Welcome to Borough BUSINESS

The Kingston Chamber of Commerce magazine for all Businesses in Kingston

The Chamber has worked hard to meet and surpass the demands of 2024. We have hosted 51 diverse events this year that welcomed just over 2,000 attendees from across our borough.

Just a few of the highlights for me; the Future of Work Summit in the summer explored culture in Kingston and the role of effective leadership. The 2024 Kingston Borough Business Awards reached a broader business audience with record number of entries and provided a richness and diversity of winners. The inaugural Women In Business Forum was well received and for the first time we partnered with Merton Chamber of Commerce to host a joint south London business EXPO24 in October.

In September, with support from BIG South London, we held an AI in Action workshop that delivered a real-time and interactive session on the basics of AI programmes.

The Chamber has been running a comprehensive Go Business support programme for local businesses which has been funded by Kingston Council, UK Government and the Mayor of London. By utilising specialised speakers, this programme has delivered an impressive depth of expertise to many local businesses.

Keen to capture the thoughts and feedback from local businesses, the Chamber carried out a comprehensive business survey during the Autumn: ‘How is our borough working’. This feedback included helpful information on business health, skills and employment, transport and sustainability. In the light of the October budget, we will be launching another survey to hear directly how this has impacted the local economy.

Our Patrons are highly valued and key partners in the growth and resilience of the local business economy. As a not-for-profit organisation, the Patron membership has enabled us to maintain cost-effective membership fees and provide additional support to small and micro businesses. Thank you for your commitment and belief in the Kingston business community.

I would like to thank our wonderful business membership for their energies in 2024, They have contributed to the dialogue on future skills, sustainability, innovations in technology, neurodiversity, leadership, education, mental health, the broader community and work-life balance.

Finally, I want to thank the Chamber team of Ilona and Robyn for their dedicated and amazing work this year. It is a pleasure to work with them and I appreciate their support and guidance.

As the year begins, I wish you all the very best and I hope you achieve your big or small dreams!

Forbes Low CEO Kingston Chamber of Commerce forbes@kingstonchamber.co.uk

Editorial and General Enquiries

Guildhall, High Street Kingston upon Thames. KT1 1EU. 020 8541 4441

Email: office@kingstonchamber.co.uk

Web: www.kingstonchamber.co.uk

Chief Executive: Forbes Low

Publisher: Ian Fletcher Benham Publishing Limited Aintree Building, Aintree Way, Aintree Business Park, Liverpool L9 5AQ Tel: 0151 236 4141

Email: admin@benhampublishing.com Web: www.benhampublishing.com

Published January 2025 © Benham Publishing and Kingston Chamber of Commerce

Advertising and Features

Karen Hall Tel: 0151 236 4141

Email: karen@benhampublishing.com

Design David Wright Tel: 0151 236 4141

Email: dave@benhampublishing.com

Media No. 2033

Disclaimer

Borough Business is published for Kingston Chamber of Commerce and is distributed without charge to Chamber members. All correspondence should be addressed to Kingston Chamber of Commerce. Views or any political comments expressed in Borough Business are not necessarily those of Kingston Chamber of Commerce which is apolitical. Reprinting in whole or part is forbidden except by permission. © 2025. Please note that submitting an article does not guarantee publication. Whilst every effort is made to ensure the accuracy and reliability of material published in this journal, Benham Publishing and its agents can accept no responsibility for the veracity of claims made by contributions in advertising or editorial content. Benham Publishing cannot be held responsible for any inaccuracies in web or email links supplied to us.