The Business

Case

TauntonForward is a taskforce of businesses, employers and talented individuals determined to transform Taunton Deane into the prime regional centre for business, shopping, tourism, the arts and entertainment.
TIME TO CAPITALISE
A central location in the West of England, excellent air, road and rail links, prime development land, a great place to live, glorious countryside, the finest schools, excellent healthcare, world-class cricket With assets like these Taunton Deane should have an unbeatable competitive edge. Yet we have failed to capitalise. Held back by a parochial market town mentality, we are losing the fight for major inward investment and new jobs. Instead of being one of the South Wests success stories, Taunton is now second best to Exeter, Bridgwater and Weston super Mare. Unlike Taunton, and in spite of the great recession, all are booming thanks to a gogetting, can do attitude towards investors. The private sector is playing a huge part in driving Exeter forward. Using the slogan open for business, an impressive entrepreneurial team markets the city with stunning results. In reaching the UKs top 2% for job creation Exeter has outperformed most rivals. Bridgwaters results are impressive too. By 2012 Sedgemoor had surged into the top 35 districts for business based growth.

TIME TO THINK LIKE A CITY

Its time to mastermind Taunton Deanes renaissance. Its time for Taunton to think like a city, Somersets capital city. Taunton must be proactively marketed to investors around the world, as dynamically, as professionally as our competitors. In the West Country, all roads lead to Taunton. We should be the vibrant economic and cultural hub for the region between Bristol and Plymouth. We should be a prime UK destination for business, shopping, tourism, the arts and entertainment. Within ten to 15 years Taunton could be transformed by imaginative projects such as:

an iconic, architectural landmark building on

the Firepool or Coal Orchard sites.

a redeveloped River Tone waterfront. a 1,000-seat venue for arts, entertainment,

exhibitions and conferences.

an international arts festival. a private university or a campus associated

with an established university.

TIME TO DELIVER
Taunton Deane Borough Council cannot be expected to have the resources, the people, the entrepreneurial flair, the dynamism, the drive to spearhead Tauntons renaissance. Only a taskforce of all the talents can do that. To meet the challenge, top employers led by Dr John Newton, Head of Taunton School, have formed TauntonForward, a non-political team set on bringing together Tauntons best brains. TauntonForward is not a talking shop and our members will have a stake and a major say in shaping policy and decision-making. We aim to build a membership of 300 local businesses and individuals a force that will be highly influential and have real credibility. This is no time for apathy. Its time to get involved, to get together. Its time to deliver. We need your support. Join us!
info@tauntonforward.com February 2014

TIME TO MAKE IT HAPPEN

Taunton Deane must change fast to fight back. Above all, we must act quickly to attract skilled, better paid jobs not only to encourage the brightest members of the existing workforce to invest their futures here, but also to bring more people like them to the area. Equally, more residents must be persuaded to spend more of their earnings locally. Too many shop elsewhere drawn away by a superior retail offer and experience. Tauntons nighttime economy is poor for the same reasons. The need for change is urgent. Within 15 years Tauntons population is planned to grow to 85,000 (a 30% increase) with the addition of 13,000 new homes. Nearby towns and districts will also grow substantially.

Our Mission

Statement
MISSION
Our mission is to transform Taunton. Our vision is for Taunton Deane to be the prime regional centre for business, shopping, tourism, the arts and entertainment. TauntonForward will be action-oriented. Our core business will be to identify imaginative short and long-term projects to boost Taunton Deanes economy and to improve the areas appeal for businesses, shoppers and visitors. Working collaboratively with the public sector, employers and investors we will find the resources and the developers to deliver these projects within the next ten years. Throughout, we will market Taunton nationally and internationally competing aggressively for every new job and every pound of inward investment.

