THE Essex Federation of Small Businesses has elected a new team of officers to lead it for the next 12 months at its annual general meeting held in Chelmsford earlier this month .

THE Essex Federation of Small Businesses has elected a new team of officers to lead it for the next 12 months at its annual general meeting held in Chelmsford earlier this month .

The new chairman is Iain Wicks of Vineyards Fine Foods, Great Bromley, Clacton-on-Sea, and vice chairman is David Miles of Divadani Ltd, based at Brentwood and Witham.

The secretary is Keith Brown of The Target Group, Brentwoord, and treasurer is David Royle of Edensfield Ltd, Danbury.

Retiring chairman Bill Pirie said: “After five years as Essex FSB chairman, the time was right for me to stand down and hand over to a new team of officers and what a team we have got in place.

“Essex FSB has had a very successful year with some major campaign achievements, particularly with the Keep Trade Local campaign persuading councils in the county to spend more of their revenue budget with local firms.

“I have thoroughly enjoyed my time as chairman and am confident that the new team will do a superb job of leading us forward during the next year.”

Mr Wicks said their job during the next year would be to build on the relationships built up under Mr Pirie with local councils, Members of Parliament and organisations such as Business Link so that businesses have as much support as possible to help them survive the economic slump.