COMMENT
THE LAST WORD
ROB MAYO, Chamber President, on the issues that are worth talking about
In relation to my Business Network column, this truly is the last word as I prepare to hand over the Presidential reins to Kevin Harris. As well as all the face-to-face opportunities to
meet and speak with members throughout the year, it has been great to also have the chance to communicate regularly with you all throughout the year via this magazine. They said the year would pass quickly, and it
most certainly has. It doesn’t seem like five minutes ago that I was stood at Horsley Lodge, honoured to accept the chains of office from my predecessor Geoff Poyzer at the Chamber’s 2017 AGM. I’d like to start by saying that serving as your
President for the past year has been one of the most rewarding and personally enriching experiences of my life, and I will always be immensely grateful for that opportunity. It might be said that, other than the ongoing
Brexit issue, it’s been a relatively quiet year during my watch – certainly in comparison to recent years. There was no General Election and no EU Referendum, making me the first Chamber President in four years not to have to deal with the political upheaval resulting from one or the other. It’s inevitable that the politics of Brexit will
become much more animated in the next few months, and with Kevin stepping into the role of President, I know I leave you in very safe hands to navigate the stormy waters that lie ahead. We’ve all had to contend with the lack of
infrastructure investment in the East Midlands. It remains a disgrace that the East Midlands, the productive heartland of the UK, receives only 60% of the national average of infrastructure investment, and the Chamber has continued to campaign tirelessly to bring about parity for the region by 2020. When appointed President a year ago, I said I
wanted to focus on the opportunities presenting themselves to regional businesses and, on the whole, business in the East Midlands is flourishing. We have record-breaking employment, and
East Midlands companies and universities lead in global technological advancement. This region is particularly good at making things, and then
74 business network November 2018
selling and shipping them around the world. The Chamber has 20 memorandums of understanding around the world, to help you to export your goods and services and our award- winning International Trade team continues to help businesses of all sizes and from all sectors achieve their international ambitions – no matter what stage of the international journey they are at.
The great joy for me this year has been in
meeting so many of the wonderful people who own or manage the incredibly diverse range of businesses across the three counties – you only have to look at the fantastic Business Awards gala dinners that took place across Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire and Leicestershire recently to see the level of talent and enthusiasm we have in our business community here in the East Midlands.
Throughout the past 12 months, the
resourcefulness, energy and determination shown by you really has been an inspiration to me, and I take away from this year a reaffirmation in the extraordinary value of this unique Chamber of Commerce. So I hand over the chains of office and leave
them in the experienced hands of Kevin, enriched and personally inspired by the many experiences over the year. Again, I would like to thank you for bestowing
the opportunity upon me and I wish Kevin all the best in the role and I look forward to seeing the Chamber continue to go from strength to strength.
Thank you and all the best. Rob
Rob addresses delegates at the 2018 President's Summer Reception
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