Headlines from this year’s AGM
It was great to see a number of you at our recent AGMs. I say AGMs because, as you may remember, we did two on the same day this year. This was to get us into a cycle in which we hold the AGM covering the year just ended only a few months later, rather than having a very lengthy gap.
For those of you who weren’t able to make it, we presented the 2021/22 and 2022/23 accounts, both of which are now available to view on Companies House here. While there have been significant reductions in turnover over this period, this is due to winding down of our DWP New Enterprise Allowance project and changes in ERDF funding. Moving forward ERDF income will disappear, as final projects close in September. We are bidding for other sources of funding and continuing to grow commercial income. We are budgeting a return to profitability in 2023/24 and currently on track to achieve that, although given the changes in business support funding and the economic situation it is a very uncertain year. If you have any questions on either set of accounts, please do contact me, suzanne@cumbriachamber.co.uk.
Lesley Robinson, our Head of Business Support presented on business support activity, and Eve Halliday, our Head of Commercial and Business Growth, presented on membership and commercial activities. You can see their slides here. Again, both would be happy to talk with you individually if you have any queries, lesleyr@cumbriachamber.co.uk and eve@cumbriachamber.co.uk.
Allan Wilson (Pirelli) and Anand Puthran (McMenon Engineering Services) were re-appointed as President and Vice President respectively. Jayne Taylor of (The Villa Levens) was ratified as a member of the Council and Andrew Burrell (Enable Success), Barry Leahey (Playdale), Alan Wilson (L&W Wilson) and Tom Waterhouse (Stagecoach) were re-appointed as Council members. Jane Clingan (Day Cummins) was appointed to the Council. Other members of the Council, not up for re-election this year were Edward O’Keeffe (Furness Internet) and me.
The Council is made up of Chamber members and is the body which appoints the Chamber Board from among the Council members. The other function of the Council is as a policy group for the Chamber, considering and representing business interests. This is one way, but by no means the only way the members can get involved in policy – you can engage directly 1-2-1 and through surveys and other groups/meetings. If you would be interested in potentially joining the Council please do get in touch with me, suzanne@cumbriachamber.co.uk, for an initial discussion. The intention is for the Council to represent a good mix of business sectors, sizes and geographies within its membership, and ideally a good mix of wider demographics.
We look forward to seeing you at next year’s AGM!
Suzanne
Suzanne Caldwell
Managing Director