Anna Firth, Member of Parliament for Southend West, attended the Southend Business Partnership Briefing on April 21st 2022.
The event was hosted by the Southend Business Partnership in Genting Casino, Westcliff, with the aim of bringing together their network of over 1500 business professionals from across Southend and from a range of sectors, sizes and backgrounds to share best practice, contacts, knowledge and news.
Anna was particularly pleased to see the gathering unanimously decide to put Southend forward for UK City of Culture 2029. Anna has been a vocal supporter of Southend’s bid having raised with the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, Nadine Dorries, on the floor of the House of Commons. The Business Partnership agreed with Anna that UK City of Culture status would bring greater investment and business opportunities to the business of Southend.
This dovetails with Anna’s campaign to make Southend wealthier – a goal to which cooperation with local businesses is essential. Anna is passionate about engaging with as many local businesses as possible, especially the many fantastic independent shops along Leigh Broadway. She has also met with Glyn Jones, CEO of Southend Airport, and David Stanley, Founder of the Music Man project, both of whom were guest speakers at the Business Partnerships Briefing.
Mike Gray of Dedman Gray Property Consultants said:
“I am delighted to be able to report such an increase in the momentum being shown in the Airport Business park Southend . With Ipeco, the Costa Coffee drive thru’ and Westcliff Rugby club all now established occupiers at the business park we have several new sales and lettings in solicitors hands which will provide for further companies moving into the Business park later this year”
Speaking after the event, Anna said:
“I could not be more pleased to have been to the Southend Business Partnerships Briefing in Westcliff today. I want to make Southend West safer, healthier and wealthier and I know that supporting local business initiatives is absolutely integral to my strategy. The Business Partnerships Briefing is a fantastic way to bring together the many incredible local businesses, big and small, in our community to see how we can attract greater investment and more business opportunities. My sights are now set on becoming UK City of Culture 2029 which will be hugely beneficial for our local economy! I will continue to bang the drum for Southend businesses and do all I can to make our community wealthier!”
