BARONESS Martha Lane-Fox – the president of the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) – was in Somerset this week.

The influential businesswoman and digital pioneer went on a whistlestop tour of the county on Tuesday (October 8) to meet business leaders and find out more about what drives the Somerset economy.

The visit was arranged by Somerset Chamber of Commerce, one of 52 Chambers affiliated to the British Chambers of Commerce.

Baroness Lane-Fox was hosted during her visit by the chamber’s managing director, David Crew, and board of directors chair, Emma Warren.

As well as a crossbench peer and president of the BCC, Baroness Lane-Fox is one of the UK’s leading entrepreneurs having co-founded lastminute.com.

She is currently Chancellor of The Open University, a non-executive director of Chanel and was Digital Champion for the UK, helping to create the Government Digital Service.

During her visit, she spent time with Exmoor-based business and Somerset Chamber member Singer Instruments, which makes automation robots in Roadwater and Minehead for the scientific sector.

The homegrown, third-generation biotech firm is marking its 90th anniversary this month and Baroness Lane-Fox met CEO Harry Singer, and people manager, Katie Parrington.

Harry said: “It was a real honour to meet Baroness Lane-Fox and to chat about the immense importance of harnessing biology in order to build a cleaner, greener, sustainable future.”

The Baroness with representatives of Singer and the Somerset Chamber

She then enjoyed lunch at The Castle at Taunton with members of the local business community, ranging from education providers to industry leaders, where they discussed a wide range of topics affecting the economy, both locally and nationally.

Baroness Lane-Fox said: “One of the great pleasures of my role as President of the British Chambers of Commerce is getting to visit some of the outstanding businesses in our network.

“When you see at first-hand the expertise, creativity and skill that so many people dedicate to creating cutting-edge products and services, I can’t help but be optimistic for the future.

“There is still work to do, to get British business booming. But with Somerset Chamber’s outstanding support to its members, the future for its business community is looking very bright indeed.”

The Baroness met a number of Somerset business leaders and others during lunch at The Castle

David added: “It was an honour to host Baroness Lane-Fox for her visit to Somerset and to give Somerset Chamber’s members and business partners the opportunity to talk to her directly about the issues that matter to them.

“Baroness Lane-Fox is extremely well connected in both her role as a crossbench peer and as the President of the BCC which means she can take our members’ concerns directly to Westminster and beyond.

“Somerset Chamber works hard to connect the business community and working closely with the British Chambers of Commerce ensures we continue to be the voice of business in Somerset.”

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