Upbeat launch for new Ripon trade body
THE new Ripon and District Chamber of Trade and Commerce was given an upbeat launch when more than 60 business owners, managers and local entrepreneurs attended the inaugural meeting at Great Northern Wine.
Welcoming them to the event, chairman Stephen Craggs said it was "incredibly heartening" to see so much support for the new organisation, which would act as a point of contact for the public, local authorities and voluntary organisations.
"improve relationships"
"As a group, we will lobby for the changes and issues that we all care about, and be a nuisance when we need to be, and also act as a social and networking group in order to improve the relationships between businesses in Ripon and district," said Mr Craggs.
Many initiatives are under way already through the Greater Ripon Improvement Partnership (GRIP) and its chairman, Judith Donovan, outlined some of these at the meeting. A progress report regarding the Ripon loyalty card scheme and the planned retail guide for consumers was given, both of which are due to be initiated this coming autumn.
Chamber representatives are already working closely with Harrogate Council in a bid to get empty shops open and occupied again.
"working together"
Mayoress Denise Bolland spoke about her plans to co-ordinate activities by the voluntary and business sector during the Christmas season. "We must make sure that everybody gets the best results by working together," she said.
"It's no use the shops organising, for example, a Santa's Grotto on one evening and discovering that all the schools have Christmas fairs at the same time."
Stephen Craggs closed the evening by inviting other businesses, from different sectors, to join.
"Most of the initiatives we are working on involve retail and that is because the individuals who started the Chamber came mainly from that background.
"vital input"
"But we are not starting a shopkeepers' club, which is why we are encouraging vital input and involvement from the hugely successful manufacturing, distribution and financial sectors, not to mention the very strong tourism arm we have around Ripon," he said.
The next general meeting will be held in September and all interested parties can contact the Chamber via the secretary, John Groves, at jvgroves@btinternet.com
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Friday 10 February 2012
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