Meet the Team...

Let's introduce the people behind your local chamber...

These People Make It Possible...

Introduction from President

Damian Collins MP

To be updated shortly with Channel Chambers new president - Damian Collins

Chairman’s Message

Ray Johnson –Chamber Chairman - Independent Insurance

Many thanks once again to all members that continue to support Channel Chamber to serve the needs of our businesses.

Your Chamber is probably one of your most important business tools, which provide essential benefits, including support, advice, training and networking opportunities that can assist your company to progress and gain an edge.

I am grateful for your continued membership that supports a wealth of activities to enhance our strategic area in Kent and to enable your business to grow and prosper.

Significant improvements within the region are progressing well, assisted greatly by the Shepway Economic Regeneration Partnership that the Chamber has been driving forward.

I have been keen for many years to promote 'buying local' and I am confident we will all benefit from a greater spend from residents and businesses alike as we gain improved facilities.

Channel Chamber as always is keen to listen and serve, I hope you would recommend us to any businesses you may know who would benefit from membership.

As always I wish you continued success and invite feedback at any time.

Chief Executive

Peter Hobbs

This has been another momentous year for Channel Chamber

As a quality-assured Chamber we have been justly proud of our British Chambers of Commerce membership and at the beginning of 2007 we attained their new accreditation standard. With our collaborative approach we have developed a close working relationship with neighbouring Chambers along the Kent Channel Coast.

In the meantime it does seem relevant to highlight a real opportunity for your Chamber to become one of the key drivers of an exciting economic development agenda across coastal East Kent. The unique characteristics of Shepway, Dover and Thanet have already been recognised within the Government’s report on ‘Coastal Towns’ published in March whilst the South East Regional Economic Strategy 2006 – 2016 also fully recognises the distinctive challenges faced by coastal towns on the south coast and the East Kent Cluster in particular.

Our alliance with other strategic partners across East Kent will create a new focus on economic growth in Shepway, Dover and Thanet. Our members are at the heart of this initiative. Important links between education, skills and employment can be forged. Chamber Members will ultimately benefit from our increased ability to secure publicly funded contracts that support our business development

On a more local basis Channel Chamber has also taken a leading role in developing The Shepway Economic Regeneration Partnership (SERP). With the help of Philip Carter (SERP’s chairman) and other leading businessmen we have been the driving force behind the publication of a challenging 10 year district-wide economic strategy and with support from Chamber members we have initiated a series of action groups that will help Shepway to flourish into a more prosperous and dynamic community

Chamber Manager
Sezen Zeki

This section is currently Being Updated

Meet the Board

RAY JOHNSON has been involved in insurance broking for the last twenty years and is sole proprietor of Independent Insurance Services. He is actively involved in the business community and Folkestone Rotary Club. He has raised in excess of £40,000 for charity mainly by participation in the London and New York marathons.

JOANNA AMES (Vice Chairman) is the proprietor of Arrivee Travel. She has over 30 years experience and valuable knowledge of the UK and European coach market, having established, grown and successfully sold her own Travel Business En-Route. In 1998 & 1999 Joanna was awarded the title " Kent Business Woman of the Year" and in 2009 qualified as a Health and Safety Advisor having successfully passed the NEBOSH examination in Occupational Health and Safety.

JILL HARDING.Jill is the proprietor of Christchurch Nursery, in Folkestone. They were the winners of Shepway Business of the Year 2006. Christchurch nursery was established 17 years ago, and Jill took over as the Director in 1999. She now employs 28 people who look after 400 local children. She also now works as an NVQ Assessor in Early Years for South Kent College. Jill lives in Hythe and her hobbies include squash and reading.

DANIEL SANGIUSEPPE did a business degree at kingston University before joining the family business at Burlington Hotel in Folkestone in 2000. Since then the company has grown to form a small group of three star hotels in the south east of England called Castlewood Hotels; comprising Burlington Hotel in Folkestone, Best Western Abbots Barton Hotel in Canterbury and Best Western York House Hotel in Eastbourne. I am a company Director of Castlewood Hotels and my role is the financial auditing of the individual hotels and co-ordinating the groups sales & marketing activities. As well as being a Channel Chamber board Director, I am on the committee of the local FSB and am Chairman of Folkestone, Hythe & District Hotel and Catering Association. I also sit on various other tourism groups locally. I am married with two dogs and my hobbies are going to the cinema, fine dining, travelling, playing rugby and watching football.

DANNY MARTIN is the General manager and a Director of the World famous Shepway Tourist Attraction, the Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch Railway. Danny has over 30 years experience in railway operations after a very successful career with mainline railways culminating in the introduction of High Speed services to Heathrow airport. The call of our district, particularly Romney Marsh, saw him achieve his ultimate ambition to run the railway he has always loved on the ist January 2000. He has broad marketing, financial and staff development skills to compliment his deep knowledge of railway safety and operations. Danny was awarded the Shepway Businessperson of the year Award in 2007. He has recently successfully completed training to become one of the small band of 'Independent Competent Persons' helping other Heritage Railways to develop safely. He is also a Director of the Romney Resource Centre, an educational charity helping all ages to develop their life skills based on Romney Marsh. Above all he is a family man who cherishes most his wife and six children.