The Insider

Minister for Transport meets Channel Chamber Members

This morning at Dover Priory Station Lord Adonis, the Minister for Transport accompanied by John Prescott and Lord Heseltine met with a small group of prominent Chamber members to hear their views about the Fast Rail service to London and how this could be the catalyst for reviving our local regeneration plans.

Channel Chamber, CEO was contacted by the Department of Transport last week to identify major local employers who could meet up with Lord Adonis and the following responded:

Dover Harbour Board, GSE Group, Holiday Extras, Veolia Water Southeast, Howletts Wild Life Park and London Ashford Airport.

Please keep an eye open this evening for the media coverage.

0% loan from the Carbon Trust

In the current economic climate every business needs to stay one step ahead. A 0% loan from the Carbon Trust could help Chamber members do just that. You can borrow between £3,000 and £500,000* (flexible to your business needs), interest free and unsecured. Applying is straightforward and with no arrangement fees, capital can even be accessed without denting cash flow.

Please feel free to visit http://www.britishchambers.org.uk/energysavinghub for additional information.

Charity concert for the Haiti Earthquake Appeal: Wednesday 17 February

This Charity concert taking place at The Quarterhouse (7pm), in Tontine Street Folkestone features exciting live performances by musicians from Folkestone and beyond. Tickets are £9 on the door (£8 adv) and bookings should be made directly via the box office on:01303 858500 www.quarterhouse.co.uk

The Marquis at Alkham - Michelin rated 'Rising Star'

Our congratulation go to Chamber member Charlie Lakin of The Marquis Restaurant who is one of only three chefs in England to be awarded a rising star in the 2010 Michelin Guide.

Sadly, due to the snow last Thursday our Networking Breakfast at the Marquis was cancelled but we have quickly rescheduled this event at the 200-year-old former village inn to Thursday 25 February.

We've just a few places left and if you want to be pampered at 7.30am in such delightful surroundings, please phone Tracy TODAY on 01303 270022.

For further information about the Marquis, to reserve a table or book accommodation, visit www.themarquisatalkham.co.uk or telephone 01304 873410 or email: info@themarquisatalkham.co.uk

New - Jersey service from Lydd Airport

For full details of the new service please visit here for further details

Sainsbury's Supermarket planning application in Hythe

News has just reached us that the Secretary of State has decided that any invention would not be justified and will allow Shepway District Council to proceed with this application.

March Events for your Diary:

Shepway Young Chef 2010 Competition

On the 3rd & 4th March the Rotary club of Folkestone together with Folkestone, Hythe & District Hotel & Catering Association (FHDHCA) will be holding the Shepway Young Chef 2010 competition held at Folkestone Academy and South Kent College respectively. This competition will culminate with a presentation dinner at The Kingsnorth Restaurant, South Kent College, Shornecliffe Road, Folkestone where Chamber members are invited to support this excellent youth project by bringing friends, partners/ spouses.

Tickets for the evening costs £16 per person for an excellent three course buffet dinner with coffee, plus an arrival drink with canapés Please email: daniel@castlewoodhotels.com if you wish to attend.

Are You Ready To Tender? ISO Workshops

The Channel Chamber Of Commerce is holding a number of workshops over the next three months to help small businesses qualify for big money contracts.

A series of three workshops are being sponsored by the British Standards Institute (BSI) and will be delivered by David Hall, Managing Director of Business Flow UK Ltd and are an introduction to the 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 us the way forward and 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.

Spaces are limited so early booking is recommended. Call Tracy on 01303 270022 or email info@channelchamber.co.uk

Dates & Venues:

Tuesday 16th March (8.00am - 10.30am) - Channel Chamber of Commerce, Folkestone

Tuesday 13th April (8.00am - 10.30am) - Ramada Hotel, Dover

Tuesday 18th May (8.00am - 10.30am) - Thanet - Venue TBC

Cost (including full English Breakfast) :

£15 +VAT Chamber members

£20 + VAT Non-members

Networking Breakfast - Holiday Inn Express, Kent International Airport 23rd March

As a bonus to Chamber members the Hotel is offering an introductory rate on the 22 March of £25.00 per room reduced from £59.95 Paul Etheridge, the General Manager will be hosting a drinks reception that evening in the bar from 7.30 - 9pm. For further details and booking please telephone Paul on 01843 820 250

The Insider

Interested in a Graduate Placement?

