Southampton: Business group launched

Business Southampton aims to put Southampton back on the map with an ambitious programme to raise the city’s profile and bring economic rewards to organisations within the SO postcode region.

The organisation, launched at St Mary’s Stadium, the home of Southampton FC, brought together 270 of the region’s most influential movers and shakers, ranging from local authority representatives and the leaders of business sectors to academics.

It has already won more than £175,000 worth of backing from founder firms known as City Champions, convinced that investment in Business Southampton will reap long-term rewards. 30 firms pledged between £3,000 and £35,000, either as cash or in-kind, to fund the group, which ultimately hopes to enlist the support of 100 companies from its SO postcode region.

Founded on the belief that Southampton is the best place to do business in the south of England outside London, the group aims to put a stop to the city's record of under-performing against rivals such as Portsmouth and Bournemouth which have experienced a significant revival in their fortunes in recent years, often as a result of regeneration which has acted as a catalyst for economic growth.

Targets include promoting Southampton’s status as the UK's number one port city across Europe and highlighting its record of innovation and invention, which continues to exist. Other targets include attracting more high profile events to the city, tackling the skills’ shortage, helping secure a rail freight upgrade for containers from the port and developing new tourist attractions.

The group also intends to use its combined clout through the vast experience of board members to swing government decisions to favour Southampton. It is headed by chief executive Sally Lynskey and the former managing partner of law firm Paris Smith and Randall, Malcolm le Bas, who has come out of retirement to chair the board of directors, which also includes Chris Butler, managing director of Southampton Airport, Doug Morrison, port director ABP Port of Southampton, Roger Brown, vice chancellor Southampton Solent University, and Adrian Vinson, leader of Southampton City Council.

Said Lynskey: “There's a perception that the city's heyday was in the 1930s when the docks were full of liners, but that's not true – the heyday is now. The port is busier than it's ever been and generates more than £2 billion to the UK economy. We also have a world-class airport on our doorstep and we need to encourage its growth and expansion. The aim is to promote Southampton locally, regionally, nationally and internationally. We have major assets that make us a great place for business and we need to shout about it.”

Business Southampton’s vision is by 2010 to be recognised as the lead business development and marketing organisation for the Southampton city region, uniting business leaders and working in partnership with public authorities, private companies and other organisations with a shared commitment to further Southampton as the major centre of excellence for business and economic growth on the south coast. It is working to audit and promote innovation in the city, communicate clear messages about the city, develop people’s awareness of strengths, as well as working signed up Champions to run and promote the annual Sea City Southampton festival of maritime-related events and activities.

Amongst founding City Champions, who received a glass plaque at the launch, were: BAA Southampton Airport, Carswell Gould, Coffin Mew & Clover, Carnival Group, Ford Motor Company, Grant Thornton, Lawton Group, LCM, Leepeckgreenfield, Morley and Scott, Paris Smith & Randall, SEEDA, Destination Southampton and Trethowans.

Following the official presentations, guests enjoyed a buffet supper and an opportunity to network, with the overwhelming majority impressed by such a tremendous pro-active start and the fact that profile-raising ventures are already underway.