Open for Business in Thanet
To better serve our members in Thanet we are delighted to announce the opening of our new office at 161-165 High Street , Ramsgate. This allows us to be closer to the local business community and to provide an even more relevant and responsive service.
Channel Chamber is the only officially accredited Chamber in East Kent, providing a wealth of benefits and services for businesses from Margate to Dungeness. As part of the British Chambers of Commerce, we are proud to offer a level of support unrivalled by any other business support organisations.
Come and See us on Thursday 13th May
We are busy organising the first of our regular Open Days at the Ramsgate office on Thursday 13th May and ALL local businesses are most welcome to come along from 10am to 4pm. Plentiful free parking is available onsite.
Further details will be provided shortly but we can reveal that representatives from Business Link, Backing Kent Business and other local business support partners will all be present to make this one of the best-connected events in Thanet this Spring.
We will kick-start proceedings at 7.30am with a FREE Networking Breakfast when you will have the opportunity to meet fellow and prospective members and learn more about our plans for supporting local businesses in the year ahead.
Interested in coming along ? To book your place for Breakfast on 01843 589606 or email info@channelchamber.co.uk
Are You Ready to Tender?
Tuesday 18th May, 2010 , Kent International Hotel, Harbour Parade, Ramsgate, Kent
Channel Chamber of Commerce is holding a series of workshops to help small businesses qualify for big money contracts. The workshop is being sponsored by the British Standards Institute (BSI) and will be delivered by David Hall, Managing Director of Business Flow UK Limited, and is an introduction to the essential ISO standards.
Kent County Council's Strategic Procurement Manager - John Tunnicliff will also be taking you through the schedule of tenders suitable for SME's during the year ahead.
Andy Wilson Business Development Manager from the British Standards Institute (BSI) will be showing you the way forward, how to certify and the benefits to your business and a Business Link executive will offer practical help and expert advice on how to take full advantage of these opportunities for public sector procurement.
For more information or to book on, please contact Tracy Reynolds on 01303 270022 or telephone our Ramsgate office TODAY on 01843 589606.
Member Price: £15+VAT
Non-Member Price: £20+VAT
National Chamber Awards 2010 - Now Open for Entries!
Businesses across the UK are being urged to enter this year’s Chamber Awards and the chance to win a cash prize from a total of £50,000. Enter now at: www.chamberawards.co.uk
Early Bird closing date for a chance to win £250 worth of vouchers is May 28th.
The official closing date is June 25th.
To access their Twitter account http://twitter.com/ChamberAwards or link to the Chamber Awards website http://www.chamberawards.co.uk/2010/
Business Masterclass opportunity
Kent Business School is inviting Chamber members to a business Masterclass which will help identify the opportunities that exist for your business in the next decade. You will be able to easily digest concepts and frameworks that can be quickly applied and hear of fellow delegates business experiences.
The event takes place from 8am until 2.30pm on Thursday 27 May 2010 at Kent Business School , Canterbury . For further information please email J.Turpin@kent.ac.uk or telephone on 01227 824 068
Calling All New and Home working Businesses
Basepoint in conjunction with the Channel Chamber Of Commerce are holding an open networking evening on Thursday 29th April from 6-8pm at the Shearway Business Park , where new and homeworking businesses will have the opportunity to find out what services are available to them.
We need your feedback...Your invitation to let us know what you need in your business. For more information or to book a place, contact Lorraine Grover on 01303 298298
Tuesday 27 April 2010
Wednesday 21 April 2010
The Insider
Hustings Breakfast
Local businesses enjoyed a hearty breakfast in Folkestone last Thursday at the Burlington Hotel before cross examining each of the five prospective parliamentary candidates for the Folkestone and Hythe constituency. Hosted jointly by Channel Chamber of Commerce and the Federation of Small Business, this ‘Hustings’ event was scheduled in advance of the ‘leaders’ TV debate that same evening but it proved no less interesting for the local businesses who represented a broad variety of different sectors. The Candidates – Lyn Beaumont (Lib Dem): Damian Collins(Conservative), Penny Kemp ( Green), Frank McKenna(UKIP) and Donald Worsley (Labour) answered a host of questions that were of concern to businesses - ranging from the problems surrounding bank lending to late payments and red tape. Local issues such as parking restrictions and railway station access also stimulated a heated debate but all the candidates unanimously agreed that the regeneration of the district would be one of their top priorities if they were elected.
