5 Minutes with

5minutes with ...

Steve Pinto

Chief Executive Wandsworth Chamber of Commerce

Q Who are you?

Hi, I’m Steve Pinto, chief executive of Wandsworth Chamber of Commerce. I also manage the London Open for Business programme.

Q What’s your business all about?

Essentially, we help local businesses to network with each other, raise their profile and capitalise on supply chain opportunities. Throughout the current COVID pandemic, businesses have needed help more than ever. We’re tried to support as many of them as possible, including our members and those in the wider business community. For example, from the outset we set up a weekly online business forum with Wandsworth Council to give businesses guidance and a voice on the difficulties they’re facing during the coronavirus crisis. We’ve also launched London Open for Business, which gives businesses in the capital a fantastic opportunity to promote themselves with an essential range of digital tools at a very affordable cost. As we all try to come to terms with COVID, far more people are looking to do business virtually and online to stay safe. Our programme allows businesses to improve their search engine optimisation rankings, track their return on investment and compete with larger companies that have very large digital marketing budgets.

Q Three words to describe yourself?

Innovative, determined and tenacious.

Q Ideal Customer?

All businesses, large and small. Essentially, the Chamber exists to bring businesses together, creating a mutually supportive community where we can all help each other, speak with one powerful voice and benefit most from local supply chain opportunities.

Q Biggest achievement?

Improving digital inclusion and making digital tools affordable for SMEs through the London Open for Business initiative. It is very early days but this programme has so much potential and could even be rolled out to other areas of the country as a best practice standard.

Q Biggest gripe?

The lack of recognition and support for local independent Chambers of Commerce from central government and the Mayor of London – even though collectively we support thousands of businesses across the country.

Q Your inspiration

Currently it is Richard Burge, the new CEO of London Chamber of Commerce and Industry. He has been very proactive in bringing Londons’local Chambers together and developing an infrastructure which collectively gives us a stronger voice to lobby government on key policy issues.

Q Philosophy in Business?

Help others before you help yourself.

Q Sporting Hero?

George Best, the late iconic football star. He could regularly turn on a sixpence and beat three or four players with ease.

Q Biggest tip for success?

Take action early, learn from your mistakes and don’t be afraid of failure.

‘As we all try to come to terms with COVID, far more people are looking to do business virtually and online to stay safe. Our programme allows businesses to improve their search engine optimisation rankings, track their return on investment and compete with larger companies that have bigger digital marketing budgets.’