Ambassadors talk up town's success (From Basingstoke Gazette)

Ambassadors talk up town's success

3:56pm Friday 29th May 2009 in

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SOME of the borough’s leading lights from the worlds of business, politics, medicine and sport have signed up to become Basingstoke ambassadors.

The ambassador project is the latest initiative from Destination Basingstoke and will see high-profile figures promoting the town through their professional lives.

The hope is that the words and reputations of the ambassadors will add weight and credibility to initiatives to promote the area, help to secure investment and jobs in the town, and nurture local pride.

The initiative has won the backing of some of the town’s best-known businesses, including the AA, Motorola, Scott Wilson and Shire Pharmaceuticals, along with some of the borough’s fast-growing local businesses, such as The Escape and Great Guns Marketing.

At the project’s launch, held at Hampshire Court Hotel in Chineham, Mike Loftus, chairman of Destination Basingstoke and Clydesdale Bank in the Thames Valley, told the ambassadors: “Destination Basingstoke has been working over the last two years to promote this town as a great place to live, work, visit and do business.

“This project aims to get some of the people who are constantly in the public eye in their professional lives to get across the message that Basingstoke is a place where great things happen.”

Rafi Razzak, the award-winning chairman of successful computer manufacturer Centerprise International, described the message from Destination Basingstoke and its ambassador project as “superb”.

He said: “Basingstoke is a town full of dynamic people. You can see it’s not a stagnant town, especially compared to other places.”

Festival Place shopping centre director Steven Connolly said: “It’s a wonderful town and I like to let people know that Basingstoke is a great place to do business.”

Craig Killick, managing director of web design agency The Escape, wants to see a change in people’s perception of Basingstoke.

He said: “Many people’s perceptions are outdated and are of Basingstoke of the 1970s and 1980s.”

At the launch were two of Basingstoke’s sporting heroes.

Wasps and England rugby union player Tom Rees said: “I was raised in Basingstoke and my rugby career started here, playing at school and Basingstoke Rugby Football Club.

“I’m very proud to associate myself with the town and do my bit to promote it as a great place.”

Robert Tobin, Olympic athlete and member of Basingstoke and Mid Hants Athletic Club, said: “Hopefully, this project will help to build Basingstoke’s name up. It’s a good place to live, work and also play.”

Basingstoke MP Maria Miller, who was at the launch event, said: “I’m delighted to support this exciting initiative to help put Basingstoke on the map.

“The best way to illustrate the assets of the area is to tell the story of some of our biggest successes.”

The ambassador scheme also got the thumbs-up from Councillor Brian Gurden, the newly-installed Mayor of Basingstoke and Deane.

On his first official engagement as mayor, Cllr Gurden – who was one of the first ambassador recruits – said: “One of the things I really love about Basingstoke is the people and businesses have a can-do, will-do attitude. Basingstoke is a go-getting town and borough and there are opportunities here.”