The Insider

Further Lydd Airport Delays

The Government Office for the South East (GOSE) have postponed their decision on whether to allow the £25 million development of the airport until 30 June. This is a frustrating further delay following Shepway councillors approval of the plans at a seven-hour long meeting on 3 March. Since then GOSE has been considering whether to allow the plans or to call them in for a public inquiry.

Kevin's Blog
Following our successful ‘Business Leaders’ Breakfast at the Burlington Hotel last month sponsored by Kent County Council, Chamber members will be interested in the link below to the Head of Regeneration - Kevin Lynes’ Blog.

http://kevinlynes.wordpress.com/

May we remind Chamber members that all three Accredited Chambers in Kent are key members of the Backing Kent Business initiative and we are looking forward to driving an effective business support agenda for the year ahead which will feature a number of new and exciting initiatives.

New Online Business Directory for Wind Energy

Within the next few days a new interactive online business directory for offshore wind will be launched. www.kentwindenergy.co.uk will make it simpler for developers and operators to search and source their supply chain requirements and simple for Kent businesses who can supply those requirements to register. Search by category or company for services covering the project development, equipment design and manufacture, construction and operation.

If you are a business wanting to register for FREE or a company looking to procure a service – you’ll find it online at www.kentwindenergy.co.uk

Promoting Kent Apprenticeships

Kent County Council have recently transformed a bus to help sell the benefits of the Govt’s Apprenticeship scheme and Channel Chamber is hoping to book this for a day at their Offices in Folkestone and Ramsgate this summer.

Local companies will be most welcome to learn more about taking on a young person and the Apprenticeship scheme. For more details contact; http://www.kentapprenticeships.com/

Ashford Business2Business Exhibition 2010

Kent Invicta Chamber is holding their 24th annual Business to Business Exhibition tomorrow - Tuesday 22nd June at the Ashford International Hotel and all Channel Chamber members are very welcome to attend.
This year there will again be an extremely diverse range of businesses, offering a vast variety of products and services. I am sure that you will personally find a visit of interest, on both a business and personal level.

When was the last time you went into a Job Centre?

Businesses and organizations who currently work with the local community in Folkestone are being invited to a tour and information session at Folkestone Job Centre Plus on Friday 25 June. The tour is being held between 10.00am and 11.30am and is designed to give everyone an insight into all the services currently being offered to local unemployed people.

If you are interested in attending please contact Jenny Burrows at jenny.burrows@shepway.gov.uk or tel 01303 853331

Folkestone Seafront Exhibition

Large numbers of residents have already attended the series of presentations at the Quarterhouse in Tontine Street to hear all about the new approach for the development of Folkestone Seafront.

If you have missed these don’t despair ! There is a final presentation at the Quarterhouse scheduled for Saturday 26 June at 11am when you will also have an opportunity to visit the exhibition and contribute with ideas for the proposed public spaces.

Full details of these proposals are also provided at www.folkestoneseafront.com

Meet the Chamber President

We are delighted to inform you that Damian Collins, the new MP for Folkestone and Hythe has accepted our invitation to become the President of the Channel Chamber of Commerce. This follows Michael Howard's reign as our Chamber President for the past 26 years.

To celebrate the occasion an informal buffet lunch is being held here at the Chamber's meeting rooms at the Shepway Business Centre starting at 12:30 on Friday 25th June when prominent local business leaders will have an opportunity to meet Damien and ask him about his plans to support our business community.

Due to space limitations bookings for this event are being taken on a first-come-first-served basis and there are only ten spaces left, so I would urge you to let me know if you can join us as soon as possible. Please contact Sezen.zeki@channelchamber.co.uk or call 01303 270022