Chamber inducts new president

A former communications director for a FTSE 100 bank who has sat on numerous strategic boards across the region, has been inducted as the new president of East Midlands Chamber.

Stuart Dawkins brings wide-ranging business experience, having spent 18 years at Alliance & Leicester, including seven years heading up corporate communications.

He was inducted into the honorary role at the chamber’s annual general meeting, which was held at Derby Museums’ Museum of Making, in December.

In his first speech as president, Stuart set out his two priorities for the coming year.

These are to build on the Chamber’s stated mission “to enhance East Midlands businesses and communities” by encouraging firms to further engage with and support their communities, as well as have a real impact on the prospects of future generations within the region.

He said: “Business is a fundamental and vital part of our society. It is the engine of wealth.

“But, at heart, we all live in places; and our customers live in places; and our staff live in places; and our loved ones live in places. And those places form communities.”