Channel Chamber currently benefits from the employment of two young graduates –Aromal and Abbishek, who are helping us to deliver two separate business-related projects over the next few months. Their skills and expertise have already enabled us to make huge strides with our marketing programmes and, in return we are providing them with essential hands-on experience plus day-to-day contact with local business people at all levels.

We strongly recommend that Chamber members also consider taking advantage of a new graduate Internship scheme being launched by the University of Kent on Wednesday 10th February, at the Canterbury Innovation Centre on the University’s Canterbury Campus (5.30pm-7.30pm).

Up to 100 new graduate Internships are being offered to local business, all funded through the Higher Education Funding Council. The evening will feature presentations from companies currently engaged with the University of Kent. Cheese, wine and soft drinks will be provided in an informal setting along with plenty of opportunities for networking.

For more information please telephone 01227 827376 or book a place online www.kent.ac.uk/enterprise.

New Website Promotes Road Safety

A new website (www.kmscp.org) has been created by Folkestone-based Sagittarius Marketing aimed at changing people’s attitudes towards road safety in Kent. This follows four separate integrated campaigns they have helped design which drive home life-saving road safety messages to motorists across the region.

The website includes new educational areas on speed limits for different types of vehicles and also an interactive safety camera map showing every fixed camera location in the county.

Sagittarius Marketing will shortly be delivering a number of high-profile road safety campaigns starting with the Safety Cameras Save Lives campaign, which debunks the myths many people have about safety cameras.

For more information visit www.sagittarius-digital.com

Construction of New Strategic Main

A £1.4m scheme to build a new strategic main at St Mary’s Bay is being launched by Veolia Water. The work (involving 1.6km of pipeline) which is due to begin very shortly will improve security of supply in the area and is part of a wider upgrading of the mains network across Romney Marsh costing more than £33m.

Temporary traffic lights on the A259 at St Mary’s Bay will be needed to allow the work to be completed. An Enterprise helpline for enquiries on the work will be available tel: 0800 521660. The Veolia Water helpline is 0845 888 5 888.

Lydd Airport Corrections

Lydd Airport’s advertisement in the current edition of the Herald newspaper has shown some incorrect figures relating to future projections and they tell us that a correction will be published in the next edition.

The copy should have read: Research shows that the total revenue generated by visitors using the expanded airport would be £1.8 million each year for 300,000 passengers and £3.25 million for 500,000 passengers.

Grand Welcome to Robert Richardson

We have a new Manager at the Grand in Folkestone and Channel Chamber sends him our very best wishes on behalf of all his fellow Chamber members.

Robert Richardson has worked extensively throughout the hotel industry during the past twelve years and as part of his plans for 2010 he is focussing on Kent produce being served across his bars and restaurants, including the Keppels Bistro and Palm Court restaurant). Homemade scones and cakes, Chapel Down wines and Biddendens cider and apple juice are all being served and will complement a very busy ‘event’ programme being designed to attract locally-based customers in particular.

For further details of this programme including Art exhibitions, a bigger Charity Focus, Classic Car Rally, Real Ale & Wine tastings, Murder Mysteries, Theatre Shows, Wedding Fairs & Open Days please telephone Robert on 01303 222 222.

The Chamber Insider

2010 Member Special Offer:

In partnership with Vital Software Limited, Channel Chamber is delighted to offer our members across East Kent ContactTracker - a powerful and cost-effective Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system from only £149.99 per license. ContactTracker CRM is now in use by Channel Chamber as our preferred system, and we are one of many organisations that are using this system to improve sales and marketing efforts, and enhance customer satisfaction and communication.

To find out more join us at our Networking Breakfast at the Marquis Restaurant, Alkham in 11th February when Roger Knight, Vital Software will tell you all about our exclusive, no obligation 7-day trial . Or contact Channel Chamber on 01303 270022

Business Support Awareness Survey

Chambers of Commerce across the South East England are working with other partners to identify the level of awareness of Business Support Services amongst businesses. This is to ensure that you have good access to this support and the services can be shaped to fit business needs. Please help us by completing this short survey which will take only a few minutes. Your replies will be treated in confidence, in accordance with the Market Research Society Code of Conduct.

