Ken Clarke To Open Chamber’s Nottingham Base

The Rt Hon Kenneth Clarke MP will officially cut the red ribbon to open the Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire Chamber of Commerce's new headquarters in Nottingham.

The incumbent Conservative MP for Rushcliffe - who is shadow Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills - will be the guest of honour at the opening ceremony at 10am on 19 March 2010.

The Chamber relocated to the 5,000 sq ft pavilion office unit on the prestigious ng2 Business Park last December, from its former base on the Lenton Industrial Estate.

The move forms part of the Chamber's planned expansion in Nottingham and the rest of the county and will provide a whole host of new facilities for members, including improved conference facilities and video conferencing services.

The new offices are shared with East Midlands Business and are occupied by a core team of 20 members of Chamber staff delivering membership, international trade, Enterprise Europe Network, business training and other key support services.

The ng2 Business Park is located on the site of the former Royal Ordnance factory on Queens Drive, close to the city centre.

George Cowcher, chief executive of the Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire Chamber, said: "I am delighted to announce that Kenneth Clarke MP will be the official guest of honour at our grand opening ceremony in Nottingham next month. With a general election just around the corner, it seems fitting that we are able to welcome such a well-respected local MP to officially open the Chamber's brand-new purpose built headquarters.

"It is extremely important for the Chamber to have a modern, high-quality facility to showcase its members and to continually raise the profile of the work being undertaken to support the county's business sector in encouraging economic growth, creating more jobs, attracting investment and promoting success."

Conservative stalwart Ken Clarke has enjoyed a long an illustrious career in politics, stretching back almost 40 years, when he was elected as MP for Rushcliffe with a 23% majority in June 1970.

During that time, he has held several key ministerial positions including Chancellor of the Exchequer, Home Secretary and Secretary of State for both Health and Education.

He was in permanent ministerial employment throughout the 18 years of successive Tory governments, from 1979 to 1997, serving in the cabinets of both Margaret Thatcher and John Major and has contested the Conservative Party leadership three times, in 1997, 2001 and 2005.

* Photo/filming opportunity - The Rt Hon Kenneth Clarke MP will officially open the Chamber's new offices on the ng2 Business Park at 10am on Friday 19 March 2010. Photographers/films crews are welcome to attend. Please confirm attendance on the numbers below.

For more information, please contact Jon Smart, Press and Media Manager on 01246 207207 or 07764 431028 or email Jonathan.Smart@dncc.co.uk .

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