BCC’s Monthly Business Survey – Have your say
The British Chambers of Commerce latest monthly Business Survey (MBS) will be open until the end of the Tuesday.. The survey will take only 2-3 minutes to complete and can be found here
Airport Decision delayed by Two Months
The general election means that we must wait another two months to find out whether the government will block the Lydd Airport extension. The council granted planning permission against officers' advice last month and this prompted communities secretary John Denham to intervene. Shepway's major applications and project manager Terry Ellames now tells us this deadline has now been extended until mid-June because the decision cannot be taken during the election period.
Local Student Discount
University Centre Folkestone are setting up a scheme whereby companies who can offer a discount to their students for their services/products are listed on the UCF website and actively promoted to students (currently around 250 and growing rapidly). The businesses can display a sticker in their window to indicate their participation in the scheme. So far 15 local businesses have already signed up, and more are welcome! http://www.ucf.ac.uk/student-discounts
See you at KENT 2020 VISION
The Channel Chamber Team looks forward to meeting you this Thursday at the Kent Showground for what promises to be the most popular networking evetn of the year. Don’ forget to call in to see us at stand number BS9 in the Business Support Zone during your Visit.
Luxury Serviced Accommodation in the heart of the Creative Quarter by our Chamber Sponsor
One of our Chamber members Quake provides self contained, fully furnished and serviced accommodation available to rent from £230 per week. There is a choice of a 3 bedroom cottage on the harbour with views across to France, or a newly renovated one-bedroom maisonette in the Old High Street with a secluded sunny roof terrace. Both properties are decorated and furnished to high standards. Discounts are available for longer lets depending on the level of service required. An additional discount of 10% is offered to all Chamber members. For more details and pictures go to www.stadecottagefolkestone.co.uk or email Rachel on stadecottage@btinternet.com
Are You Ready to Tender?
Tuesday 18th May, 2010 , Kent International Hotel, Harbour Parade, Ramsgate.
KentChannel Chamber of Commerce is holding a series of workshops to help small businesses qualify for big money contracts. The workshop is being sponsored by the British Standards Institute (BSI) and will be delivered by David Hall, Managing Director of Business Flow UK Limited, and is an introduction to the essential ISO standards. Kent County Council's Strategic Procurement Manager - John Tunnicliff will also be taking you through the schedule of tenders suitable for SME's during the year ahead. Andy Wilson Business Development Manager from the British Standards Institute (BSI) will be showing you the way forward, how to certify and the benefits to your business and a Business Link executive will offer practical help and expert advice on how to take full advantage of these opportunities for public sector procurement. For more information or to book on, please contact Tracy Reynolds on 01303 270022Member Price: £15+VATNon-Member Price: £20+VAT
Local businesses enjoyed a hearty breakfast in Folkestone last Thursday at the Burlington Hotel before cross examining each of the five prospective parliamentary candidates for the Folkestone and Hythe constituency. Hosted jointly by Channel Chamber of Commerce and the Federation of Small Business, this ‘Hustings’ event was scheduled in advance of the ‘leaders’ TV debate that same evening but it proved no less interesting for the local businesses who represented a broad variety of different sectors. The Candidates – Lyn Beaumont (Lib Dem): Damian Collins(Conservative), Penny Kemp ( Green), Frank McKenna(UKIP) and Donald Worsley (Labour) answered a host of questions that were of concern to businesses - ranging from the problems surrounding bank lending to late payments and red tape. Local issues such as parking restrictions and railway station access also stimulated a heated debate but all the candidates unanimously agreed that the regeneration of the district would be one of their top priorities if they were elected.
BCC’s Monthly Business Survey – Have your say
The British Chambers of Commerce latest monthly Business Survey (MBS) will be open until the end of the Tuesday.. The survey will take only 2-3 minutes to complete and can be found here
Airport Decision delayed by Two Months
The general election means that we must wait another two months to find out whether the government will block the Lydd Airport extension. The council granted planning permission against officers' advice last month and this prompted communities secretary John Denham to intervene. Shepway's major applications and project manager Terry Ellames now tells us this deadline has now been extended until mid-June because the decision cannot be taken during the election period.
