Deputy Mayor of London for Business Howard Dawber OBE and Tottenham Hotspur Executive Director Donna-Maria Cullen were amongst the keynote speakers at the first Haringey Business Forum, hosted by the council at the Chocolate Factory in Wood Green on Thursday night (19 June 2025).
They were joined by Leader Cllr Peray Ahmet who spoke about plans to maximise the benefits of events like the London Borough of Culture 2027 alongside Opportunity Haringey, the council’s inclusive economy framework which sets out clear commitments to businesses and residents.
The evening offered a valuable opportunity for businesses of all sizes to connect with each other and the council, as well as discuss how together they can build a stronger, resilient and more vibrant local economy through flagship placemaking projects such as Shaping Wood Green and Shaping Tottenham.
It is proposed the forum will meet twice a year to provide a collective voice of Haringey’s business community, address common challenges and find about council services available such as Haringey Works and Haringey Learns.
Council Leader Cllr Peray Ahmet said:
It was great to see so many business representatives from across the borough at this important launch.
Our business community is a fundamental part of what makes Haringey the exciting and diverse destination it is and is rightly at the forefront of our plans for growth and development.
We know that the current climate for business is challenging and want to understand how we can support it going forward.
That’s why the forum launch is so critical as we look towards an exciting future working together with the public and private sector to support a thriving business community.
It will be a creative space where the business community can bring ideas to the table and shape discussions that matter to them.
Participants at the gathering heard Howard Dawber talk about the London Growth Plan and what this means for Haringey, while Donna-Maria Cullen explained the role of the Tottenham Business Charter and exciting opportunities for the borough through live events and the European Men’s Football Championships 2028.
