I’VE been president for 14 months, and the Chamber team – especially Susie in York – have been endlessly supportive and responsive.

My team at Castle Employment in Scarborough have both held the fort and taken the business several steps forward – as I have caught the train or driven off.

Most importantly though, I want to thank my husband. Not only for putting up with my absences, but also for the times when I have been there but not there.

No one can succeed without a great team behind them, and those three teams have gone several extra miles for me over the past year And now let’s look back 12 months; Britain was coming out of the recession – and York and North Yorkshire was starting to feel optimistic.

International insurance company Hiscox had chosen York to locate its biggest UK office, employing 500 people The 2014 Tour de France was due to start in Yorkshire, delivering a significant economic boost to the region The first John Lewis in the region was due to open at the Vangarde Shopping centre in York.

What has happened? All those promises have been delivered.

Hiscox move into their offices this year.

The Tour de France was – by common consent – a huge success, with people travelling the length and breadth of Britain to see le Grand Depart, and now this year we will see the first Tour de Yorkshire.

And finally John Lewis is open and trading.

But York and North Yorkshire hasn’t stopped there.

UNESCO has designated York as a city of media arts, and Network Rail has opened the biggest railway control centre in the country in York.

And what of the Chamber? And the wider political and economic outlook?

Clearly we have a General Election in less than two months.

Rest assured that whatever Government is in power, the Chamber will be making sure your voice is heard.

We never forget that we are here to serve your interests, and we will work tirelessly to do that.

Business in York and North Yorkshire has come through the worst of the recession. We’re now optimistic, determined and confident.