Local Student Discount
University Centre Folkestone are setting up a scheme whereby companies who can offer a discount to their students for their services/products are listed on the UCF website and actively promoted to students (currently around 250 and growing rapidly). The businesses can display a sticker in their window to indicate their participation in the scheme. So far 15 local businesses have already signed up, and more are welcome! http://www.ucf.ac.uk/student-discounts
See you at KENT 2020 VISION
The Channel Chamber Team looks forward to meeting you this Thursday at the Kent Showground for what promises to be the most popular networking evetn of the year. Don’ forget to call in to see us at stand number BS9 in the Business Support Zone during your Visit.
Luxury Serviced Accommodation in the heart of the Creative Quarter by our Chamber Sponsor
One of our Chamber members Quake provides self contained, fully furnished and serviced accommodation available to rent from £230 per week. There is a choice of a 3 bedroom cottage on the harbour with views across to France, or a newly renovated one-bedroom maisonette in the Old High Street with a secluded sunny roof terrace. Both properties are decorated and furnished to high standards. Discounts are available for longer lets depending on the level of service required. An additional discount of 10% is offered to all Chamber members. For more details and pictures go to www.stadecottagefolkestone.co.uk or email Rachel on stadecottage@btinternet.com
Are You Ready to Tender?
Tuesday 18th May, 2010 , Kent International Hotel, Harbour Parade, Ramsgate.
KentChannel Chamber of Commerce is holding a series of workshops to help small businesses qualify for big money contracts. The workshop is being sponsored by the British Standards Institute (BSI) and will be delivered by David Hall, Managing Director of Business Flow UK Limited, and is an introduction to the essential ISO standards. Kent County Council's Strategic Procurement Manager - John Tunnicliff will also be taking you through the schedule of tenders suitable for SME's during the year ahead. Andy Wilson Business Development Manager from the British Standards Institute (BSI) will be showing you the way forward, how to certify and the benefits to your business and a Business Link executive will offer practical help and expert advice on how to take full advantage of these opportunities for public sector procurement. For more information or to book on, please contact Tracy Reynolds on 01303 270022Member Price: £15+VATNon-Member Price: £20+VAT
Monday 12 April 2010
The Insider
The General Election
Business and the British Chambers of Commerce, have been centre-stage in the early days of the Election campaign. The push to reverse the employer NICs rise has gained ground as a number of high-profile chief executives lent their voices to the debate
We still need the help of our Chamber members, however, so don't forget to sign the petition and encourage others to do the same.
The voice of Chamber members was also heard last week as the first quarter results of the BCC Quarterly Economic Survey were released. Over 5,500 businesses took part - and their responses suggest that a weak recovery is indeed underway, but that it will need to be nurtured by both Ministers and the Bank of England in the weeks and months ahead. Although confidence is strengthening, businesses' investment intentions and cash flow positions remain extremely weak, suggesting that there's some way to go yet to embed the recovery
Your Chance to Grill the Candidates
This Free Hustings Breakfast event at the Burlington Hotel in Folkestone takes place this Thursday 15th April, and is being hosted jointly by Channel Chamber and the FSB (Federation of Small Business).
Chaired by Clive Lawrence (journalist and ex BBC presenter) members will have a unique opportunity to question our local parliamentary candidates before finally deciding which way you vote in the General Election next month.
We have just a few places left, so if you are interested in joining us please email – sezen.zeki@channelchamber.co.uk
Plans for a new M20 junction at Ashford
Details of a key scheme to allow for major economic growth in the Ashford area by increasing capacity on the M20 through Kent have been published by Transport Minister Chris Mole.
The new junction on the M20 (10A – east of the existing Junction 10) will improve journey time reliability and safety for both long distance and local traffic on the M20, a key international route. It will also provide the increased capacity needed to unlock major development and investment in Ashford, including Government plans for 31,000 new homes and 28,000 new jobs in the area by 2031.
Following a public consultation by the Highways Agency, Transport Minister Chris Mole confirmed the planned improvements, to be one-third part funded by the Homes and Communities Agency, which include a roundabout over the M20, link roads and a new crossing for pedestrians and cyclists.
