to lead this important programme. I look forward to working closely with him, the board, and the community to ensure this investment delivers the improvements that local people want to see."
The wider Town Centre East and Fingerpost Neighbourhood Board will be appointed over the coming weeks before submission to Government's Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government for ratification later this month.
Following formal appointments the Neighbourhood Board will undertake extensive community consultation to develop a 10-year Pride in Place Plan that reflects the needs and aspirations of the community.