The Cheltenham Chamber of Commerce Executive Board is staffed by a team of volunteers and members who are passionate about supporting the local business economy and the wider community. Each member is an expert in one or more fields, offering time, guidance and practical support to the Chamber and it’s members.
“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed people can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” – Margaret Mead
My business background is as an Administrator. For over 15 years I worked for the Managing Director and European Legal Counsel at a world-wide manufacturing company in Swindon which had its parent company based in San Francisco. More recently, after moving to Cheltenham and becoming a mum to my now grown-up sons, I worked as the PA for the Principal of a local independent primary school and as the school’s website co-ordinator for over 9 years. Also, I worked in the town centre at Cheltenham Borough Homes for their CEO where I had a lot of interaction with Cheltenham Borough Council. Towards the end of 2020 I changed direction and started to support a young lady with cerebral palsy which I found extremely rewarding. In July 2021 I joined the Cheltenham Chamber of Commerce as their Administrator, based at 2 Trafalgar Street. I am looking forward to getting involved with all aspects of the Chamber business to support and promote our members’ interests. Should you be passing the office please do come in as I would very much like to meet as many of you as possible.
Michael has been passionately involved with the Chamber since 2000, playing an instrumental part in setting up the Executive Board in 2004 when he became the Chief Executive.
Michael is a successful businessman who is actively involved with many charitable causes and foundations in Cheltenham and abroad. In 1976 Michael founded M R Ratcliffe Consultants Ltd, a leading insurance brokers based in central Cheltenham who specialise in the transport industry.
Michael works with all sectors of local Cheltenham society, encouraging people and organisations to take a more holistic approach towards their environment. If you’re looking for the man with the most passion about ensuring that the business community of Cheltenham continues to thrive and grow, look no further.
Jon was formerly a General Manager of Eagle Star. He joined the Chamber in 2003, initially to expand his business contacts, however he then began to contribute his own expertise to help other Cheltenham based businesses grow and prosper. He has held a number of roles within the Chamber including President, Membership Executive and now Deputy Chief Executive. Jon’s wish is for Cheltenham to be recognised as the number one destination for all visitors to the Southwest and the Midlands.
Rob’s experience spans over 30 years of working in the commercial property market in Gloucestershire and the West Midlands, and for Government Departments across the Country.
Cheltenham has complex land and commercial space challenges and Rob brings a wealth of inside knowledge in this area, consulting for a number of companies in the town.
A keen sportsman, Rob is a life Vice President of Cheltenham Cricket Club and a supporter of Gloucester Rugby club.
Dan He has worked in senior marketing positions in the UK, Europe and USA with Apple Computer, McAfee Security, Mitel, BroadVision, Virgin.net and Europe Online. Dan enjoys working with Chamber members to help grow and promote their businesses throughout the UK and internationally, and has served on the Gloucestershire Enterprise Growth Hub on behalf of the Chamber. He has been on the Executive Committee since 2010 serving as Membership Secretary and Head of Marketing until 2013, and sees great things ahead for both the Chamber and its members.
Dan is the Editor of Cheltenham Chamber News, a publication which is distributed widely across the business community in Gloucestershire. Dan is the manager of two local businesses: the sales and marketing company, HymnSheet Ltd, and First Move Europe, which helps growth companies establish and develop their operations in the UK and Europe.
Anna is a qualified counsellor, a member of the British Association of Counselling & Psychotherapy and founder of singles agency, Anna’s Parties. Having worked across the UK and in the Middle East, Anna directly supports the Chamber members and our regular networking events as the membership executive.
Tracey organises and champions our popular seminars and training sessions. As a CIM qualified marketer, Tracey worked for 20 years in businesses such as British Airways and Tui. However, when it came to returning to the workplace after having children, she discovered a significant issue that not only affected her and her peers but ‘UK plc’ in general – that there was a complete lack of dialog between businesses and recruiters to address the huge and over-looked talent pool of professional women-returners.