Subject to the completion of statutory processes and confirmation of value for money and funding, the new junction could be open for traffic in 2014/15.
Your help needed
The South East Chambers of Commerce is working with its partners to understand the level of activity and support given to your business in key areas of business support. This is to ensure that you have good access to this support and the services can be shaped to fit your business needs. Please help us by completing these snapshot surveys which will take less than a minute. Your reply will be treated in confidence, in accordance with the Market Research Society Code of Conduct.
To complete the surveys just click on the following links :
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/6DH5TTP, for Export http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/622LVPS and for Business Advice
50 Difficult Questions
The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) has created a new publication designed especially for small businesses with no specialist equalities/employment law knowledge. This booklet entitled ’50 Difficult Questions’ will help you to answer simple questions, improve your equality practices and direct you to further help if necessary. Copies of this booklet will be available free at each of Channel Chamber’s forthcoming events.
Inspire Young People in Folkestone
Chamber members and businesses in Folkestone are being invited to support the next generation of entrepreneurs by coming along to the Quarterhouse (Tontine Street) on Wednesday 12th May (4 – 5pm).
Attendees will be invited to pass on their knowledge, experience and enthusiasm as ‘mentors with 11-14 year olds who are doing their very first ‘Business Project’.
To find out more about this scheme, and enjoy a coffee and a cake, please telephone tracy.reynolds@channelchamber.co.uk
Luxury Serviced Accommodation in the heart of the Creative Quarter by our Chamber Sponsor
One of our Chamber members Quake provides self contained, fully furnished and serviced accommodation available to rent from £230 per week. There is a choice of a 3 bedroom cottage on the harbour with views to France, or a newly renovated one-bedroom maisonette in the Old High Street with a secluded sunny roof terrace. Both properties are decorated and furnished to high standards. Discounts are available for longer lets depending on the level of service required. An additional discount of 10% is offered to all Chamber members. For more details and pictures go to www.stadecottagefolkestone.co.uk or email Rachel on stadecottage@btinternet.com
Organic Vegetable Cookery Demonstration
Chamber member - Number Eleven in Folkestone have teamed up with Riverford Organic vegetables to bring you an exciting cookery demonstration on Tuesday 27th April from 7.30pm to 9.30pm. Riverford are award winning organic vegetable growers and they run a box scheme in our area. A Riverford Cook, Mark Bader, will be demonstrating easy vegetable based meals using the best of this season's vegetables.
The price is £7.50 per head which includes your first glass of wine, with any profits going to charity. The evening will include sampling the delicious dishes that Mark will be preparing as well as having the chance to chat and hopefully get some useful recipe tips. For tickets please contact Douglas or Frances on 01303 259535 or e-mail info@numberelevenfolkestone.co.uk. Spaces are limited so book early to avoid disappointment.
FAMILY FUN DAY – This Friday
Families across Folkestone are being invited to a fantastic day of thrills and entertainment at the Folkestone Academy (10am – 4pm) this Friday. The event is being hosted by the Shepway Inspiring Communities Programme and the Channel Chamber team will be signing people up to our exciting digital mentoring project.
All Chamber members and their families coming along are guaranteed a great day out with an amazing range of activities including Bungee jumping, trampolining, climbing wall, music, competitions and lots more fun and games.
Are You Ready to Tender?
Tuesday 18th May, 2010 , Kent International Hotel, Harbour Parade, Ramsgate, Kent
Channel Chamber of Commerce is holding a series of workshops to help small businesses qualify for big money contracts. The workshop is being sponsored by the British Standards Institute (BSI) and will be delivered by David Hall, Managing Director of Business Flow UK Limited, and is an introduction to the essential ISO standards.
Kent County Council's Strategic Procurement Manager - John Tunnicliff will also be taking you through the schedule of tenders suitable for SME's during the year ahead.
Andy Wilson Business Development Manager from the British Standards Institute (BSI) will be showing you the way forward, how to certify and the benefits to your business and a Business Link executive will offer practical help and expert advice on how to take full advantage of these opportunities for public sector procurement.
For more information or to book on, please contact Tracy Reynolds on 01303 270022
Member Price: £15+VAT
Non-Member Price: £20+VAT
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