Business leaders speaking in SW19
Entrepreneur and TV star Theo Paphitis is to be a main speaker at the Future Wimbledon Conference, which takes place in September.
Retail magnate Mr Paphitis (right) is a household name as one of the judges in BBC TV's Dragon's Den as well as being a successful businessman. He is chairman of Ryman stationery and Robert Dyas homewares company as well as the founder of lingerie brand Boux Avenue.
Mr Paphitis is among an list of influential figures who will speak at the event on September 17.
There will also be a keynote address from Kit Malthouse, the Deputy Mayor of London for Business and Enterprise at the conference, which is being held to formulate a vision, championed by the local business community, to shape Wimbledon's future.
Mr Paphitis, whose Ryman HQ is next to Wimbledon train station, said: "This is an exciting time for Wimbledon. The retail world is changing fast but I still passionately believe in the need for shops in good quality high street locations, of which Wimbledon is a prime example.
"I see Future Wimbledon as a great opportunity to establish the building blocks which will continue to ensure Wimbledon's success for the next generation of business people."
Emma Peters, director of Regenfirst, is the conference chair and other speakers will include David James, managing director of Morley's Stores Ltd, which owns Elys department store; Mark Walker, general manager of Zipcar UK; Simon Betts, Dean of Wimbledon College of Art; and Stephen Hammond, the MP for Wimbledon.
Stephen Alambritis, the leader of Merton Council, and Paul Windsor, chairman of Love Wimbledon – the town centre's business improvement district – will present a Welcome to Wimbledon session outlining the unique opportunities being given to interested stakeholders to contribute to the town's development agenda.
The private-sector initiative, being organised in conjunction with the London Borough of Merton and Love Wimbledon Business Improvement District, will also give anyone interested in the future prosperity of the town an opportunity to contribute to the development agenda.
Organisers say it is designed to ensure potential investors and other interested parties are engaged from the start of a process aimed at ensuring that Wimbledon continues to thrive and gets the maximum benefit from its global brand and Crossrail 2 – which, if given the go ahead, will link the town with central north and east London – and also showcase key development sites in the town. Tickets are available, priced £295 plus VAT.
For all the latest news on the event, visit www.futurewimbledon.co.uk.
July 5, 2013