President

“I have spent most of my life in Crawley.  I went to School at Thomas Bennett Community College and took my first job at Crawley based Newey and Eyre.  My career has been primarily in sales and marketing based roles working within the electrical sector of the construction industry, but also worked for 6 years as a director of an electrical contracting business.  I have worked for manufacturers, trade suppliers and contractors so have a rounded knowledge of supply chain systems.

I am currently working in the quite different field of secure document management.  S4b-Shredding, based on Cobham Way in Crawley was established in January 2010.  We are a new start up business and in the depths of a recession, have managed to grow steadily and currently send in excess of 20 tons of shredded paper to Kent based paper mills for recycling back into high grade office paper.   Efficient transport systems are key to our business.
I had the honour of being elected as President of the Crawley and Gatwick Chamber of Commerce in June 2008 and re elected in 2010.  I believe in supporting the local economy by making purchases locally and promoting local companies. Through the arduous times of the current recession, we must make every effort to remain positive and trade locally wherever we can. These are sure ways that we can support our local economy and reduce the depth of the recession.
Crawley is a fantastic place to live and work and with the support of the Executive Committee, the Chamber will strive to help local businesses where ever we can.”

Rev. Francis Pole – Honorary Member. Director and Pastoral Care

With a background in transport and with a transport qualification (M.Inst.TA), the Probation Service where he served as a Senior Probation Officer, and counselling - with a generic qualification in social work (CQSW) - Francis was appointed Chaplain to Crawley’s Ministry in the Workplace, in May 2000. He was accepted as an Honorary Member of the Chamber of Commerce the following year. In 2005 Francis was awarded “Certified Master Chaplain” (CMC) in the USA.
Francis has been a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce (FRSA) since March 1964, of which he is now a Life Member.
Crawley's Chaplaincy to People at Work (at every level) exists to support all those in work, or facing redundancy, whether in industry, the Emergency Services, or in the Retail Sector – recognising that everyone faces difficulties whether professional or personal from time to time. Francis and his Assistant Chaplains are not there to evangelise, and are there for everyone, yet by their presence they can remind those who work in Crawley of God’s love in what has become, sadly, a very secular world. The Chaplains believe that sometimes, under pressure, people can lose their own humanity and fail to recognise the humanity in others they work with – or the public they serve. All contacts with Chaplaincy are 100% confidential.
Early in 2005 Francis agreed to serve as an Executive Committee member with the portfolio of Transport Lead – a position he held until the 2010 AGM.. He currently holds a new role as Chaplain to the Executive and to the Chamber.
Through his contacts with so many people in different spheres of activity, Francis has, both directly and indirectly, a unique overview of business in Crawley.
Returning to the UK in 1983 after a spell working in the Anglican Church in The Hague, Francis was appointed Police Chaplain in October 1987, and served as Secretary to the National Association in 1996. He also served as National Co-ordinator of Police Chaplains from 2000-2004 and again for part of 2006/7; he has lectured on Police Chaplaincy at home and abroad.

Madeleine Mills – Heads our Education and Workplace Skills Portfolio

West Sussex Education Business Partnership
“I hope to make a real difference to the future prosperity of Crawley and Gatwick by encouraging local businesses to work with their local schools to help raise standards of achievement, prepare young people for the world of work and nurture economic success through education and business activity. Being involved with the Chamber will enable me to meet local businesses and to promote the benefits of working with West Sussex Education Business Partnership and local schools. I will also be able to provide Chamber members with regular updates about changes and developments within the education sector.”

Madeleine will chair the Education and Workplace Skills sub committee. She began working for the West Sussex Education Business Partnership in February 2005. Previously she had been the Education Officer for a military museum. Her role within the Education Business Partnership is to act as a broker between local schools and businesses to work together for the benefit of young people and the future economy.

Philip Hayden - Treasurer

Richard Place Dobson Chartered Accountants
Philip has served the Chamber for approximately 25 years as Treasurer, looking after the funds and the Chamber’s accounting. One of three partners in a Crawley based firm of Chartered Accountants helping businesses with their development and looking after their accounting and tax affairs, Philip also acts for a number of private individuals helping them with their tax affairs.

June Patto, also of Richard Place Dobson, has also dedicated many hours to the Chamber, assisting Philip in his role as Treasurer and handling the incoming Chamber mail.

