Reading Business Lunch

This event has already taken place.

Date: 24/03/2010

Times: 12:30 - 14:30

Venue: Penta Hotel Reading, Oxford Road, READING, Berks, RG1 7RH

Price: Please call 01753 870500 or see below for further information

More Information:

Get a regular date in your diary for a business lunch as the Chamber of Commerce hosts its premier Reading event. Taking place every 4th Wednesday of the month, this lunch time event slots neatly into the business day and provides the ideal opportunity for you to meet fellow professionals in a town centre location.

Complimented by professional business speakers, this lunch can also become a valuable source of business intelligence; helping you build on the knowledge and skills that you need.
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Speaker: Michael Coughlin, Chief Executive of Reading Borough Council
Topic: Council/Role update
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Michael’s talk will very much focus on the Council and its impact and interaction with the business community. As the chief executive of Reading Borough Council, Michael watches over a business with a £200m budget and employing over 3,500 people. The council is not only a significant employer in the town, it has a role in contributing to the local economy. Michael will touch upon the following topic areas as well as take questions from the floor.

Michael’s talk will cover:

Business Rates – explain the council’s role here, what aspects can they influence

Planning and inward investment – how good does the town feel about attracting and retaining good business

Transport – electrification of the GWR line, CrossRail beyond Maidenhead (role of the council)

Apprenticeships – what measures is the council taking, impact for the wider business community

Public service spending cuts – Reading’s budget and what likely impact will this have

General election – impact on the council’s mandate. Vision for Reading next 12 months

Working with neighbouring councils (Wokingham, West Berks).

About the speaker:

Before taking up his post in April 2008, Michael was chief executive of Crawley Borough Council since 2002 and has 27 years of experience in local government.

Download a flyer for this event
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Deadline for bookings is 12.00pm on the day before the event. However, we will endeavour to take bookings after this, but will not be able to guarantee bookings or inclusion on our guest lists. If you would like to book after this time please call 01753 870500 for further information

Guest list & name badge provided on arrival.
NB: PREPAYMENT IS ESSENTIAL FOR ALL EVENT BOOKINGS