As a result, in 2013 she set up her own niche recruitment business based in Gloucestershire, The Flexible Resource Company, focusing on flexible working, particularly women-returners. In December 2016 this business merged with Ten2Two, a national company championing the same issue, with the aim to further grow the opportunities for flexible working in Gloucestershire and Bristol. Through her Chamber executive work, Tracey also supports local professionals seeking to return to work.
Brian Chaplin is a former President of the Cheltenham Chamber of Commerce and a past Mayor of Cheltenham (2005-2006). Brian is a Chartered Mechanical Engineer and following a period in the broadcast television industry founded Eurovideo Business Television in 1985, with the primary object of producing professional video films for the industrial and commercial sector.
Brian is a keen supporter of the Science and Music festivals and is an outspoken member of the team, regularly supporting networking events as the Chamber’s professional photographer.
As an honorary Solicitor, Steven provides advice and support to the Chamber and it’s members regarding a wide range of legal issues.
Steven has an innate skill for resolving contentious issues as a commercial litigator at Harrison Clark Rickerbys. Steven is experienced in a wide range of issues including: product liability, breaches of restrictive covenants, professional negligence, and contractual disputes. However, his specialism is in Intellectual Property issues such as copyright and trade mark infringements and domain name disputes.
Passionate about Cheltenham, Claire loves working with the Chamber, and continues to raise awareness about the need to collaborate and work together. “If we can shine a light on the town, and encourage people to shop here, eat here and stay here, the local economy improves, which is good for everyone in the community.”
Claire’s other passion is social responsibility and she works closely with Michael Ratcliffe via the Association of Gloucestershire Chambers to support not only Cheltenham but other towns across Gloucestershire
Claire lived and worked in Cornwall for 17 years, working as a freelance consultant with Visit Cornwall and Cornwall Chamber. Aside from the Chamber, Claire writes for Cotswold Style magazine.
Roger is Managing Director of Marchant’s Coaches Limited, which has been an active Chamber member since 1994. He is a past Chamber President and has represented the Chamber on transport, planning, retail and tourism committees. Roger currently manages the Chamber’s transport affairs, lobbying Borough and County Councils.
On leaving school Roger joined the family business, starting a five-year apprenticeship as a Commercial Motor Mechanic. After spending several years coach driving throughout Great Britain and Europe, Roger took over the running of the workshops and subsequently succeeded his father to become Managing Director.
Roger enjoys teaching and training karate at the Cheltenham YMCA, with 2017 marking his 45th year in the sport – so don’t mess with Roger!
Belinda has been a part of the Cheltenham Business Improvement District (BID) team since 2016.
As the Operations Manager at the BID she represents the interests of more than 600 town centre businesses including national and independent retailers, food and drink and the night-time economy and the professional sector.
She has a background in Corporate Social Responsibility, particularly in employee engagement programmes and charity partnerships.
Belinda believes that any organisation which brings businesses together, gives them a collective voice and opportunities to share experiences plays
Michael spent over 35 years in advertising and marketing. He worked on over 150 brands from AXA to Zanussi. He helped create brands and advertising campaigns. He likes to think most of them were successful. A few became famous and one or two infamous. He also spent 4 years as Head of Brand and Insight at Prudential UK & Europe.He joined the Chamber Executive in Autumn 2020.
Lindsey moved to Cheltenham in 2017 and has owned and run Cleeve Hill Hotel for three years. Additionally, she’s an active member of TURF Cheltenham.
Hospitality is not only Lindsey’s career but also her passion. Her career has spanned a variety of management and director roles both in central London and countryside resorts. Always working for independents, she has a keen entrepreneurial spirit and loves the strong independent flair that Cheltenham has.
Away from work, Lindsey spends most of her time with her godchildren and niece when she’s not supporting Gloucester at Kingsholm!
Jason is currently the Managing Director at Salus Cyber and a Cyber Scheme Infrastructure Team Leader, an NCSC and IASME Assessor; also, he voluntarily runs the IT systems for an important UK charity. In addition, Jason possesses over ten years’ cyber security experience working for the MoD, Central Government, and NATO. With proven expertise in managing and motivating staff across organisations from boutique SME suppliers to FTSE 100 organisations, Jason is an enthusiastic and approachable individual with excellent leadership and interpersonal skills.
