
Following the great success of our 2023 Business Showcase staging the 2024 Showcase was always going to be a challenge but the overwhelming view of all who exhibited and attended was that it was even better by a long margin. After an excellent Chamber Summer Social held at the Romford & Gidea Park RFC they kindly offered the venue for our Business Showcase and it turned out to be excellent for the exhibitors and speakers creating a lively buzz from the minute the doors opened at 4pm
The Showcase was formally opened by the Worshipful Mayor of Havering Cllr Gerry O’Sullivan and all our speakers were introduced by Mark Dover, Station Manager at Time 107.5FM and Chamber Executive Board Member.
Chamber Committee member and local counsellor Graham Williamson was followed by Eleanor Alexander from Digital Reef who outlined the benefits, current status and opportunities for local businesses that will be created by the proposed Data Centre, probably one of the most significant business schemes to happen in Havering for decades.
Jeremy West gave us an insight on how he, and the generations of Wests before him, have managed to make one of Havering’s oldest businesses continue to be successful and relevant today. Alison Taffs gave an inspirational acceptance speach when winning an award at the 2024 Havering Small Business Awards so we invited her to speak at our Showcase. She was equally inspiring educating us all on great British Wines and Ciders and how The Hop Inn is passionate about sourcing from local brewers. Finally, James Aimes told us a little more abut the venue we were being entertained in and its availability for all kinds of functions.
Chamber Chair, Janet Smyth, was delighted with this year’s Showcase:
“Once again I would sincerely like to thank all our sponsors, speakers and exhibitors for supporting this year’s Showcase. It was wonderful that we had many returning exhibitors and so encouraging to welcome new and start-up business in 2024. With a new Government and a significant October Budget it looks like 2025 is likely to be another challenging year for business but the Chamber will continue to support Havering businesses however we can.
We are already planning for the 2025 Business Showcase and we hope to be able to announce plans for it to be bigger and better early on the new year.”
We would like to thank all our speakers for their time:
Graham Williamson, Havering Council Cabinet Member for Development & Regeneration
“The Future of Business in Havering”
Eleanor Alexander, Managing Director, Digital Reef
“What ‘Europe’s Largest’ Data Centre means for Havering”
Jeremy West, Chairman & Managing Director, West & Coe Funeral Directors
“A Family Business For Over 100 Years”
Alison Taffs, The Hop Inn, Hornchurch, winners of Best Hospitality Business in the 2024 Havering Small Business Awards
“The Hop Inn Hornchurch: Tales of Hoportunity and Hopspitality”
James Aimes, Romford & Gidea Park RFC
“A Venue for Every Occasion”