Free IPod Touch to be Won

Everyone completing the survey can be entered into a prize draw for an iPod Touch. If you would like to be entered, simply complete the email address section at the end of the survey. Details entered for the prize draw will not be used for any other purpose. The closing date is noon on Friday 12th February.

To enter just click on this link: Chamber Business Support Survey

Corporate Open Day Burlington Hotel: Thursday 4th February

It's been a few years since Daniel Sangiuseppe and his staff last invited local businesses to view the Burlington’s conference, restaurant and bedroom facilities. Why not pop along and join them from 4pm to 9pm for an afternoon of networking and enjoy a cup of tea and some nibbles. As an extra incentive, attendees will be offered 10% off their first conference booking.

University of Kent free networking session: Wednesday 10th February

This event, called Strengthen Your Business, is free to attend and takes place over cheese and wine, from 17.30 to 19.30. A series of short presentations will demonstrate how companies can work in close partnership with the University, and tap into its extensive commercial knowledge and resources. Included will be testimonials from companies currently engaged with the University in commercial ventures. Speakers will also outline the opportunities for businesses to work with the University via government-funded projects, work placements, graduate recruitment and specialist initiatives such as the newly launched Digital Media Hub.

For more details or to book, call 01227 827376 or book online here.

London 2012 - Creative & Digital Opportunities: Tuesday 2nd March

Business Link and MediaTree are hosting this free workshop for creative businesses in Kent, to find out from the experts more about the latest opportunities. Taking place at the Maidstone Studios, Vitners Park, Maidstone, registration opens at 8.30am and the workshop is run from 9am to 4pm.

£2,500 to Take on an Apprentice

Over the next ten weeks the National Apprenticeship Service is providing £2,500 grants for employers of 16 and 17 year olds. This will enable employers to offer new Apprenticeship places and take on an unemployed 16 or 17 year old as a new apprentice immediately.The grant is in addition to the costs of training which are already met by the National Apprenticeship Service.

Small and medium sized employers in particular are being encouraged to take advantage over this new grant which will be paid in two instalments. £1,500 when the young person starts their Apprenticeship and A further £1,000 after 12 weeks. Both payments and the paperwork will be administered by South Kent College.

Find out more by contacting Loretta Izod on 01303 858419

The costs of workplace parking

Just when you thought it was safe to drive your car to work again, the Workplace Parking Levy (England) Regulations 2009 are set to make their entrance. Britain’s first workplace parking levy scheme is proposed soon for Nottingham and has been approved by Nottingham City Council. This will result in employers being charged for providing the benefit of enabling their employees to park their car at the workplace. The parking levy scheme in Nottingham will no doubt set a precedent for other cities across the country, once the operational practicalities and considerations have been observed and ironed out.

Five Ways to make the most of the Recovery

There will still be tough times ahead for most local businesses, but the Govt’s announcement of growth is a step in the right direction. To help your business benefit as the recovery advances, Business Link has compiled a useful guide on key areas, including:

Retaining and motivating your people.
Keeping costs under control.
Planning for growth.
Marketing.

Select this link to view the guide. Or contact Business Link at: 0845 600 9006

The Chamber Insider

Maximise your Marketing & Sales: 11th February
07:30 - 09:30am the Marquis at Alkham.

At our Networking Breakfast next month Roger Knight from Vital Software will be presenting a new, exciting web-based Customer Management Relationship system that Channel Chamber is using to manage all communications with businesses across East Kent. Details of an exclusive member offer, including a no obligation 7 day trial of the software will be provided.

If you would like see just how useful this system can be to your business. join us on the 11th Feb and find out how you can save money and maximise your marketing solutions.

