A group aimed at sharing the experiences and concerns of businesses in Dunstable and Houghton Regis was launched at the Holiday Inn Express, Dunstable this week. Bedfordshire Chamber of Commerce held the inaugural meeting of the Dunstable and Houghton Regis Business Group, chaired by Chamber director Richard Cooper of ASA Business Consulting, at the hotel which was recently voted Dunstable Hospitality Venue of the Year 2012.
The group, which will comprise businesses from the area together with local councils and other key stakeholders, will follow the model set by the highly successful Bedford Business Group. That group is chaired by the Chamber’s chairman Rod Calvert OBE, who attended the Dunstable and Houghton Regis group to offer support, advice and encouragement.‘Chambers of Commerce offer businesses a genuine opportunity to punch above their weight.’ he said ‘We feed the information we gain at grassroots level through to our umbrella body the British Chambers of Commerce, which is highly influential, with a direct route to the Prime Ministers desk.’
MP for South West Bedfordshire Andrew Selous vowed to stay in touch with the group and act as a conduit to government. Also in attendance were Liz Wade, Assistant Director Economic Growth, Skills and Regeneration at Central Bedfordshire Council, who presented on economic development issues in the area and Steve Cantellow, Commercial Manager for HSBC in Herts and Beds who spoke about conditions for business.
The group will now be meeting on a bi-monthly basis at various venues around the area.
‘This will not be yet another card-sharing group but a genuine interest group’ said Rod Calvert ‘The plan is to develop into a powerful lobbying voice on issues that really matter to businesses in Dunstable and Houghton Regis.’
For further information on the group contact Paula Devine on 01582 522448 or email info@chamber-business.com
