PRESS RELEASE by the East Midlands Chamber (Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire & Leicestershire)
9th December 2019
Packed-out Christmas Lunch delivers for charities
The East Midlands Chamber Christmas Lunch, a flagship event in the region’s business calendar, took place on Friday at Athena, Leicester, as the great and good of the region’s business community celebrated the start of the festive season in style.
The annual lunch, sponsored by De Montfort University, Creative62, RSM and Soar Valley Press, saw close to 400 guests enjoy an afternoon of fine food and first-class entertainment.
Following a number of short opening addresses – including from the recently-installed new President of the Chamber, Dawn Edwards – guests heard from Professor David Mba, of headline sponsor De Montfort University, on the role the university is playing in helping tackle the threat of cyber security; at a time of year where businesses can be particularly vulnerable.
Guests were also treated to a rousing performance by the Musical Village Choir and a memorable comedy act by former Britain’s Got Talent finalist Micky P. Kerr.
Arguably the highlight of the afternoon saw the 2019 recipients of the Chamber’s Charitable Fund, CHICKS and Twenty Twenty, both receive an equal share of £2,429, raised by guests on the day.
The Chamber’s Charitable Fund, which was set up in 2015 to give the Chamber a platform for supporting member charities, is administered by Chamber member Leicestershire and Rutland Community Foundation.
Three new charities for 2020 were also announced – with Chesterfield Canal Trust, The Mighty Creatives and the Reserve Forces and Cadets Association set to benefit from next year’s event.
Chamber Chief Executive Scott Knowles said: “The annual Christmas Lunch is always an eagerly-anticipated occasion and the 2019 event certainly lived up to its billing.
“Businesses in this region work incredibly hard throughout the year so to be able to welcome so many guests from the business community to celebrate successes and usher in the festive period is great and to be able to make a meaningful difference to local charities in the process is the icing on the cake.”