A GLASGOW entrepreneur has been appointed to a taskforce launched by Gordon Brown.

A GLASGOW entrepreneur has been appointed to a taskforce launched by Gordon Brown.

In a bid to help disadvantaged people become high-flyers, Azeem Ibrahim will join Michael Grade, executive chairman of ITV and top publisher Gail Rebuck on the panel which will look at social mobility.

Mr Ibrahim, 32, founder of ECM Holdings, which owns the European Commerce and Mercantile Bank, grew up in a council house in Garnethill and is worth around £60million.

He has also met members of President-elect Barack Obama's transition team to discuss proposals to improve America's image around the world.

The Panel on Access to the Professions will be chaired by ex-Cabinet minister Alan Milburn.

Mr Ibrahim said he was delighted with his latest recognition, describing it as a "great privilege".

He added: "My remit on this panel is to examine the difficulties individuals from disadvantaged backgrounds face when trying to enter careers in the financial services."

Widening the scope for people to achieve their potential is one of Brown's key priorities - and a White Paper on social mobility was published yesterday.

The Prime Minister has identified limited access to the professions, including law, medicine, the senior civil service, media, finance and the upper ranks of the Armed Forces, as a major obstacle.

The panel will publish a policy statement in June which will announce the steps to be taken by each of the professions to widen access.