The BEC is pleased to welcome our newly appointed board director Géraud de Ville de Goyet! Géraud brings with him a treasure trove of knowledge and experience in research, innovation and a passion for community development. With a keen interest in travel and international development it is no surprise that he chose London as his base. Géraud spent time in Guyana, South America where he spent the final years of his study focusing on community-led development and participation. With his PhD in international development from the Open University, we can’t wait to see what the future holds for Géraud and the Barking Enterprise Centre.
Barking & Dagenham Giving
Géraud played a vital role in the founding of Barking & Dagenham Giving, an innovative funder and social investor, which creates space for local people to participate in decision-making. After starting as an idea incubated in Barking and Dagenham Council, the initiative became its own organisation in 2020, coinciding with the lockdown period. Géraud and a colleague worked remotely for the first two years before seeking office space, which they found through Karen’s offer of meeting spaces at the BEC. Through working together in the same space they discovered that the BEC and Barking & Dagenham Giving share a common goal of serving the local community and establishing a lasting presence in the Borough.
Creating clear support
One of the main goals of the BEC and Barking & Dagenham Giving is to effectively support Barking and Dagenham, and Géraud aims to create a strong connection between these two organisations so more people can benefit from more support. While there's already an informal connection, he believes in closer collaboration to provide more tangible support for local businesses and social enterprises.
In regards to the BEC, he is particularly impressed with how they manage their assets. Understanding that effective asset management requires coordination and cooperation among various stakeholders and community groups is a skill that is difficult to develop. With the BEC’s and BD Givings experience we have the perfect set of skills for creating a collaborative approach to develop a resilient economy.
Hopes for the future
In the next five years, Géraud hopes to see significant growth and development for Barking and Dagenham, with the BEC playing a key role. With the London markets shifting to the Borough, Géraud is eager to see the establishment of fully functional film studios, data centres, and the construction of new homes, attracting new residents and creating more job opportunities. With these developments, Géraud emphasises the importance of ensuring that the local community is well-equipped to seize these opportunities. He hopes that within the next five years, the BEC will create an environment where residents feel empowered to launch their own social enterprises and businesses, contributing to the growth and prosperity of the Borough.
