The house that Jo built

Jo said: “It didn’t happen overnight, but with the support of my Board and the Chairman, I grew into it. In 2008, the County’s businesses faced many of the same issues encountered by today’s contemporaries, and never has there been more need for countywide business support.”

The next few years saw the emergence of a countywide Chamber, from previous serving organisations in Ashford, Canterbury and Maidstone to merge with the Chambers of Channel (east Kent) West Kent, North Kent and Thames Gateway.

The result was accreditation from the British Chambers of Commerce and creation of a single voice for business. Continuing to represent its members, the Chamber built on its business support services, including offering export documentation for Kent’s internationally trading businesses. Today, few would question that the Chamber has evolved and continues to deliver day-in day-out for Kent.

During her time at the Chamber, Jo saw the completion of the M20, the opening of the Channel Tunnel and Eurotunnel service, and transformation of Kent’s connections to London and Europe.

“We can’t be complacent, there’s still much more to do on the infrastructure front. The Chamber continues to push the government to bring back the Eurostar service on HS1, and to maintain its commitment to the Lower Thames Crossing”, said Jo, adding: “That baton will now be picked up by my successor Tudor Price and the Board.”

When you talk to Jo about change, the conversation will inevitably turn to how technology has accelerated the pace of business. While it brings with it improvements in how we do business, it also brings downsides when it comes to our individual wellbeing and downtime.

She recognises that switching off at 5pm is now a challenge for all of us and takes significant self-control.

“Now more than ever we need to find balance in our daily lives, and recognise that we work to live, rather than live to work,” said Jo. This might explain why Jo became the owner of a Border Collie dog to help her escape the home office.

Having helped businesses emerge from the 2008 downturn, Jo brought that experience to the table and worked closely with Kent County Council to develop the Covid-19 Helpline for all businesses in Kent and Medway. Thousands of local firms were helped with practical advice on how to navigate the pandemic, whether it was securing grants and loans, managing HR issues, and more.

As for the future, Jo is the first to accept it will be challenging: “We’ve got to remain optimistic that the combination of the diversity of business in Kent; the collective entrepreneurial spirit; and not being dependent upon a single town or city means we’ll emerge stronger and better.”

She recognises the country is facing significant financial stresses: “The need for partnership, between business and public sector and further and higher education, has never been more important. This is evident in the Kent & Medway Local Skills Partnership, led by the Chamber, in partnership with the county’s Further Education Colleges.”

Like many business leaders, Jo has given up hours of her life to meetings, in her myriad roles on the South East LEP, Kent & Medway Economic Partnership, Kent Employment Taskforce, to name but a few. Jo has always championed the business community and recognises that companies are driven by the search for commercial opportunities wherever they are to be found.

Jo’s commitment to supporting Kent companies has been beyond measure, and it was recognised in 2019 when she was awarded an OBE for ‘Services to the Kent economy’ by the now Prince of Wales, HRH Prince William.

As for an abiding memory, Jo will remind us of how fortunate she was to find a job in which she’s been able to grow, and work with some amazing people and organisations who believed in her, while still balancing work and home.

Jo might be retiring but there’s one thing for certain, without her years of dedication the Chamber wouldn’t have become the voice for business that it is today.