On Wednesday, 19 February, Essex Chambers of Commerce CEO Denise Rossiter had the honour of welcoming Shevaun Haviland, Director General of the British Chambers of Commerce, for a day of visiting member organisations across the county.
The day began with a visit to Borough Ltd, where Denise and Shevaun met with David Brereton, Joint Managing Director. Established in 1947, Borough Ltd. is one of the UK’s leading plastic injection moulders and chrome platers of plastics. The company has built an outstanding reputation, supporting global automotive brands and their suppliers.
Next, they travelled to Gerald McDonald & Co Ltd, where they met with Director Maxim McDonald. Founded in 1917, this family-owned business specialises in supplying high-quality ingredients to the food, drink, flavour, and fragrance industries. As the largest independent juice supplier and blender in the UK, the company plays a key role in the sector.
The final stop of the business tour was Ziegler UK, located at the London Gateway Logistics Park, where they were welcomed by Managing Director Lee Marshall. A global leader in logistics services, Ziegler operates a network of 154 branches across more than 15 countries, delivering comprehensive supply chain solutions tailored to diverse industries. Originally founded in Brussels in 1908, the company now employs over 3,200 people worldwide.
Opportunities like this visit are invaluable for amplifying the concerns of the business community to key decision-makers. By facilitating this tour, Essex Chambers provided a platform for innovative Essex-based organisations while enabling direct dialogue between business leaders and the Director General, who could hear first-hand about their challenges and aspirations.
“A big thank you to Denise and her team for organising a valuable day out visiting some of the brilliant businesses powering the economy.
“Thanks to the business leaders who took the time to show us around their sites and share their views on how the current economic landscape is affecting their businesses.”
The day concluded with a dinner at The Magic Mushroom, where Denise, Shevaun and invited guests gathered to discuss the Domestic Abuse Awareness in the Workplace Now (DAAWN) initiative. They were also joined by the Domestic Abuse Commissioner for England & Wales, Nicole Jacobs.
Launched in 2023, this pioneering partnership between Essex Chambers of Commerce, Essex Police, the Essex Police, Fire & Crime Commissioner, and Practical HR has made remarkable strides. To date, 96 businesses across Essex have committed to promoting domestic abuse awareness within their workforce. The evening featured engaging and meaningful discussions about the initiative and the broader efforts to make Essex a leader in workplace well-being. Both Shevaun and Nicole gave their full support to the initiative.
“Thank you to Shevaun for taking the time to visit our county and for listening to the concerns of our member community.
“I was extremely proud to showcase just a fraction of the exceptional entrepreneurial talent in Essex. These tours provided incredible insight into the innovative companies in our region, as well as the real-world challenges businesses face today.
“Thank you to David, Maxim, and Lee, and to everyone else who contributed to making this visit a success.”
The visit underscored the strength and innovation within Essex’s business community while fostering important conversations about its future. Essex Chambers of Commerce remains committed to advocating for local businesses and ensuring their voices are heard at the highest levels.
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