BHCC - Brighton & Hove Chamber of Commerce

Brighton & Hove Chamber of Commerce invite you to...

The Big Debate: State of the City 2011

Would you like to know more about how the public sector plans to outsource after the cuts, how the city’s road works are co-ordinated or what effect business has on the local environment?

State of the City offers a once-a-year chance for local business people to meet the movers and shakers of Brighton & Hove – and to have your say about the big issues. It’s also an opportunity to meet your peers and discuss the issues that affect you and your business.

This event is part of the Chamber’s series of Big Debates in 2011, giving you the chance to hear key people give their opinions – and maybe influence them with your own – in an evening of lively, entertaining and enlightening debate. 

And don’t forget, by letting your Chamber of Commerce know what you think, you’re helping it to represent you better as the voice of business in Brighton & Hove.

“For me, this is one of the most important business events of the year. I get to find out exactly what's going on here, directly from the people who make the decisions. There's a tremendous buzz to the event, because it's specifically for the local business community to meet each other and talk about the issues that matter to them.”

- Julia Chanteray, President of the Brighton & Hove Chamber of Commerce

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Topics for this year’s State of the City include:

Travel and transport

What effect will train fare increases have?

Will the Park and Ride issue ever be resolved?

How can the plethora of road works be better co-ordinated?  

Panellists

• Geoff Raw, Brighton & Hove City Council
• Martin McGowan, Southern Railway Limited

Jobs, skills and business support

In light of public spending cuts, will the council outsource more work to local businesses?

What support will there be for start-ups?

Panellists

• Colin Monk, University of Brighton
• Gary Peters, BrightonandHoveJobs.com

Infrastructure and facilities

What does the Local Enterprise Partnership do?

What new developments are on the horizon?

Will there be more office space available?

Panellists

• Simon Fanshawe, Brighton & Hove Economic Partnership
• Oliver Asha, Acumen Business Law

Environment

What impact do businesses have on the local environment?

How active are they at protecting it or investing in it?

Do they do more than residents – and should they?

Panellists

• Thurstan Crockett, Brighton & Hove City Council
• Jo Lacey, Magpie Recycling & Brighton Paper Round

Brighton’s business brand

What direction is business development taking?

Are we a tourism/hospitality city or digital hub – or both?

Where is the income generated and does it stay here?

Panellists

• Julia Chanteray, The Joy of Business
• Alex Morrison, Cogapp

The evening’s debate will be facilitated by Roger French of the Brighton & Hove Bus Company.

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Special thanks to

asb law our event sponsor

University of Brighton for providing the venue

SEETHAT for producing an animated introductory video for the event

Wire World Media for podcasting the event

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Copy by Caroline White