JUNE/JULY 2021 inbusiness

VIEWPOINT CONTENTS

BUSINESS REPORT

Since I joined Milton Keynes Chamber as interim CEO last year, I’ve been hugely impressed by the dynamic business community that we represent.

I can honestly say it has been a fantastic and enjoyable experience being here and the team has helped to deliver positive and robust results. I’ve been thrilled to see the growth of our online networking events, the popularity of our International Trade Webinars and the development of our new membership packages and our exciting Women With Vision network.

I have been truly honoured to help steer Milton Keynes Chamber, its sister Chamber in Northamptonshire and Next Generation Chamber during these unprecedented times in our economic and business landscape. As a result, it is with great pride that I can confirm that from July I will take up the position of chief executive of these three marvellous Chambers on a permanent basis.

I’m excited about the potential these Chambers hold and the role I can play in creating a sustainable future for our member organisations and the wider business community.

There are lots of exciting things coming up for our area – not least the announcement from the Government that following a successful bid, Bletchley and Fenny Stratford will receive more than £20m, so it can make the best use of current and future growth prospects. Working closely with the community, the Town Deal Board, made up of local representatives, prepared the investment plan which was submitted in October 2020.

It aims to improve the economic sustainability of towns with a focus on creating jobs, supporting town centres and boosting businesses. The plan also aims to connect people to where they live and work either through local transport or digital connections.

I am sure we have all learned lessons during this pandemic about the importance of resilience, cash flow, business diversification, and connectivity within our own support networks. Let us hope these lessons will now help us to reboot our local economy.

Best wishes, Louise Wall Interim CEO, Milton Keynes Chamber

CONTACT DETAILS

MILTON KEYNES CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

500 Avebury Boulevard, Milton Keynes MK9 2BE W: www.chambermk.co.uk

NEWS AND ARTICLES SHOULD BE SENT TO:

inbusiness.MK@chambermk.co.uk

Editorial process managed by Ballyhoo PR

EDITOR: Laura Smith EDITORIAL ASSISTANT: Katie Macdonald

CHAMBER BUSINESS PARTNERS

FRONT COVER: Simon Pickering, dbfb

See pages 14-15

COVER PHOTO: Jane Russell Photography

PUBLISHED BY:

Kemps Publishing Ltd Unit 8, The Courtyard, 707 Warwick Road, Solihull, B91 3DA

T: 0121 765 4144 W: www.kempspublishing.co.uk MANAGING EDITOR: Laura Blake T: 0121 765 4144 E: laura.blake@kempspublishing.co.uk DESIGNER: Stuart Burton ADVERTISING MANAGER: Jon Jones T: 0121 765 4144 E: jon.jones@kempspublishing.co.uk

PRINTERS: Stephens & George Print Group 4 New premises for recruitment firm 5 Publishers join in merger 6 A great start to the year for recruiters 7 Entries open for the Northamptonshire Business Excellence Awards 2021 8 ShortStayMK achieves accreditation 10 New head for mediation specialists

GOING GLOBAL

12 Boost in sales for sanitation system

TALKING BUSINESS

14 Simon Pickering, managing director at dbfb

IN THE SPOTLIGHT

16 Legal Services

New service is on offer

18 Science & Technology

Milestone for Starship Technologies

TRAINING & EVENTS

20 The latest comprehensive list of Chamber training courses and events

MEMBER ZONE

22 Charity welcomes new board members 23 Walking to improve African communities 24 Member Profile: Carolyn Green, Medical Detection Dogs 26 Next Generation, plus new members

The Aug/Sept 2021 issue of inbusiness will include

features on: Business Crime & Protection and Creative Industries The deadline is: 16 June

ABOUT THIS MAGAZINE: inbusiness is a bi-monthly publication and digital magazine distributed to over 3,000 Chamber members and key businesses in Milton Keynes. The publication focuses on news and information about local companies and the initiatives and advice available to increase the prosperity of firms in the Milton Keynes area. Milton Keynes Chamber welcomes newsworthy articles of business interest, giving preference to Chamber members. As editorial space is limited, inclusion cannot be guaranteed and the editor may amend or reject articles submitted. inbusiness is produced on behalf of Milton Keynes Chamber by Kemps Publishing Ltd and is distributed without charge to all Chamber members and other leading businesses in the Milton Keynes area. The Chamber and the publisher are committed to achieving the highest quality standards. However, views expressed in the magazine are independent and while every care has been taken to ensure that the information it contains is accurate, neither Milton Keynes Chamber nor the publisher can accept any responsibility for any omission or inaccuracies that might arise.

For further information on Milton Keynes Chamber, call: 01908 547820 or visit: www.chambermk.co.uk

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