COMMENT
Tessa Coombes, Director of Policy Business West
Playing our part
The Coalition Government has regularly made it clear that it believes the private sector will play a key role in producing the growth which will enable our economy to recover.
That brings with it both opportunities and challenges with which the Policy and Partnerships Team is ready to grapple. The opportunities arise from the fact that the Government is not completely fixed in the way it approaches the difficulties facing the country. There is a chance to influence how policies are created and amended, something that rarely presents itself to the business community.
The challenges for us come in two forms. First we need to properly understand the issues, to analyse and distil the enormous amount of paperwork coming out of Whitehall. That is something we are doing on a daily basis, helping members to keep up to date with an ever changing scene and allowing them to come to a well informed opinion. Our second challenge is to gather those opinions, through direct responses, polls and surveys, we will produce a coherent view from the business community across the West of England. It is inevitable that there will be some variation in the way people see situations, but we will always endeavour to present our findings fairly. Once we have collected views and formulated our response, we can deliver it through a variety of routes. For example, we have excellent contacts with our local MP’s and councils, but through our links into British Chambers of Commerce we also have the chance to ensure the views of our members are passed directly into central government and so play a part in forming policies which will play an important part in creating the best possible environment in which business can prosper.
Managing director of Kemps Publishing dies
Frank Markham, managing director of Update publishers Kemps Publishing Ltd, has died aged 62 following a long illness.
Frank took control of Kemps Publishing in a management buyout in 1992, having joined the company in 1980 as commercial director for the various directories and magazines Kemps produced for Chambers of Commerce across the UK.
He took the company into the electronic age in 2000 with the launch of Kempsgold, the forerunner to the firm’s successful online business directory Searchme4. Kemps’ finance director Martin Jennings said: “Frank had immense experience in Chamber of Commerce publishing. Many of
us at Kemps have known and worked with Frank for many years so it is a huge wrench to lose a valuable friend and colleague. He will be sorely missed.”
Nigel Hutchings, director of Chambers at Business West, added: “We were very sad to hear the news that Frank had passed away. Many of us have worked closely with him over the years both on Update magazine and previously the Members’ Annual Directory. Frank was always extremely professional and it was a pleasure to do business with him.”
Run for the Future Corporate Challenge
The organisers of Bristol’s prostate cancer ‘Run for the Future’ event are calling on local companies to sign up their new Corporate Challenge.
The annual 5km Prostate Cancer fun run will be held on the Downs on Sunday 18 September. Over the past five years the event has raised nearly £200,000 for prostate cancer care and research in Bristol.
Race organiser Martina Peattie said, “Run for the Future has had great support from some companies in the past. This year we wanted to recognise their support and issue a new challenge to other firms across the city. We’re aiming the Corporate Challenge at all local businesses who want to do something fun to build team spirit amongst their workforce whilst, at the same time, raising awareness about prostate cancer.” Teams can download the Corporate Challenge entry form by logging onto
www.runforthefuture.org or by calling 0117 323 8624.
Businesses urged to back University Technical College plan City of Bristol College is urging businesses to back plans for the development of a University Technical College (UTC) in the region.
A bid is being led by City of Bristol College, with the support of the University of the West of England, as well as involvement from some of the region’s major local employers, including Airbus and Rolls-Royce, to create one of the Government-backed UTCs in the region. The College has earmarked a site for the development on the North Bristol/South Gloucestershire border. Subject to final approval and funding from Government, it is planned to open this new initiative in September 2013.
Keith Elliott, principal and chief executive at City of Bristol College, said: “The intention is to provide a broad education, with strong specialisms in engineering and environmental technologies, linked to
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key growth and employment sectors in the West of England region.” UTCs have been hailed as one of the most radical changes in education for a generation, which will provide specialised engineering and technical schools for 14-19 year-olds. With a focus on employability, students will benefit from a work-related learning environment and real work experience. Employers will play an active role in shaping what is taught, to help students develop skills and qualifications that are relevant for the workplace.
For further details or to get involved in the UTC planned for the
West of England, please contact
judith.stradling@
cityofbristol.ac.uk (0117 312 5003).
Business West Update JULY/AUGUST 2011
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