Dear Chamber Members,
This is the first of a series of blogs that I hope to post as the Chamber President to keep you informed about what’s going on and to also hopefully stimulate some dialogue and debate..!
I was very honoured to be voted in as the next Chamber President by the Executive Team recently and will be representing you alongside the Executive over the next year. Unfortunately I could not take up the role earlier in the year as I had a potential conflict in my role as Chamber President and the professional role I was undertaking for East Northamptonshire Council in the Rushden Lakes Inquiry.
The Inquiry has now finished and I am pleased to take on the role to help promote Wellingborough and encourage the economic development of the Borough for the benefit of local businesses and residents. We await the Secretary of State’s decision next January and hope that it will be in favour!
Before I say a little bit about myself, for those of you who do not know me, I wanted to take this opportunity to say a huge thank you to Alan Piggot (the out-going President). He has led the Chamber over the last 2 years with incredible drive and enthusiasm and has steered the Chamber through a difficult period developing it into a much more effective organisation. He will be a tough act to follow, however, I know that he will still be very involved on the Executive and will be organising the ever growing Beer Festivals on behalf of the Chamber.
I have lived in the Borough for the past 20 years in Earls Barton. One of my current roles is the Project Manager for the Neighbourhood Plan Team within the village. I have worked most of the time I have been in Northamptonshire in the public sector for Local Authorities. My first job was with the County Council as an Economic Development Officer and later I moved to Wellingborough Council undertaking a variety of posts including the Director of Development. I am a qualified planning professional and set up my own business in 2011, James Wilson Associates, which provides planning and development services to both the private and public sectors.
Joining the Chamber, when I first set up in business, has been a really positive move for me. It is a great way to keep in contact with what’s happening in the local area and a strong network of businesses, both small and large, support each other and lobby organisations such as the Borough and County Councils on behalf of the business community.
In my time as President I would like to think that I can make a difference and help to develop Wellingborough’s competitive position and increase our ability to attract and retain businesses and investment. There are many opportunities and Wellingborough has huge potential to develop over the forthcoming years following a period of stagnation. The Chamber has already been lobbying for these changes and some have been successful in planning terms, such as the recently consented Prologis Appleby Lodge development. What I would hope we can now achieve, in collaboration with a range of partners, is the delivery of these schemes – Stanton Cross and the Midland Mainline electrification, Rushden Lakes retail park, Wellingborough North and regeneration schemes in the town centre.
I will also endeavour to work with organisations such as the Northamptonshire Enterprise Partnership and the Borough Council to ensure that Wellingborough is kept in the forefront of people’s minds when it come to investment and funding support. It is also important that I hear from Chamber members and the wider business community to understand what your biggest issues are and concerns so that the Chamber can represent you better.
I am looking forward to the next year and am keen to meet and hear from as many of you as possible. Please contact us through the website or our email address info@wellingboroughchamber.co.uk and let us have your views. There are ways that we can help in voicing some of your local concerns to the relevant authorities. We also want to help promote local businesses so if you have any news please let us know so that we can spread the good news within Wellingborough and Northamptonshire.
Kind regards
James Wilson