FINAL NOMINATIONS 9/5/2011

Lee is standing because:
After 20 years in the public sector – delivering multi-million pound change programmes and social welfare improvements, I recently left the civil service to focus on developing my own business here in St Leonards on Sea. I have been running my business here for 2 years having built it from an initial investment of just £300 to the successful venture we see before us today. I lived in St Leonards on Sea in the 1990s and returned from the North East of England to live here in 2008. As a senior manager and driver of major change programmes I have consistently shown that I am a highly competent public speaker – able to secure the confidence of others and their trust. I am experienced in chairing meetings – from small meetings with staff to large public consultation events attended by senior public figures. I now want to use my skills and experience to help to build upon the passion for business in St Leonards on Sea that we all share.

Matthew is standing because:
To continue being able to report on SBA activities on the website.

Caroline is standing because:
Want to contribute towards creating a vibrant and profitable trading environment for St Leonards so that more customers visit the area, making it a good place to live and work in.

Richard is standing because:
Has over 10 year’s experience in conference, banqueting and sales departments of four/five star hotels (in both the large multi-national as well as small privately owned sectors). My remit was to promote and develop business to both new and existing customers, hotel-service development along with financial projections. This included the ‘Lets do Business’ scheme which was aimed at helping local businesses improve, maintain and enhance their service delivery and image, whilst maintaining their individuality, in a highly competitive market with increasing customer expectations.

Actively involved in local St. Leonards events and committees (SBA working group) with a desire to build and consolidate links between local businesses and the local council. This would encourage and promote better, more effective communication between us. In turn, this could help us secure any available funding for the town, enhance the promotion of the local area and its varied services and support a network of business owners who share a joint concern in making their businesses and town a success.

Lucy is standing because:
(in the words of Helen Truman, Plenty) Lucy has been committed member and supporter of the SBA and St Leonard s businesses. She works hard and really cares about the area she lives and trades in.
Lucy has also being proposed by Bill Orton.

Helen is standing because:
My 30 years + business experience working in various roles from Group Operations Manager for a retail company to the Hong Kong government, to the development of a training centre for Ministry of Defence has enabled me to gain a wide spectrum of skills and knowledge. I have experience of hosting meetings and presentations from business management meetings to presentations attended by various UK and Overseas dignitaries. My approach to all my roles was a ‘hands on, sleeves rolled up attitude’.

This experience has served me well running my own business in St Leonard s. Plenty Provisions has been successfully operating for 2 years, in what have been difficult trading conditions for everyone.

I am a member of the SBA and the SBA Working Group, and have regularly represented the SBA at various other group/organisation meetings. I would like to continue to use my experience to build on the positive work that has already be achieved by building further links between other organisations and the council to gain funding and recognition for Central St Leonard’s and the SBA. To expand the membership of the SBA, and to assist it to become a professionally recognised body that represents all the businesses of Central St Leonard’s and help us all to fulfil the potential that we all know the area has.

Ellen is standing because:
I have 2 areas of interest:
a) I would wish to improve recruitment of and represent other sole traders who work from home.
b) I feel that the development of tourism is very important for the regeneration of St Leonards and would wish to work towards that end from within the SBA with other SBA members.

Soloman is standing because:
(in the words of Ellen Gray) Solomon is an accountant and therefore an obvious choice as Treasurer.

Terry Dalton, Carol Redmond, Nick Bridger, Graham King, John Greenhalf, Emma Lincoln and Andy Wilder are standing because:
they are existing committee members and have agreed to continue serving.