Rochdale Online Director Elected President of the Rochdale Chamber Council

John Kay

John Kay, senior partner of Molesworths, Bright Clegg solicitors and a director of Rochdale Online has been elected President of the Rochdale Local Chamber Council of GM Chamber of Commerce.

Greater Manchester Chamber is the largest in the country and covers  10 local authority areas: Manchester, Salford, Wigan, Trafford, Bolton, Bury, Stockport, Tameside, Rochdale and Oldham. Each of these areas has a Local Chamber Council.

The Rochdale Local Chamber Council is the best way to engage with Chamber activity in Rochdale. It brings together representatives from the local business community to develop and implement a local area action plan which directs the policy priorities being tackled in Rochdale.  The Rochdale Chamber Council aims to:

• Identify and prioritise members’ issues
• Inform members of changes in government policy and local initiatives likely to impact on the local business community
• Identify appropriate methods of consultation and lobbying
• Produce policy statements for the lobbying of key decision makers locally

Speaking on hearing of his election John Kay said: " There are major benefits in being united with businesses in other areas. Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce is the largest in the country and together we are a force to be reckoned with.  The danger is that in the interests of promoting that greatness, those in the centre of the 'Hub' forget their roots - that is, the small and medium sized business members who put them there. Those members will interface with the Local Chamber Councils, the 'spokes' of the Chamber wheel.  I am a Rochdale business man and I will try during my year in office as President, to reengage with the Rochdale members so that they feel that they are a part of Greater Manchester Chamber and have a voice in Rochdale."