Member Article

New members join Business Forum Management Team

As International Woman’s Day is celebrated, North Tyneside Business Forum has welcomed two new volunteer members to its Management Group. Karen Goldfinch, Chair of the Forum was delighted to welcome Kathryn Meadows and Sangeeta Chopra as two new volunteers to the Management Group, both influential figures in their respective sectors of retail and hospitality. The North Tyneside Business Forum Management Group is made up of members from various industry sectors in the Borough representing the wide and diverse range of businesses in the borough. The Forum gives support in the form of networking, events and signposting for growth and development and is free and open to any business of any size with a trading address within North Tyneside. The Business Forum is supported by, but not run by North Tyneside Council. “Each one of our management group members have a value and a skill set that can be used to benefit other businesses in North Tyneside. Kathryn is the head of one of Whitley Bay’s oldest businesses, the 108-year-old Nicholson’s Butchers and Sangeeta runs Namaste – A Taste of India also in Whitley Bay and she specialises in takeaway and deli counter food. “Their input at a strategic and practical level will help us to make important decisions about trade and business within the Borough and enable us to pass on relevant advice to our members,” said Karen.
“The theme of this years’ International Women’s Day is #BreaktheBias, the management team has been largely dominated by males since its inception over 11 years ago and at times I have been the only female member of the team, I am delighted to welcome Kat and Sangeeta to the group.” Kathryn decided to volunteer her time to take more of an active part in the development of her local business economy.

“I hope to contribute in a really positive way to the team and to the Business Forum as a whole. As an established family business, we have loads of ideas to benefit the local business economy so I want to make sure our voice and businesses like ours gets heard. I hope that my position on the Management Group will provide similar opportunities for me and other businesses who need support and guidance.”

Similarly, Sangeeta became involved to help others and to pay back for the support she has received:

“I’ve had a lot of valuable support myself from the Business Forum with advice and practical help.

“I’ve always had a dream of owning a café or takeaway so when I opened Namaste I was over the moon to be able to cook and sell the Punjabi food I’d learned to cook as I grew up. I hope that my experience in hospitality and sales will help other businesses who need a helping hand and support.”

The Forum is FREE to join and is for any business with a trading address in North Tyneside. E: business.forum@northtyneside.gov.uk www.northtynesidebusinessforum.org.uk T:0191 643 6000 ENDS Photo: (Highlights PR) Chair of NTBF Karen Goldfinch (back) with Sangeeta and Kathryn

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Keith Newman .