Kate Jennings on LinkedIn: A fun initiative for a brilliant cause. Many of us love Kristy Kreme… (2024)

Happy to have attended this engaging debate. It was encouraging to hear the green party candidate highlight the importance of social enterprise in business development for the region and the need to expand initiatives like retrofit to respond to the challenges we face.I still left with an uneasy sense that none of the main parties are really having an honest conversation about the scale of the existential crisis we face as a society. As a result the policies proposed don't address these challenges sufficiently. Instead many even risk exacerbating existing inequalities and accelerating climate breakdown.There's a lot of talk about good growth but the devil is in the detail. Do the policies proposed really address the above sufficiently and leave a society resilient enough to withstand and adapt to the accelerating pressures we will face? I remain entirely unconvinced.

5

Downtown Rotary met today in the Chattanooga Convention Center to hear Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Charles Wood, CEcD talk about the purpose of his fine organization.Promoting the member businesses is certainly the mission but the real purpose of the Chamber is to build a thriving Chattanooga.Charles has a long and successful history in Economic Development and had been running that division at the Chamber for the last number of years. He said that when he is talking to potential industries we sre recruiting he is asked the same things:1. How are your schools?2. How is your crime?3. How is your airport?4. How is your housing?The Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce is committed to improving those systems but to have their foundation rooted in Economic Development. Everyone in Chattanooga, especially in the business community, wants to support economic development but how we do that and address the issues facing all communities of our size becomes the delicate balance. We live in a great place but we have to keep working to make it better. As the speaker remarked, living at the intersection of economic development and community development is an ideal place to live.Rotarians were left with a question; Is Chattanooga Thriving?RSS Insurance Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development Tennessee Department of Education Hamilton County Government City of Chattanooga #tennessee #communityengagement #economicdevelopment #communitydevelopment #business #chattanooga

69

7 Comments

I was adding to this post I’m sharing about the Westerville Area Chamber than realized it started sounding just like the review they shared (that I wrote) so I just stopped 🤣 I will say this tho…1. Your company should join your local chamber. (Very low 💵 fees)2. Your company should support the local chamber. (Sponsor events etc)2. You should look to add value to your business community. (Not sell)3) As you are adding that value, you might make some friends 🤝 along the way (scratch that, you WILL) 4. You might even just get some 💰business from it. (But only after you do what? Yep, add value) BIG NEWS!!! 🥳RevLocal’s corporate office is moving from Granville to Westerville! Guess who that means you will be seeing more of? So sorry! But seriously, I can’t wait. See ya soon!#chamber #localchamber #networking #smbmarketing #franchisemarketing #revlocalrj #2ndhalf

5

As Founder of Torbay Revolutionary Owners Network (TRON) I have the pleasure of holding a towns meeting here in Torbay. Local Torbay businesses join us for a crucial town meeting where we’ll address the pressing challenges facing our community and outline the proactive solutions we’re ready to implement. As TRON residents, it’s imperative that we come together to tackle our town’s current dire situation head-on.Agenda:1. Overview of Current Challenges: We’ll provide a comprehensive overview of the challenges our town is facing, including economic downturns, infrastructure issues, and community concerns.2. Discussion of Solutions: This is a collaborative session where we’ll brainstorm and discuss actionable solutions to address the challenges identified. From revitalising local businesses to improving public services, your input is invaluable in shaping our town’s future. 3. Implementation Strategies: Once we’ve identified potential solutions, we’ll outline the steps needed to implement them effectively. From allocating resources to mobilising community support, we’ll develop a roadmap for action. 4. Q&A Session: We’ll open the floor to questions, comments, and feedback from attendees. This is your opportunity to voice your concerns, share your ideas, and engage in constructive dialogue with fellow residents and town leaders.Date & Time: 16/05/24, 18:00Location: Redcliffe Hotel PaigntonTicket Information: Free admission. Please book your spot via eventbrite to secure your spot.Together, let’s work towards a brighter future for TRON. Your participation is essential in shaping the direction of our town and building a stronger, more resilient community.We look forward to seeing you at the town meeting!Book your spot on Eventbrite using the link below ⬇️ https://lnkd.in/ekE7w2cp

16

5 Comments

I want to talk about the 1st 6 months City of London Corporation (end July)….“What is it?”“Well, that’s an interesting role”“Crikey, it’s complicated isn’t it?”“Wow, what a brilliant role, you must be proud”Just a few comments I've heard - the last best describes my reflections. Picture below is an apposite depiction - taken at our staff summer celebrations.These lunches in our iconic Guildhall Courtyard brought people together from all service areas. It was a great privilege for me to meet many of our dedicated & committed staff & I love this – an opportunity to engage with people who deliver for us day in, day out. Without them, there is no Corporation & this is why when our Members say that people are our most valuable asset our values & belief system should be imbued by ‘people first’ as an ethos, omnipresent within our DNA.Crikey, it’s complicated, isn’t it?In a word, yes. The good news is we've 125 Members who've a wealth of knowledge & many brilliant staff. The corporate knowledge is vast & this has been incredibly helpful as part of my onboarding process. The eclectic nature of the multi billion pound Corporation’s work sits at the heart of its complexity. This extends to:• The voice & convenor of the UK’s financial & professional services sector, representing 13% of UK economy & £100bn in tax contribution. (follow Chris Hayward Policy Chairman, Lord Mayor Nicholas Lyons & https://lnkd.in/eJCF_VFa for more on this & our ambition to ensure we're successful on a global scale).• Supporting our Lord Mayor at the Mansion House, Livery & all ceremonial activity.• Government of the square mile - the City of London, predating Parliament & local authority for the area. However, in our case some of these typical council services (education, housing & 11k acres open spaces) serve residents & businesses across greater London.• The London Port Health authority responsible for 20% of all UK food imports.• Heathrow Animal Reception Centre/ national statutory responsibility for all animals that enter the UK.• Barbican Centre, , 4 independent schools, a Multiacademy Trust - 10 academies, Bridge House Estates (10th largest UK charity) which maintains 5 key London bridges, City of London Police (National Fraud Lead) &, London Metropolitan Archives.• Smithfield, Billingsgate & Spitalfields Markets.• Central Criminal Court (The Old Bailey).The next 6 months will see us develop a new People Strategy, Digital Strategy, Medium Term Finance Strategy, Transformation Programme & Corporate Plan that we're already consulting on - https://lnkd.in/ewuVVZs6 - Ensuring the plan reflects all of the above & is an accessible, working document & an unbridled ambition to become world class is no mean feat but thankfully, I am surrounded by talented people who are making it happen. With no doubt, these are exciting times for the wonder that's the City of London Corporation.VERY proud to serve.

