back to news list
Damian Hinds MP speaks at big networking lunch
05/11/2010
Damian Hinds was the guest speaker at the 5 November First Friday event, organized by Gareth Gammon, MD of Navigate. Mr Hinds has completed his first six months' sitting as MP for Hampshire East. And he was the guest speaker at First Friday Petersfield to share his observations, hopes, plans and responsibilities for the area, and to answer questions.
The role and impact of government policy have rarely been more sensitively felt by business than now. Budget cuts, spending reviews, defence reviews, the abolition of SEEDA, red tape, taxation, PAYE, VAT and many other issues They all impact on our daily, professional lives.
The November event offered businesses the chance to meet the local MP and find out how he can best represent the views of business at central government. Damian follows in the footsteps of his predecessor as Hampshire East MP, Michael Mates, an old friend of First Friday and a popular speaker at the lunches.
Founded five years ago by Gareth Gammon, First Friday Petersfield has become a great place for 30 or more local businesses to meet and network – at lunchtime on the first Friday of every month.
The regular venue is the Folly Upstairs in College Street, Petersfield, and the format is: networking for 30 minutes from 12-12.30pm; a delicious two-course lunch, with a glass of wine if you want, from 12.30 to 1.30; and a superb guest speaker (or sometimes speed networking) over an excellent two-course lunch. The events finish punctually at 2pm; and the cost is £18, payable online at the website.
Petersfield First Friday is also involved in sponsoring local community events, such as volunteering to be the main sponsors of the town’s two-day August Bank Holiday Festivities this year, and, they hope, in 2011.
As well as Gareth, the joint organizers of First Friday are Mike Kirby (Antrobus Accountants); Amanda Gale (Antrobus House); and Mary Ashardi (The Folly Wine Bar, upstairs).
