Chamberfile January 2005 New Chamber President Blackburn entrepreneur Tony Raynor has been appointed President of the East Lancashire Chamber of Commerce. The founder of Abbey Telecom takes over from Nelson computer company director Saj Butt who has held the post for the past two years. Blackpool-bom Tony started the business in a shop on Higher Church Street, Blackburn, in 1992 after working in London for almost 10 years. When I returned to Lancashire, I looked at all the major towns in the County, he said. What convinced me to start up in Blackburn was the highly-supportive business environment with a range of agencies genuinely interested in helping people to start their own companies. In London, you were very much on your own, but in Blackburn, I found there was a lot of help for encouraging new enterprise. Tony is now committed to supporting new small businesses and, in addition to his work for the Chamber, he has been chairman of Blackburn and District Enterprise Trust for the past three years. During his two-year-term as President, he wants to build on the work of his predecessor, Saj Butt, to bring all business support agencies even closer together. Saj was a highly effective president who worked very hard to improve the support available to businesses in East Lancashire, said Tony. It is vital that everyone works together to support the growth of the local economy. When we are seeking funding from the Government or Europe to further develop business and industry, it is increasingly important that East Lancashire puts out the strong message that we are a cohesive unit. Tonys business. Abbey Telecom, has expanded over the past 12 years and the company now works throughout the North Wes, installing and maintaining telephone systems in offices. hospitals, schools and industrial units. He now operates two sites based at Ordnance Street, Blackburn, and Birchwood in Cheshire.

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