The Chamber President’s Summer Celebration took place on 7th August. Dr Cham Kang hosted representatives of the region’s business community to highlight achievements over the last year and look to the future.
Held in the grounds of Treetops Hospice in Risley, Derby, the networking event brought together Chamber members and charity partners, reflecting on the President’s themes across his time in office – United Communities; Stronger Together; Enabling Action.
Treetops Hospice, where the event was held, is one of the President’s three chosen charities for the Chamber’s Charitable Fund for 2026, along with Headway Nottingham and Voluntary Action Leicester (VAL).
Chamber President Dr Cham Kang said: “The East Midlands is such a special place – known across the world for making, creating, being a Centre of Trading Excellence. Whether it’s our manufacturing and its centuries of history, or our innovation with AI and digital, our brilliant further and higher education and training, our transport links, East Midlands Airport or our investment zones – we’re here as a business community and we’re driving growth.
“The themes I’ve chosen to underpin my time as Chamber President are around united communities; being stronger together and enabling ambition. These are things we are achieving right now and will continue to do going forward as the business community.
“As President, it’s important to me that we get the business community together as often as possible to share our experiences and reflect on challenges and how we’ve overcome them, on one hand, but we should always celebrate our wins too.
“Every business knows things haven’t been easy in recent times and there’s no shying away from that. Let’s face it – it’s been tough for business. High energy costs, driven up by the Middle East conflict, inflation which is above target and likely to rise and the overall high cost of doing business.
“Shared insight among the business community and celebrating success is powerful, though and we have much to raise our glass to. That’s why my Summer Celebration event has been so important – there are growth opportunities ahead, we have a strong and brilliant business community here and we should embrace that as we go forward.
“Community is important and in the East Midlands we have so many causes that deserve support. As Chamber President, the charities I have chosen to support are Treetops Hospice, which kindly hosted us here today, Headway Nottingham and Voluntary Action Leicester (VAL).
“This has been a fantastic event today and I extend my thanks to Treetops Hospice for hosting us, as well as the Chamber and its membership across the East Midlands. I’m confident that the positive vibe from the business community here today will contribute to growth in the times ahead.”
Kuku Connect Co-Founder Philip Brooks-Stephenson attended the event. He said: “We have hosted one of our Connect receptions here at Treetops and what they do is vital for so many families, so it’s been good that today has brought businesses here to see that it’s not a scary place, but an open, vibrant place that does so much for the community. Also it’s great to see so many people supporting the Chamber President with his charities.”
De Montfort University Senior Lecturer Jennifer Hing said: “Being here has been a wonderful opportunity to reflect on the amazing work that’s being done by the team at Treetops to support people at such a difficult time. I’ve heard so much about how the work they do has touched so many families in such a positive way.”
