44 business focus
Business Southampton – new chairman and clear vision
As new Business Southampton chairman, I have a clear vision for the future, writes Philip Warr (pictured below), who is also chief executive of P H Warr plc
As I take over as chairman of Business Southampton the local economy faces a number of challenges and objectives.
The solution to our current economic difficulties is clear – we need to maximise the level of economic activity so that companies are doing more profitable business and paying more tax. In the end that will be what gets this country back on an even keel – and both the private and public sectors have their parts to play.
The role of the public sector historically has seen them almost policing business and in some circumstances, impeding business from being able to move forward. Instead we need government both locally and nationally to be in a position where it is helping businesses to prosper.
One area where local government could really help business, is in the time it takes businesses to obtain planning permission for building work. The longer it takes a planning permission to go through, the more it costs businesses. Planning applications should ideally be decided in weeks – not months as at the moment.
I intend to build upon the effective dialogue that Business Southampton has developed with local government in recent years as part of my new role.
It is really
important there is a common purpose so we have maximum impetus to build economic activity.
Sterling is relatively weak at the moment and that gives business an opportunity to sell overseas. The truth is we are not going to emerge from the current financial crisis by concentrating our efforts within UK plc – we have to look at selling our goods and services overseas.
As an exporter myself, I have been taken aback by the extent to which other countries want to buy British. They respect the quality and integrity of our goods and services.
My own company has been exporting its construction project management services and the people commissioning those services say they want British companies more than others because we can be trusted.
My company became a City Champion because we understand the importance of dynamic business representative
www.businessmag.co.uk
organisations and the value they bring to the local economy.
In the current financial climate it is critically important for business to have a clear voice – and that is what Business Southampton provides. There has been a high level of engagement with business and Business Southampton has succeeded because it has listened and acted on what business has said.
I am becoming chairman at a crucial time for Business Southampton as we expand our horizons and become Business Solent. This is a logical development for Business Southampton in the light of the establishment of the Solent Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) for the natural economic area in which we all live and work.
It is important the views of business are heard by central government and I want to ensure we are engaged with government nationally as well as locally.
The first priority of the new government has been to arrest the alarmingly rapid decline of public finances. Government is now consulting with business organisations to find out what business would like to see happening to promote growth. I see Business Southampton and Business Solent having pivotal roles feeding into government about what is important for economic growth in the Solent region.
My approach to being chairman of Business Southampton/Business Solent is going to be quite strategic and I am going to be talking with key stakeholders in the region about dismantling any ’business prevention units’ that are getting in the way of economic activity.
I am looking forward to working with the committed and hard-working team at Business Southampton and seeing Business Solent develop in the coming years.
About Philip Warr and P H Warr plc
P H Warr plc is a leading provider of property & construction surveying services. It is a dynamic and diverse organisation and has grown strongly since being established in 1992.
P H Warr plc tailors project management, quantity surveying, building surveying and construction health and safety services to meet the needs of its clients.
Philip Warr originally established the practice and has pioneered its development during the past 19 years. He is responsible for business strategy and overseeing the continued development of the company which to date has included the acquisition and integration of Trinick and Hamilton H Turner & Son within the plc. He became a fellow of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors at the age of 32 under the Institution’s exceptional achievement criteria. At the heart of the company’s success is Warr’s guiding principle of focusing absolutely on delivering client requirements.
Details: Philip Warr 0844-225-3130
info@businesssouthampton.com www.businesssouthampton.com
THE BUSINESS MAGAZINE – SOLENT & SOUTH CENTRAL – MAY 2011
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48