Ralph Bauer won the City & Guilds Premier Award in Textile Technology in 1953 and entered the textile industry in which, other than a short interval as a Commissioned Officer in the Royal Artillery, he spent his working life.  In 1963 he obtained a Diploma in Management and moved to Northern Ireland as Chief Executive of a small company, now Franklins International, in 1966.  Nine years later he bought Franklins and subsequently purchased a traditional, old established textile company, Fergusons, which with the use of new technology has succeeded in becoming the leading manufacturer of luxury Irish Linen.  In 1998 he retired from operational management of the group of companies, although he remains the non-executive Chairman.

Ralph was a Board member of LEDU (a government industrial initiative) in its early days and has retained an interest in industrial encouragement, particularly in the areas of innovation and technology.   He headed the Textile Foresight panel in 1997, subsequently joining the Board of IRTU (a government Industrial Research and Development body), becoming Chairman in 2001.

In the past, Chairmanship in Northern Ireland of both of the Textile Institute and the Institute of Management has ensured his involvement in industrial matters.  His interest in current employment issues was maintained as a panel member of Industrial Tribunals.

Participation as a student at Harvard Business School in Massachusetts (1999-2001) and again in 2005 and 2007 (Leadership Best Practice), indicates his interest in continuous personal development, and greatly widened his appreciation and understanding of global, industrial, and commercial issues.

A continuing interest in management and vocational training is exemplified by his involvement with City & Guilds as a Councillor. Currently he is Chairman of the Institute of Leadership and Management (ILM), the largest leadership and management examinations and awarding body in the United Kingdom.

In 2005 Ralph Bauer was awarded Fellowship of City and Guilds of London Institute (FCGI).
Additionally, Ralph Bauer is an Honorary Liveryman of The Clothworkers’ Company and a Freeman of the City of London.

He has occasionally given papers on management, technical and industrial issues in both the United Kingdom and North America, and recently to a National Health Trust Conference.