North Norfolk Business Leaders Gather for Lunch - and Launch

North Norfolk's top businessmen and women will gather at Wolterton Hall, near Erpingham, later this month for the first formal gathering of the North Norfolk Business Forum.

The inaugural forum event, a business lunch hosted by Lord and Lady Walpole from 11.30am onwards on Friday, 25 November, will give local business leaders a chance to find out more about the forum and to meet their Member of Parliament, Norman Lamb, as well as each other. Business support agencies operating in the area will also be on hand to provide an insight into services available to local businesses.

North Norfolk District Council and the North Norfolk Community Partnership identified the need to develop a network to support businesses throughout the District, and funded the creation of a business-led body to be the voice for business, and to work alongside other partnerships to help improve the profitability and competitiveness of North Norfolk Companies.

Many places at the lunch have already been reserved, but some places remain and will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. Anyone running a business (of any size) in North Norfolk and who wants to attend the business lunch should contact the Business Forum Co-ordinator, Gillian Bolam, on 01263 740751 or by email at: gillianbolam@btinternet.com

The forum's membership is designed to be representative of the geographic areas and industry sectors in the District. It will give businesses greater influence with the public sector, local politicians and other powerful decision-makers and, indeed, part of its purpose is to build relationships with associations and support agencies like Business Link, the Learning and Skills Council, local authorities, chambers of trade in North Norfolk's seven towns, the District's regeneration partnerships and area partnerships, and the voluntary sector.

The forum's Executive Committee, comprising 15 members upon its launch, is due to meet four times a year to put forward proposals to help the business community. It will also run key events throughout the year which will be open to all businesses.

It will be backed up by a website (currently under construction) offering local news, data and business intelligence, a sites and premises register, and a business directory so members can source goods and services locally.

ENDS