Paul
Barrett, Managing Director of the well-known local
motor dealer group, Barretts of Canterbury, was
elected as Chairman of Canterbury 4 Business, the
district level business and economic partnership
for Canterbury, Whitstable and Herne Bay, in March
this year.
Delighted to have been given the Chairman’s position, Paul says it is a privilege
to follow on from the great work done by his predecessor, Michael Head, Managing
Director of Crown Products in Herne Bay; however Paul hopes to build on these
achievements and take the forum to the next level. His obvious dynamism will
go a long way to helping develop the relationship between Kent and the Canterbury
business community, one of Paul’s main objectives.
Canterbury 4 Business is a partnership between private sector businesses, the public sector and the City Council. The forum recognises the benefits that business growth can bring to a community and therefore supports and encourages developing businesses to realise their full potential, including working to remove any obstacles that hamper that process.
Individual project groups meet regularly and report back to the Canterbury 4
Business Board on issues such as employment and entrepreneurship, improving education
and skills and the 2012 Olympic opportunities. Canterbury 4 Business then takes
action based on the recommendations of the individual project groups.
As chairman, Paul hopes to put Canterbury on the county map as a vibrant business
centre and make the local business community truly believe it is a ‘go ahead’ city.
Canterbury is not just about tourism and visiting the cathedral and Paul is keen
to emphasise this.
Whilst supporting a consistent approach to promoting Canterbury as a credible
business location, in the short-term, Paul has a very clear game plan. He will
ensure the forum builds on its local government lobbying initiatives and will
be working in partnership with the City Council to ensure Canterbury receives
its fair share of benefits from the 2012 Olympics.
As for the future, Paul would like to see Canterbury develop a 'Kings Hill' style
development. A recent report by a government planning inspector on the Canterbury
District Local Plan Inquiry recommended the council should allocate the Little
Barton Farm site on the edge of Canterbury as a 20-hectare office, science and
technology business park. Canterbury 4 Business has of course supported these
ambitious plans. If the forum succeeds in convincing businesses that Canterbury
is in fact a credible location then this could well be a future reality.
On 13 July, Canterbury 4 Business launched an online forum at www.canterbury4business.co.uk
to enable local businesses to discuss their views and ideas about doing business
in the Canterbury District. The interactive forum is one of several new and improved
services for business provided by the C4B website including a business resource
section with links to the Canterbury area business directory, a commercial property
register, the South East England Development Agency website and other similar
organisations.
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