Bill Atkinson joined the Throat Cancer Foundation as a Trustee at a defining stage in the charity’s journey, bringing a depth of leadership, governance and organisational experience that will help shape its next phase of growth. His appointment signals the Foundation’s commitment to building a high-calibre board capable of providing independent challenge, strategic direction and practical oversight as the charity expands its impact in prevention, awareness, early diagnosis and support.
His career began in 1973 when he was commissioned into the Army. He spent nine years serving with The Duke of Wellington’s Regiment before transferring to the Royal Military Police to gain security experience ahead of returning to civilian life. Promoted to Major, he was posted to Edinburgh Castle to command the military police in Scotland. He was involved in the organising committees of the annual Royal Military Tattoo as well as the 1986 Commonwealth Games. As he points out ‘he got a medal’!
On leaving the Army, Bill chose to settle in Edinburgh and joined Ferranti Defence Systems as a Marketing Executive. The company was taken over by GEC and he became Internal Communications Manager for seven sites across Scotland. During that time, he introduced a company-wide ideas programme, developed a team briefing process and helped raise £60,000 in just three months for Edinburgh’s Sick Kids Charity.
In 1992 he joined Standard Life’s People Development Department as a Leadership Consultant. Over the next nine years he delivered programmes in leadership, people skills, project management and process management across the business. He also successfully project managed the Company’s inaugural Investors in People Award in 1998, with an approach praised for its efficiency and becoming a benchmark model.
As the new millennium approached, Bill established his own consultancy. Initially Atkinsons Training & Development Ltd, he soon rebranded as P3 Leadership. Through that work he broadened both his reach and his remit, supporting organisations and leaders across the UK, Europe, the Far East, the Middle East and the Caribbean. P3 Leadership reflected Bill’s focus on practical leadership, organisational improvement and real-world problem-solving, helping clients think more clearly, work more effectively and build stronger foundations for growth.
Bill is known for combining structure, discipline and process with innovation, independent thinking and a willingness to ask probing and at times confronting questions. He brings constructive challenge, strategic perspective and practical judgement to the board thus helping ensure the Throat Cancer Foundation is, not only ambitious in its goals, but robust in how it pursues them.
