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Peter Clapham


Peter Clapham became Director of NPL during a period of tremendous change for NPL. It was formally vested as an Executive Agency of the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) in 1990. For the first time in its history, the post of NPL director was advertised in the press and open to applicants from either the private or public sector.

Clapham, who was then Chief Executive of NWML, chose the dual title 'Chief Executive and Director' to reflect the increasingly commercial environment.

Born 3 November 1940; educated at Ashville College, Harrogate; BSc in physics at University College London 1960; PhD in optics 1969, Imperial College. After receiving his PhD, he pursued research in laser applications and precision engineering at the NPL. He was then promoted to Marketing Director of NPL and during this time he doubled the Laboratory's industrial income. Following this work, he moved to Whitehall in Technology Policy, a division of the Department of Trade and industry. He returned to NPL as division head to improve industrial relevance of work, customer responsiveness and international collaboration. He became director of the National Weights and Measures Laboratory in 1985 and director and chief executive of the NPL in 1990. During Clapham's five years as director, he managed the Laboratory through a fundamental process of change in preparing it for private sector operation. This involved introducing substantial efficiency improvements, quality management procedures and commercial disciplines, while maintaining scientific excellence, staff motivation and NPL's reputation for integrity. He is now a self employed consultant in the fields of metrology, standards, testing and conformity assessment.

He is married (Jean Clapham) and has two children (Andrew and Matthew Clapham) and 4 grand children (Joseph, Amie, Charlie and Joshua Clapham)