Leading city business figures and senior politicians discuss government policy and regional economic growth
Businesses across Chester should play a greater role in shaping government policy and developing strategies to drive regional economic growth.
That was one of the key conclusions from a major roundtable summit hosted by the Chester Business Club (CBC) at the University of Chester’s Business School on Friday 24 October.
The event brought together leading city business figures and senior politicians, including the Rt. Hon. Sir Mel Stride MP, Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer; Aphra Brandreth MP for Chester South and Eddisbury; and Ben Fletcher, Conservative candidate for Mayor of Cheshire and Warrington.
Discussions explored the real impact of taxation changes on businesses, particularly on the high street, alongside the growing disconnect between education and industry needs.
There was a strong call for greater business involvement in shaping government policy and for more dynamic strategies to catalyse regional economic growth.
Club Chairman Gavin Floyd of DEESURVEYS confirmed that this was the first in a series of CBC Business Roundtables. He expressed his enthusiasm for further engagement between the business community and all mayoral candidates as they prepared their manifestos for the Cheshire & Warrington mayoral election in May 2027.
Jan Chillery, Immediate Past Chair, said:
“Chester Business Club members come from a wide range of businesses, and the Club is not affiliated to any political party. By meeting with mayoral candidates, we can ensure they hear the business voice of Chester. This event followed our CBC Dinner in May, when panels of political and business experts discussed the pros and cons of devolution. At the CBC Members Conference in September, members heard from Steve Purdham, Chair of the Cheshire & Warrington Business Advisory Board (CWBAB) and Chair of Westfield Health.”
The CBC Business Roundtable was praised by attendees as a valuable and timely exchange of ideas and perspectives.
Anthony King of Kognise said:
“What came through strongly for me is that if devolution is to work, business must be at the heart of it, not reacting to policy after the fact, but shaping it from the outset. Taxation shifts, skills gaps, and high street pressures are real, and they won’t be solved without genuine alignment between government, education, and enterprise. Chester’s business community is more than ready for that role; we’re ready to help drive a stronger, devolved regional economy.”
Andrea Stott, member of CWBAB and an expert in transformation and change, added:
“Despite current challenges, there’s a strong belief in Cheshire and Warrington’s potential. This region is a powerhouse with a nearly £40 billion economy, a wealth of natural resources, and massive investment coming from HyNet, the Northern Arc Railway, and more. We must have business at the centre of everything we do if we are to turbocharge economic activity in the UK.”
The Shadow Chancellor and the mayoral candidate listened attentively as she and fellow CWBAB member Jan Chillery highlighted the need for joined-up education and training provision to tackle the skills gap. Bob Ellis, former CEO of Warwick International, noted that his company had successfully employed many young people through YTS schemes and suggested that a similar initiative would be valuable today.
Club member Tim Kenney of KenneyMoore was fulsome in his praise of mayoral candidate Ben Fletcher, who has served on the boards of three major UK retailers and is a trustee of the National Literacy Trust.
“How utterly refreshing,” said Mr Kenney, “to sit in a room with Club colleagues and hear from a mayoral candidate with an impressive CV in running huge global businesses, someone who absolutely gets the importance of the private sector’s role in driving the economic sustainability of a region.”
Aphra Brandreth MP said:
“It was a pleasure to welcome the Rt. Hon. Sir Mel Stride MP, the Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer, to Chester South and Eddisbury. I thank the Chester Business Club for hosting this roundtable so that myself, Sir Mel, and our mayoral candidate for Cheshire and Warrington, Ben Fletcher, could hear directly from business leaders about how government policy has impacted them, and what we can do as the Opposition to continue speaking up for businesses in Cheshire and across the UK. Ben Fletcher will be campaigning on a platform of championing Cheshire and Warrington as a region with huge economic potential, drawing on his experience as the former CFO of the Very Group to do so.”
Roy Shelton, Club President, concluded:
“I am proud that Chester Business Club is a driving force in our community. We will continue to provide opportunities for the business community to engage with leaders and influence government strategy in our region. Our thanks to the University of Chester Business School for hosting us in its impressive boardroom, which enabled all 36 attendees to sit together around one table.”
