It’s been a busy week for some of the Chamber team as CEO Anna Doherty and President Selina Horshi headed to London as part of a major Northern Ireland trade mission to the House of Commons on Tuesday!

Anna and Selina arrived in London on Monday for meetings with other business groups in the capital. They met with Alderman Prem Goyal who heads up the City of London SME chamber of commerce, continuing historical links between the organisation and the city of Derry. The City of London represents many of the city’s largest and most well-known tech and financial services firms and the Chamber team were interested in learning more about a sector which is growing in our own city. 

Anna and Selina also met with Fleet Street Quarter and their CEO Lady Lucy French. Fleet Street Quarter is an ambitious business improvement district which represents over 350 businesses across 43 hectares in the west of London. They have ambitious plans to invest up to £5 billion and have a steady pipeline of 34 new and refurbished schemes in the works, covering commercial office space, retail and leisure projects.

The team also met with James Watkins, the London Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s Head of Policy and Public Impact. These were invaluable engagements with likeminded organisations and groups which also work hard to represent their members across a variety of sectors, and excellent opportunities to share best practice and learn from colleagues across the industry.

On Tuesday, the team were invited to the House of Commons for the annual Trade NI trade mission. Trade NI is an amalgamation of Retail NI, Manufacturing NI and Hospitality Ulster, three of the largest sector-specific business groups in the country. The group were launching a major new economic report which aimed to set a blueprint for economic growth and prosperity in Northern Ireland over the next ten years and beyond.

This was an excellent engagement with senior government ministers, MPs, Lords, business leaders, and representatives from over 65 global embassies. The Irish Embassy then hosted an evening reception, addressed by Deputy Ambassador to the UK Fiona Flood.

It’s been a busy and productive week for the Chamber, engaging with groups and individuals from across the UK, Ireland and further afield. Engagements like these are crucial in selling a positive message about the investment potential of our region and encouraging investors and businesses to consider the North West as a place to live, work, and do business!