New Chamber president urges action for region

LEEDS Chamber of Commerce’s new president has spoken of his view that the city has the strength to bear up to the current downturn.

Gary Lumby – who is head of retail and small business banking at Yorkshire Bank – spoke as he took up his two-year tenure in the role at he Chamber’s annual lunch, where more than 350 business people had the opportunity to hear the incoming president’s vision for the both the city and the business community.

He said: “Leeds has so far stood up better to this than some cities, mainly because of the diversity of businesses and the significant public-private expenditure you can see going on.

“There are definitely going to be more job losses and expect to see some in the banking sector. But let’s not panic. Let’s lobby to make sure as many businesses and jobs stay in Leeds as possible.”

Mr Lumby said that he wants to see the Chamber as “the voice of business”, which will allow greater influence on Government.

In addition, he wants Leeds, York, Harrogate and Scarborough to be the place to visit and to set up business.

Mr Lumby also called upon the business community to foster collaborative working between private, public and voluntary sectors for the benefit of business and the general population of Yorkshire.

He emphasised the need to “sing with one voice about Leeds and the city region”.

Mr Lumby highlighted the proposed Eastgate development within the city and the recently commissioned Leeds Arena as two areas that the city should tell the world about.

Guests at the Leeds Chamber Annual Lunch also heard from Ajaz Ahmed, founder of Freeserve.

Mr Ahmed has recently celebrated the 10th anniversary of the founding of Leeds-based internet service provider (ISP) Freeserve.

Freeserve – jointly founded by Mr Ahmed – became the largest ISP in the UK within just three months.

It was floated simultaneously on the London and New York stock exchanges nine months after its launch at a market capitalisation of £1.5bn. At its peak, it was valued at £9bn.

Leeds Chamber of Commerce was originally founded in 1785 and became the first body in the country to bear the name ‘Chamber of Commerce’.

Earlier this month it was announced that Leeds and the York and North Yorkshire Chambers of Commerce were to merge to create the largest chamber in the region.

The two bodies said the proposed merger would give the organisation and its members a more powerful voice, greater influence and additional commercial opportunities.

Members of Leeds Chamber backed the move at their AGM yesterday and members of York and North Yorkshire Chamber are expected to follow suit at their EGM this week.