The Chamber and CVSF brunch

The Chamber of Commerce got chummy with Brighton & Hove Community and Voluntary Sector (CVSF) recently at the first chamber brunch of the year. CVSF is made up of a network of over 320 charities and works closely with social enterprises; their aims are similar to those of the chamber, smiling towards the future of this pretty city of ours. Laura Williams at CVSF spoke of the unity of the two sectors as a natural progression; they get asked similar questions and through working together can optimise productivity. Many chamber members who don’t usually attended foodie events were drawn to Terre-a-Terre that rain driven Friday by the CVSF link.

At events such as these, where the Chamber get together with another sector, they often try to find a speaker who acts as a circuit conductor, relating to both sectors and bringing the whole event together. Friday’s speaker was South African business gem Rob Bleker, who started Kudu Global in 2009. Kudu Global is an interior architecture and design company and has recently launched a new branch, Kudu Aviation. Kudu Aviation aims to convert an air craft that Rob used to fly for the UN into a charitable enterprise, flying water, grain and, perhaps most importantly, education over to Africa.

Rob told chamber and CVSF members about his journey and the challenges of moving from a large multi-national company to starting his own business through a continued belief in himself and his skill set. He said, “nothing’s impossible because impossible broken down makes I’m possible.” Believe in yourself, block out the negativity that others can try to put upon you and try not to be afraid. “Don’t compare yourself to other organisations,” Rob advised, “believe in what you do, believe in yourselves.”

The talk was preluded by brunch, a delightfully trans-Atlantic concept that evokes images of lox and bagels and a mountain of greasy pancakes smothered in syrup and naughty intentions. However, top veggie restaurant Terre-a-Terre, recently re-opened after a kitchen fire in October of last year, certainly challenged my pre-conceived brunch-deas. The food was fantastic. I enjoyed a smoked tofu stack with baked mushrooms and balsamic vine tomatoes, a perfect body boost in preparation for what may or may not have been a heavy Friday night.

The atmosphere at the brunch was relaxed and bubbly with members of both sectors sharing ideas and stories. There were also several new comers, all of whom gave very positive feedback on their way out into a sodden Friday afternoon.

By Sophie Turton, trainee journalist at Brighton Journalist Works

Visit Sophie's blog here: www.aintnobigthing.wordpress.com
Follow on twitter @TurtonSophie

 

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