Business 2001 had three renowned guest speakers who all spoke about the importance of the small business sector.

Speaking at the launch breakfast, David Gold, chairman of Gold Group International, which includes Ann Summers, Knickerbox and Gold Air, described how he had built up his business from a single bookshop near Charing Cross to the present multi-million turnover group today.

He said that as a large business he never forgets what it was like as a one-man-band, and he ensures that invoices from small businesses are paid promptly.

On his second visit to the Chamber in three months as Director-General of the British Chambers of Commerce, David Lennan spoke about creativity and innovation.

And he praised the Chamber and the exhibitors for demonstrating these two attributes at Business 2001.

Provocatively, Mr Lennan suggested that too much was spent on higher education and that more should be directed to further education to develop vocational skills for more people.

Addressing the audience at the second-day lunch, Barbara Roche MP said how pleased she was to return to Croydon Chamber and how the Business Show was bigger and better than before.

In describing her role as minister of state in the Cabinet Office, she outlined the work of the Regional Co-ordination Office, and of the Business Co-ordination Unit.

Having previously been minister for small firms, she retains a very keen interest in this sector, and is completely supportive of any measures taken to encourage their business development.

Mrs Roche believes that the distinction between small and large business is now out-dated - rather it is about the impact a business has on the local or national community.

October 23, 2001 17:00