TASKFORCE
The need for a taskforce was first discussed in 2013 when a group of leading business people and local councillors met to discuss Taunton Deanes future. All shared the widely held frustration that Taunton is stuck in a state of economic inertia, a malaise and parochial mindset that is eroding its competitive edge. TauntonForwards first meeting was held at The Castle Hotel on 26th September 2013. The 25 founding members are listed below. Members serving on the Executive Team are: Dr. John Newton, Chairman; Richard Haste, Vicechairman; Kit Chapman; Habib Farbahi; Jefferson Horsley; Lizzie James and Peter Lewis.

FOUNDING MEMBERS

Dr. John Newton, Headmaster, Taunton

School - TauntonForward Chairman

Lizzie James, Director, LJ Assist Peter Lewis, Trustee, Music on the Quantocks Chris Marrow, Chair, LEP Business Forum,
Wellington

Richard Haste, Partner, Amicus Law

TauntonForward Vice-chairman

Chris Alcock, Headmaster, Queens College Keith Bigwood, Proprietor, Bigwoods Agri
Ltd, Walford Cross

Andrew Maynard, Partner, Alder King Paul Munro, Regional Director, Galliford Try
Partnerships South West

Guy Bottard, Future Law Ltd; Chairman,

Taunton Town Centre Company

Rory O'Donnell, Partner, Dixon Walsh

Accountants

Kit Chapman MBE, Proprietor, The Castle at

Taunton

Barbara Richardson, Director, Yarlington

Homes

Douglas Cordeaux, Chief Executive, Fox

Brothers, Wellington

Rebecca Pow, Prospective Conservative

candidate for Taunton Deane constituency

Cllr Habib Farbahi, TDBC LibDems, Shadow

Economic Development portfolio

Cllr Mike Rigby, Independent Somerset

County Councillor, Lydeard Division

Michael Finn, Owner, Wellington Motors Sidney French, Proprietor, Charles French &
Son, Farmers & Property Developers

Chris Tester, Local Director, Debenhams Tony Wardell, former CEO, Swallowfield Simon Willetts, Owner, Combers Taunton Chris Winter, Managing Director, Summerfield
Developments (SW) Ltd

Brian Haimes, Owner, Scotsgrove Holdings Cllr Jefferson Horsley, LibDems Leader,
Taunton Deane Borough Council

info@tauntonforward.com February 2014

Your Return

on Investment
YOUR INVESTMENT
TauntonForward needs your membership. We need your investment in time, knowledge and money. Above all, we need your ideas to drive Taunton Deane forward. You decide the amount of time you invest. If you are unable to play an active part either at TauntonForward meetings or regular planning and networking events, you are free to pick-up the phone at any time to feed-in your ideas to our Executive Team. The sum you contribute to TauntonForwards working capital depends on your ability to pay. We use a sliding scale of annual fees because we want membership to be inclusive open to small and large employers and to individuals. Membership fees are set out in the table below. To join us please email Dr John Newton: info@tauntonforward.com.

RETURN ON INVESTMENT
By becoming a member of Taunton Deanes taskforce of all the talents you will be in good company. Our members include many leading employers and some of the best brains and the most influential people in the area. As a member your views will be heard and are more likely to carry weight when shared and backed by a membership of such high calibre. We will provide ample opportunities for you to build your business profile among members, including frequent networking events, newsletters and a members only area on our website (under construction). We will also organise regular promotional events to help your business grow. Our first, in February 2014, is a Retail Masterclass by Rowland Gee, retired Chief Executive of Moss Bros Group plc. Rowland is an inspirational speaker and his masterclasses are much in demand throughout the UK.

INVESTING IN TAUNTON
Individuals Employers 50 full-time employed 25 retired / student 125 turnover under 250k 250 turnover between 250k and 500k 1,000 turnover between 500k and 1m 2,000 turnover between 1m and 5m 2,500 turnover above 5m
Payment: Cheques should be made payable to TauntonForward and sent to: Richard Haste, Partner, Amicus Law, Rumwell Hall, Rumwell, Taunton, Somerset TA4 1EL (Tel: 01823 462500)

info@tauntonforward.com February 2014