Joe Robertson MP recently hosted the first Ryde Business Forum drop-in event, where over 50 local businesspeople turned out to discuss issues affecting business and the wider Ryde community.
The Ryde Business Forum was set up by the East Wight MP with the stated aim of better connecting business people in the town at a time when the Government will be providing £20million over 10 years to be invested by a new Ryde Neighbourhood Board.
The MP’s Forum aims to ‘join up the dots’ and avoid replicating what other groups or organisations are doing.
The drop-in was held on Tuesday 15th April at the Royal Victoria Arcade in Union Street.
Joe has said:
“One of the criticisms I hear is that there is a lack of opportunities for business people in Ryde to come together and share ideas and try and influence decisions which affect them.
“That is why I have set up the MP’s Ryde Business Forum – to join up the dots and make sure business voices are heard. Ryde is a fantastic place to live, work and visit and with an opportunity to regenerate the town further with £20 million of Government money.
“We need to ensure a wide spectrum of voices feed into decisions about how the money can be best invested, including business voices.”
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John McLagan, owner of Royal Victoria Arcade and Chair of the Business Forum added:
“It’s great to see this Forum being established. Business people are the real drivers of growth in our town – investors, innovators, and job creators. Having a platform where we can contribute directly to discussions about the town’s future is not just encouraging, it’s essential.
“I am looking forward to seeing what we can achieve together through open dialogue and collaboration. To get involved, please contact the MP’s office.”
Meanwhile, civil servants from Whitehall have visited Ryde to look around the Town and attend a Neighbourhood Board meeting where governance issues and board membership were discussed. The final Board documents have now been submitted to the Government for approval.
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