Friday’s business breakfast at Linden House Hotel was a great success. The first of a new series of meetings for business people in Stansted Mountfitchet was a sell-out, so a few people had to be turned away. Just under 40 attendees tucked into a full English breakfast. Toast was served; and the event was toasted in feedback from those who turned up at the early hour of 7.45 a.m.

They heard from Guy Schooling about how Sworders’ Auctioneers has achieved international acclaim after moving from Bishop’s Stortford to Stansted Mountfitchet. Simon Jackson, the economic development officer from Uttlesford District Council, spoke about plans the council has to support town centres and help grown business in the district.

The breakfast meeting was an initiative of Stansted’s economic development working group of district and parish councillors. I chair that group. We hope to see a business-led forum grow from last week’s breakfast and to take over running future breakfasts. The next breakfast is expected on April 5th.

Business life in Stansted is too often seen as being only on the airport. There are many town-based businesses. Stansted Mountfitchet is an excellent place to do business. It has a good railway service as well as an airport. A business forum for Stansted Mountfitchet will promote business activity and life beyond the airport.

I look forward to local businesses forming a partnership with Manchester Airport Group. The forum will be about partnership in business, so our largest employment site should be a partner by buying locally.

I previously wrote about the event here.