David – Our New President

As you may know, we had a very successful and well attended AGM last month at The Hock Cellar. I would like to thank Fullers for hosting our unique AGM, and I already look forward to next year’s meeting at the brewery.

I would like to extend my thanks to Suzie, for her help and advice during the transition from her four years of tireless work for our Chamber. Over the next few weeks and months, I aim to work with the executive and our members on cementing our Chamber as the voice for business in Brentford. As a Chamber we have a challenge ahead of us. How do we remain relevant in today’s modern business place?

In some parts of the continent, it is a requirement for businesses to be members of and participate in, their local chamber of commerce. How do we replicate that level of engagement here? How do we ensure we help our members do business with one another, without resorting to the tactics of other chambers who run networking events that charge a fee? In my mind a chamber that runs a coffee networking morning is not chamber.

It is my view, that if this Chamber is to continue in any effective form over and beyond the next four years and our one hundredth anniversary, we need to make bold decisions and not be afraid to break the mould and dare to be different. Isn’t that the special character of Brentford? Sometimes when I think of what it is about Brentford, that has so effectively stolen my heart, I cannot help but think of the classic Ealing comedy ‘Passport to Pimlico’. If you have not seen it, I highly recommend it. In the Brentfordians eye, we live in a borough within a borough. And no one will tell us how it should be done in Brentford. This is our unique quality. Now is the time to harness it.

David O’ConnorPresident, Brentford Chamber of Commerce
president@brentfordchamber.org