CHAMBERNEWS
BitesizeNews Students learn the ways of the Chambers Three Students from Kent Schools were guest of Kent Invicta Chamber of Commerce at this year’s British Chambers of Commerce Annual Conference at the Queen Elizabeth 11 Conference Centre in London. Charlotte Rush the Chair of Young Chamber at Homewood School joined Jordan Cochrane and Ross Chudasama from Oakwood Park Grammar School together with CEO Jo James, Chairman Carole Barron, Chair of the Chamber, together with Tudor Price Chamber Business Manager and Richard Lavender Director and Young Chamber Coordinator for Kent. The conference had guest speakers including Karen Brady CBE Small Business Ambassador, Rt Hon Michael Gove MP, Rt Hon Ed Balls MP, Rt Hon Kenneth Clark MP, Lord Mandelson, Rt Hon Vince Cable MP and many leaders from British Industry. The conference was of particular interest to our students as several presentations and debates were centred around Education and Business Partnerships including Apprenticeships and work readiness.. We at Kent Invicta Chamber of Commerce place great importance in involving students with as many businesses as possible and attending this Annual Conference and meeting both Employers and Government Ministers is an opportunity not to be missed. Both Homewood and Oakwood Grammar Schools should be very proud of the students who represented the schools.
BRIDGE strengthens links between Dover and Calais With freight traffic between Dover and Calais expected to rise by 40% by 2030, the importance of strengthening the route between the two independent ports is currently the focus of cross-Channel collaboration and major investment. Seeking to protect the long-term resilience of this internationally important trade link, described as a ‘European motorway of the sea’, the BRIDGE (Building the Resilience of International and Dependent Gateways in Europe) Project brings together the Port of Dover and Port of Calais. Currently those two busiest Roll–on Roll–off (Ro-Ro) ferry terminals in Europe handle more than one third of RoRo cargo between the UK and continental Europe, representing goods worth more than 70 billion euros. The BRIDGE Project, which aims to ensure that Dover and Calais are part of European efforts to create a fully integrated freight corridor combining road, rail and maritime transport and linking the UK with Northern France, Benelux and North-East Spain, was recently unveiled at a joint event held in the French port. Calais Port 2015 sets out plans to increase capacity through the development of a new harbour, a new cross-Channel terminal with a further three crossChannel berths and one Ro-Ro berth, and 80 hectares of new platforms. To handle the increased traffic, Calais, like Dover, is reorganising cross-Channel traffic flows and the road networks in and around the Port. Major investment being undertaken under the Calais 2015 banner also
The group enjoyed a full briefing by Donna Pearce before being guided around the reactor which was on Shutdown for routine maintenance. It was impressive to note that an additional 1500 technicians were on site to carry out this routine maintenance which obviously brought in business revenue for the local area. The group also had an opportunity to see the newly completed flood defence wall that has been built around the Station B.
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ThinkingBUSINESS June-July 2014
Tim Waggott, Chief Executive, Port of Dover, said: “BRIDGE recognises that, by collaborating, we can complement each other and enhance the resilience of this international trade route. “We connect the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland with the continental mainland, so it is essential that Dover works closely with our opposite numbers in Calais. By developing efficient port facilities and transport connections on both sides of the Channel we will be perfectly placed to meet the needs of our customers, communities and strengthen the local economies.” In the short term, the BRIDGE project will ensure that the two ports operate efficiently by adapting the berths to the highest technical standards of ship accommodation, as well as focusing on the enhancement of the local transport networks to improve the resilience of the trade route. A Memorandum of Understanding between the two ports was signed by the Côte d’Opale Chamber of Commerce and Industry (as the port manager) and Dover Harbour Board.
Power Station hosts visit The Kent Invicta Chamber of Commerce, Ashford Economic Development Group made the April meeting a visit to Dungeness Nuclear Power Station B Site operated by EDF. The visit was arranged by the outgoing Chairman of the Group Richard Lavender who now hands over after many years in the hot seat to Terry Botfield.
includes the development of a rail motorway terminal linking the Port in Nord-Pas de Calais with Perpignan in the south of France, enabling the transhipment of trailers between rail, road and ferry in the Port.
Statement from Lydd Airport, Kent in response to today’s high court judgements, handed down by Mr Justice Ouseley RSPB v Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government Lydd Airport Action Group v Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government
this part of Kent, create jobs and bring hope to families throughout the area.
Lydd Airport executive manager Hani Mutlaq said: “The judge has today confirmed what we all knew: there was no legal basis for an appeal against the Government’s decision to back our exciting plans for the redevelopment of Lydd Airport.
“The airport is now nearing completion of a number of pre-commencement conditions required to enable planning permission for the runway extension to be implemented.
“With this distraction behind us we can press ahead with delivering a project which will help regenerate
“We hope to invite contractors to tender for the runway construction project in late summer and anticipate that work will begin before the end of the year.”