Lorraine Nugent Portfolio Holder for Publicity

I have worked for Sussex Newspapers the past four years in various roles. I am currently the Coordinator of Business Matters, our monthly business newspaper. I launched this in February 2007 and joined Crawley Chamber at around the same time. I have found the Chamber to be a beneficial link with the business community and a great source for keeping abreast of what is happening in Crawley, the hub of the Gatwick Diamond. I consider it important that businesses in Sussex know what is happening and the Chamber is a great place to start. Thanks to my experience in publishing and marketing, I have been given the portfolio of publicity for the Chamber. I intend to keep the Chamber’s activities and events in high profile to others in the business community.

Geoff Williamson MIMI CInstSMM Portfolio Holder for Business, Community & Environment

Geoff Williamson has lived in Worth, Crawley for the last 25 Years and has been involved in Management for over 40 Years.

He has had a background of After Sales & Service within the Motor Trade for the first 30 Years; subsequently running a Crawley based IT Service Company called 2k Enigma Solutions Ltd t/a ituk.biz for the last 10 Years, specialising in Virus & Spyware removal, installations of Networks & Wireless Broadband, Sales & Service.

Because most of his clients are Home Based (Retail) and Small Businesses he is constantly getting feedback from them about local issues.

Geoff is also the Branch & Regional Chairman for the Federation of Small Businesses. He believes that we should all try to give something back to the Local Community and this is where CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) comes in. ACTION NOT WORDS.

This background puts Geoff in a unique position where Business, Community & Environmental issues integrate very well.

In 2007 he was elected Founder President of the Gatwick Diamond Rotary Club, who’s motto is “Service Above Self”. The club works closely with the Local Business Community to raise funds for needy causes.

He is a member of several Professional organisations including the Institute of the Motor Industry (MIMI) and the Institute of Sales and Marketing Management (CInstSMM)

He is a very keen Networker and he has found that this is the best way of building long term Business Friendships.

Please feel free to contact him should you have any Business, Community or Environmental issues on 07736-552444 or email it@ituk.biz

Ian Harper, Economic Development

I have been involved with the Chamber of Commerce locally since taking up the role of Branch Manager of the Crawley and Manor Royal branches of HSBC Bank in April 2008. Previously I was involved with the North Kent Chamber of Commerce in Swale where we worked hard to reinvigorate interest in the Chamber and to raise the profile of local business within the area.

I have worked for HSBC Bank (previously Midland Bank) for over 24 years mostly in the Kent area and have so far enjoyed my time in Sussex. My work means that I am often speaking with both personal and business customers so I am able to get a good idea of how things are within the local economy. I also speak regularly with colleagues in both Commercial and Corporate centres in Crawley to understand the needs of larger businesses.

I hope to be able to gain a greater awareness of how Crawley Borough Council's Economic Development team can support small business in the local area and in particular increase the number of firms offering higher skilled employment opportunities.

I am delighted to be joining the Executive Committee of the Crawley Chamber of Commerce.

David Page, Transport

As a relationship manager for Lloyds TSB Commercial, I support businesses across the region with a turnover of up to £15 million.

One of four managers based at our Crawley offices, I aim to ensure local firms have the support, guidance and tools they require to enable them to achieve their ambitions, whether they are start-ups or well-established businesses.

I’ve lived close to Crawley for over 20 years and spent the first part of my career based in London before moving to work with Crawley-based businesses four years ago. Since then I have worked with an extensive number of local business customers and key contacts. I regularly attend local networking events and have an excellent knowledge and understanding of the town and the local business community.

Representing members of the Crawley and Gatwick Chamber of Commerce as Transport Lead on the Chamber’s Executive Committee, I’ll be dealing with all matters relating to road, rail or air transportation.

An efficient transport network is essential for local business and trade to grow. The only way we can get the networks we need is by two way dialogue. Without your input regarding what we need to ensure our business community continues to prosper, the relevant companies and councils will not be able to consider our views and requirements.    

If you have any comments you wish to make regarding our local transport infrastructure from potholes, defective streetlights up to longer term planning please contact me on 07725 068909 or at david.page@bb.lloydstsb.co.uk

Josephine Evans, Membership Co-ordinator

Jose joined the Crawley Chamber in June 2008, Jose is responsible for the coordination of new and old members, Jose also books all venues and key speakers, if you have any questions about the Crawley Chamber then Jose is your first point of contact.
m: 07813 885 529
E Mail: jose@crawleychamber.co.uk