“Decisions are made by those that turn up – in the case of the Guild, this is not strictly true. You don’t have to be at the meetings to have your voice heard.”
The Banstead Business Guild was formed in September 2015 as an initiative that aimed to bring local businesses together for the good of the High Street and wider community. Councillor Eddy Humphrey’s of Reigate and Banstead Borough Council, who is the portfolio holder for the Economy and Jobs, is the Chair of the group and as a local Banstead resident has a real vested interest and passion to ensure that the High Street thrives. The group is made up of businesses with a physical link to the High Street, and also other business people who may live locally and that share an interest and enthusiasm for the agenda. Our intention is to grow the guild so it becomes a sustainable membership organisation that has real influence over the future of the High Street. Our fees for annual membership are priced at £50 per membership organisation and all of the revenue generated from membership fees will be ploughed back into the Guild to fund initiatives that improve the High Street. We welcome all companies and individuals who feel that they have something to offer the group or alternatively you may feel as though you are unable to commit to meetings, but recognise that your membership in any form will help the local community and economy.
About the Chairman
As a Councillor I am involved with the local community including representing my constituents, helping events and safeguarding Banstead as a Village. Added to this I am also the Executive member for Jobs and the Economy for the whole of RBBC. On a professional level, I have been in the Financial Service industry advising high net worth clients for the past 26 years. My career started with being a man from the Pru. After which I worked for a Global Bank, HSBC, as an Independent Financial Adviser to their High Net Worth Clients. Following a long employment with them, I became an equity owner and IFA for a National IFA company. As a Banstead resident, I am committed to seeing the High Street continue to prosper and become an even more pivotal part of the village, which is why I set up and Chair the Banstead Business Guild, as I believe local employers are a gifted and energetic force for good and can have a huge impact on the High Street and surrounding area. My aim is to step down from the Chair after the first year where I hope we will have created a sustainable and highly successful organisation.
Dates of our meetings
Our meetings are held on 2nd Tuesday of month every other month from 5:30pm until 7:00pm. The format is informal networking for the first 30 minutes with the formal meeting proceedings beginning at 6:00pm sharp. We welcome any of our members to attend the meeting and encourage non members who are considering joining to come along to see what it is all about and speak to some existing members to get an honest view of the guild. The meeting dates for 2017 are as follows Tuesday 14th March / Tuesday 9th May / Tuesday 11th July / Tuesday 12th September / Tuesday 14th November.
Location of meetings
The meetings are currently held at Cafe Italia restaurant and bar, with the owners very kindly offering the premises as a place for members to meet. Cafe Italia is situated approximately half way up Banstead High Street whichever way you are travelling from with lots of street parking all around along with two pay and display car parks, one almost directly opposite with entrance next to the Coop Travel and the Horseshoe car park situated just off the roundabout at the top of the High Street near Zizzi’s.