COMMENT
THE
LAST WORD
GEOFF POYZER, Chamber President, on the issues that are worth talking about
A THANK YOU TO MY PREDECESSOR It’s now a month since I took over the reins as President and it’s great to be able to contribute my first Last Word for the Chamber’s Business Network magazine. Firstly, I would like to pay tribute to my predecessor,
Jean Mountain, for her 12 months in the role. This time last year, in her opening Last Word for Business
Network, Jean spoke of using her year-long tenure to build on the Chamber’s strengths, enhance its reputation and champion its causes as it champions its members’ causes. She has certainly done that and I thank her for her commitment and hard work during her time as President of the Chamber.
AN EXCITING YEAR AHEAD It goes without saying that I am immensely proud and honoured to become the Chamber’s new President and it was great to be able to address so many members at the Chamber’s AGM at the iPro Stadium, Derby, on 3 November. As I mentioned on the day, I see it as my duty to uphold
the dignity of this office and to be the best ambassador that I can be for the Chamber, for the region and for business generally. I have earmarked four areas that will provide the focus during my year in office and these are:
• Brexit • The importance of investment in training, particularly management and leadership training
• Helping business to keep pace with the rapidly changing world of technology
• Promoting the ‘great’ East Midlands as a great place to live and work
These are all areas where the Chamber is already active. I look forward to contributing to these and many other areas and also look forward to meeting and working with Chamber members over the course of the next 12 months. Finally, I would like to congratulate Robert Mayo on becoming Vice-President for the year.
BOARD CHANGES I would like to thank and pay tribute to my friends and colleagues Liz Fothergill, a former President of the Chamber, and Richard Horsley, both of whom have retired from their roles on the Chamber’s Board having given excellent service to both the Chamber specifically and the region as a whole. Both have made significant and telling contributions to
the Chamber and the local business community and I wish them all the very best in their future endeavours.
54 business network December 2016/January 2017
The Chamber is once again headline sponsor of Love Business, an annual business-to-business networking exhibition that goes from strength to strength every year. It’s an ideal way to meet new suppliers, find joint venture
partners and be kept up to date with the latest business support, thinking and opportunities in the region with an anticipated 4,000 delegates and 200 exhibitors expected to attend. The biggest free expo of its kind in the East Midlands,
Love Business 2017 takes place on 16 February at Donington Park and is a day I am really looking forward to. As well as being headline sponsor, the Chamber will also
be hosting a series of zones on the day, including: Innovation, Technology & Sustainability; Manufacturing & Engineering; Transportation & Logistics and Construction & Property. You can find out more information and book your place at
www.lovebusinessexpo.co.uk.
SEASON’S GREETINGS Given that this is the final edition of Business Network of 2016, I would like to personally, and behalf of everyone at the Chamber, wish you all a very merry Christmas and a prosperous 2017. I hope you all enjoy the festive period with friends and
family and come back next year refreshed with all the enthusiasm and good fortune we need to make 2017 a fantastic year for business in the East Midlands.
I’m also pleased to welcome Steve Midgeley and Hari Punchihewa to the Board and I am sure both will add significant value moving forward and prove excellent additions.
LOVE BUSINESS 2017
Join the conversation by following @EMChamberNews and Tweet using the hashtag #LastWord
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