27 November 2009
Below is the Speech in full by Cameron Macsween at the recent launch of the Dover Chamber of Commerce Business Support Group.
Ladies and Gentlemen of Dover welcome to Dover District Chamber’ nearly 160th year of serving the business community.
We are now very focused on building solutions and pragmatic and practical help for the development of the Dover business community. Nice words, and personally I get less impressed with words that hide or replace positive action.
Dover above all needs visible action.
This year for the Chamber has seen some major expansionist moves in the last eight months. David Foley joined us as our CEO in April and will expand briefly on the key areas he covers that include SEEDA and many of the multitude of Government bodies and support organisations. We have added to the existing experienced Board, three new Directors apart from myself in March. Simon Crowley of Tersons. Chris Russell CEO Dover Federation of the Arts. Alan Shirley, who after 20 very successful years in Oz and has now returned to his Home Town to help drive forward our plans. Barry Williams is our new Chairman.
So we have a strengthened team, but what are we doing on the ground?
We are today launching the Dover Business Support.
Why the name – because we will work to build all types and styles of businesses that make up the fabric of this great Town that has so much to offer not just to Dovorians, but taking advantage of Dover being the Gateway to the Continent to the UK as well.
The vision that the Chamber has is to be a central apolitical communications and promotional point for Dover.
To do this we need the strong and talented team we now have, plus a sophisticated yet simple web site that is well under way. This web site will be key to allowing all the energetic but separated organisations to have a common meeting and communication point.The Chamber has lacked a presence in the Town centre. Which is where “The Action is”. This has been generously provided by Steve Davis of the accommodation shop. Not only the office at 25 Worthington Street, but also the computer and the vital telephone, all for free. This will allow our Manager of DBS to operate effectively from the very heart of Dover.
David Foley and Alan Shirley interviewed candidates who responded to our advert for this role, and I am very pleased to announce that a very enthusiastic and able person has been selected - Roger Walkden.
Ability combined with enthusiasm is probably the key to real achievement.Enthusiasm and unity of purpose will succeed where planning and ability can fail. We are very enthusiastic, and it is infectious – Premier Inns (Whitbread) recently joined the Chamber and cited that our enthusiasm as evinced by DBS the key deciding factor.We already have the very positive and may I say again enthusiastic support especially from DTC, plus both the DHB and DDC have pledged their financial support.
We are looking for enthusiastic response and feed back from you here, and hope you spread the word that for a pint of beer a week is all it cost for the majority of Dover businesses to join us in getting the most out of the fantastic potential that Dover has yet to Fully unlock and use to its benefit.
We will be very active pushing opportunities now being offered by the Cruise line terminal with visiting vessels up from 140+ to over 170+ in 2010. Plus a substantial increase in passengers who will not be taking the dedicated tours outside Dover from 5% in the past increasing to over15%off the vessels. HS1 presents a whole new exciting ball game; it can and will bring investment from London based business,whether it is simply to add value to the housing market or tempt the relocation of Companies wanting to be closer to the Continent and their European markets..
We have a vision and can relate to the opportunity but we need your support to make it happen.
Cameron Macsween, President, Dover Chamber of Commerce.
The picture shows Cameron delivering his speech watched by new Chairman of Dover Chamber of Commerce Barry Williams.
