The Insider

Unhappy with your Broadband?

If you currently feel that your business in Shepway or home receives insufficient broadband speeds and that this hampers you or your businesses ability to work to its maximum potential then Shepway District Council would like to hear from you. To air your views please complete the questionnaire below, it takes no more then 2 minutes to complete.

http://www.shepway.gov.uk/businessbroadband perspective http://www.shepway.gov.uk/residentialbroadband - residential properties Public meetings to discuss Shepway’s rural broadband strategy are also being held shortly

* Lyminge village hall from 7-9pm on the 9th March

* St Marys Bay village hall from 6-8pm on the 10th March

Goodbye Robert

Robert Boutwood, Director of Fundraising Projects for the Aspinall Foundation has left after an amazing 32 years at the Wildlife Park . He will be sadly missed by Channel Chamber and many of our members who met him at as regular supporter of our networking events in Shepway.

We wish him every success for the future and hope that our paths cross in the future.

National Apprenticeship Awards

Channel Chamber is encouraging local apprentices and their employers in East Kent to enter the 2011 National Apprenticeship Awards. This is a unique opportunity for them, to receive regional and national recognition for all their hard work and achievements through Apprenticeships.

This year the Apprenticeship Awards will be working with City and Guilds to honour England ’s best Apprenticeship employers. All employers who enter the Awards will be eligible and those judged to be the very best of the best will be recognised and published as a Top 100 Apprenticeship employer.

Visit apprenticeships.org.uk/awards now to find out more and enter on-line. Closing date: 25 March 2011

Business Continuity Seminar and Workshop

The Kent Resilience Forum is holding a free business continuity seminar and workshop on 16 March 2011 at the East Malling Conference Centre. The event aims to promote resilience and preparedness in Kent and Medway, particularly focusing on situations where businesses can not open as usual, and the impact this has on them and the local community.

This event is open to both private and public sector organisations and coincides with the national Business Continuity Awareness Week from 21 to 25 March.

http://www.kent.police.uk/news/latest_news/business_continuity_forum.html

British Chambers of Commerce - Trade Survey responses

Many thanks to all Channel Chamber members who responded to this recent trade survey. A magnificent 22% of our membership took part and a total of 8,001 completed surveys were received nationally - clearly a great platform from which to build an International Trade Finance lobbying platform.

The national results will be released by the BCC shortly and details will be circulated to our membership.

Good Trader Scheme

Did you know that Kent Trading Standards runs a dood trader scheme called ‘Buy with Confidence (BWC)’ ?

All scheme members are thoroughly checked and approved before they are allowed to join. Consumers can search online or call Consumer Direct and ask for a printed list of traders. A video clip can also be seen on the website providing tips on how to fid a good terdesman. For more information please visit: www.buywithconfidence.gov.uk www.tradingstandards.gov.uk/kent