502

66 Comments

On a recent night out, conversation turned to Wetherspoon’s branch closures and their impact on our communities and high streets. A Victorian philanthropist might frown, but as a consequence of cuts to adult social services and libraries, there are few places providing a warm, cheap place to sit all day. My 79-year-old mum and her weight-watchers friends (who all stopped dieting at the start of COVID and don't seem to have re-started) love their local branch. It offers bottomless coffee, comfy seats and clean toilets for £1.56. One of her friends lives on the state pension and can't afford a weekly coffee in the town's gentrified cafes.So it's a very equalizing environment. You also have to admire the company's regeneration of large, historic buildings from Edinburgh to Whitstable. Who wouldn't doff their cap to a chain that has bespoke carpets in each branch that reflect local identity? Obviously I'm not promoting the consequences of cheap booze and this is not intended as paean to gambling machines or Brexit.Furthermore, if you work in Buckingham Palace Road, Victoria Station Spoons may not be the best place to go for lunch. And if you're in Leytonstone while Leyton Orient entertain Southend Utd, avoid the Walnut Tree. The reason for posting this is that I'd love to know if there has been any research done since the start of the cost-of-living crisis on the role of budget pub chains or other non-traditional spaces in providing cheap places for people to sit. Wetherspoons are making the rational business decision to shift from leasehold to freehold and to exit smaller properties, and it will be interesting to see what (if any) positive or negative social consequences result from this.

93

9 Comments

Didn't get the chance to watch Steve's seminar? You can now watch the full recording here - https://lnkd.in/eHp9G6qgLearn more about Sussex Beds and how Steve and his family turned the business around! #familybusiness #team #growth

8

Cardiff take-up in Q1 2024 totalled 113,501 sq ft. This was 45% higher than the total Q1 take-up in 2023, and also 24% above the five-year average, with this being the highest quarterly take-up since Q4 2022. With 30 deals done in the quarter, this was 15% higher than the same period in 2023 and 32% above the long-term average number of deals.

40

By 1854 the town of#Waynesborowas laid out around the #Mobile & #Ohio #trainstop.#Propertywas offered for sale and in 1860, nearly two dozen#familiescalled Waynesboro home. #Businessesgradually began to appear, to meet the needs of people in the area.In1876, the town was incorporation, and became the county seat of#government.#Hotelssprang up, several general stores were opened, a#schoolwas built, and at least two#churcheswere erected around the same time.During the early years of the 20th Century Waynesboro continued to grow. Roads got better and residents on both sides of the railroad track prospered.As the years rolled on more#generalstores, #drugstores, #taverns, a livery stable, blacksmith #shops, and a #newspaperpopped up. A #bankwas formed, and the #PostOfficehad come to town. Then the #GreatDepression came with the failure of the bank. It wasn't long after businesses declared #bankruptcy, the#sawmill'sordered fell and many were out of work. Fortunately, it was also a time of the#NewDealand that meant President Roosevelt and the#WPAhad a plan. The city's#sewersystemwas modernized, #streetswere graded, then#paved, and a new high school and courthouse were#constructed!The federal government also established a local#CivilianConservationCorps camp to aid in the#reforestationof Wayne County as part of the New Deal.Despite the depression, local growth was still seen with the chartering of a new bank -- #FirstStateBank -- that still calls Waynesboro its home. The#MississippiPowerCompanywas given afranchise to supply Waynesboro's electrical needs and the municipal-owned power plant was abandoned. In 1934, the city's public#librarygot its start.The 1940s brought a new boom to the local economy with the discovery of#oilin Wayne County. This helped the city double in size bythe 1950s.The city also became home to #WayneGeneralHospital, which opened its doors in 1951.Today, Wayne county is noted for its vast richness in#naturalresourcesthat include not only#timber, but large reserves of#oiland natural#gas. For its diverse and hard-working residents, it natural resource serve as the backbone of the county and quality of life.The population of Wayne County is just over 20,000 but the labor shed of neighboring#Mississippiand#Alabamacounties gives the area a potential#laborforceof nearly a quarter million potential#workers, making Wayne County a destination for#businessand#industrylooking to build or relocate.#EconomicDevelopment#Buchatunna#Clara#PineBelt

Check out our latest Local Business Spotlight below!

6