My first year as a Chamber Director

This is an article that I wrote within my role as a Plymouth and Devon Chamber Director

As I warmly welcome our four new Directors onto the Plymouth and Devon Chamber board it has prompted me to reflect on my first year. When I was initially considering standing to become a Director of Plymouth & Devon Chamber of Commerce it was because I was passionate about Plymouth and felt that I could "give something back" by working more closely with the business community. What I didn't fully appreciate is the amount of hard work, energy and effort that is being put into our City by some inspirational people.

During the past year the Chamber has achieved some huge milestones ranging from supporting the 1000 club which helps business to employ young people through various routes to assisting superb levels of International trade from the city.

With regards to me personally, I have been fortunate to sit on the focus group regarding Chamber membership as well as having some involvement with our fabulous marketing department. It has also given me the opportunity to chair the Plymouth Procurement forum of which I am still very much involved with. Imagine if companies based in Plymouth made a conscious effort to purchase goods and services from local suppliers! The difference it would make to our local economy as well as the employment potential is phenomenal.

I have had the privilege of seeing first-hand the diversity of the Chamber’s involvement with the City. Since expanding our accreditation to cover the Devon region the Chamber will be working even harder to represent business views across a wide range of relevant forums and areas. Within my own business I travel extensively across the South West and I when I meet member/representatives of other Devon Chambers the conversation is very much about what we can do and achieve together as a collective and I know that this will see great things happening in the months to come.

Some people may also have the pleasure of my dulcet tones at the monthly crunchy breakfast event in which we have gained some real insights into the vision for the City and its business. Plymouth really is an exciting place to be at the moment.

So to summarise I feel honoured and privileged to have been chosen to represent the business community by sitting on the board but I have also worked hard, gained a great deal of knowledge and have huge appreciation of how vital the Chambers role is to the continued success and development of the City.
I can honestly say to the newly appointed Directors that you will have lots to look forward to and even more to learn!!