To secure your place, call Tracy Reynolds on 01303 270022

Full details of the product are also provided on the Channel Chamber website at www.channelchamber.co.uk



Shepway Careers Fair – Friday 5th Feb @Leas Cliff Hall

Channel Chamber is delighted to have been invited to take part in this year’s Careers Fair which takes place next Friday at the Leas Cliff Hall. The organisers Shepway Secondary Learning Partnership been successful in getting Jonathan Shaw (Minister for the South East) to open the proceedings and we understand that the response from local companies has been overwhelming with over 60 taking part and 1,400 secondary school students attending.

This is the second annual Careers Fair taking place in Folkestone and its aims are to encourage students to make more informed decisions about their career choices.It’s also an ideal opportunity for local employers and post-16 training providers to provide information regarding their organizations and the jobs on offer locally.

Chamber members are most welcome to pop in any time between 3pm and 6pm or you can obtain further information in advance from els.howard@gmail.com

Kent Chamber of Commerce Directory 2010/11 Edition

Don’t miss this red hot opportunity to showcase your business in the best local business to business directory around !

Advertising sales open for business from 1st February to the 5th March and you will shortly be invited by Kemps Publishing to promote yourself to the Kent Chamber network of over 2,500 local businesses.

Free Fraud Clinics – 4th & 23rd February

Richard Heasman, Forensic partner at award winning accountancy firm Reeves & Neylan, has partnered with Fraud Consultant Darren Jones to run two local clinics aimed at assisting companies who have been exposed to fraudulent activity.

Initial free one-to-one sessions are being held at Reeves & Neylan’s Cantebury Offices on 4th and 23rd February. For more information, or to book your place please contact Darren Jones on 01843 600960 or email: Darren.jones@fraudconsultant.co.uk
Problems in Accessing Bank Finance?
Along with other business support partners in Kent we are trying to gauge the level of interest in an event that addresses the problems that businesses have been facing in accessing bank finance

If any chamber member has been facing this challenge and is prepared to discuss these issues at such a forum, please register your interest by emailing

peter.hobbs@channelchamber.co.uk by 5th February.

There is a genuine desire amongst these business support partners to see whether there is anything we can do with our banking partners that will make it easier for Kent businesses to access finance, but we need to understand the issues more clearly.

Opportunity to Join the SEEDA Board

The Board of South East England Development Agency (SEEDA) will shortly be recruiting two new members and we have been asked to bring this to the attention of businesses in East Kent.

These two business spaces will be advertised on www.rdaboardappointments.com on the 7th February and if anyone is interested in obtaining further details please contact the recruitment search consultants, Gatenby Sanderson in the first instance.

BCC Annual Conference – Thursday 18th March

This year’s BCC Annual Conference, “Preparing for Change”, will be a departure from the usual format. This will be the last premier-league business conference before the general election – and that means Chambers of Commerce have a unique opportunity to get our policies across to the top levels of all three main political parties. So this year, our audience of policy makers and opinion formers will be by invitation only, and our speakers will include star movers and shakers like Lord Mandelson, the Rt Hon Ken Clarke MP, FTSE 100 chief executives, a member of the Bank of England's Monetary Policy Committee, and the always-colourful Lord Sugar.

The other big change this year will be the launch of BCC TV - our new web video coverage of the proceedings, live and direct from the British Academy of Film & Television Arts (BAFTA) in central London. Thanks to BCC TV, Chamber members will have a new way to access the conference – without the high costs of travel and accommodation at a time when businesses are working hard to get the economy going again. This year’s full proceedings will be available to all Chamber members throughout the UK and throughout the world for just £30. For more details please check out the dedicated website: http://www.bcc-preparingforchange.co.uk/

The Chamber Insider

Gateway Get-Together -Monday 25 January

This free evening event designed for local start-up businesses is organised by Business Link in partnership with Channel Chamber of Commerce, SEEDA Coaching and Counterpoint Networking.

Taking place at Channel Chamber's meeting rooms, from 6.30pm to 8.30pm, food and refreshments are being served along with two 25 minute workshops:

7.00pm - Insurance for Start-Up Businesses
7.45pm - 7 Simple Steps to Great Local Online Marketing

No need to book, just turn up and enjoy a bit of informal networking! For further information: Call: 0845 600 9 006 or Email: info@businesslinkkent.co.uk


Kent Learning & Development Open Day - 10th February

The University of Kent is staging this Free networking session entitled 'Strengthen Your Business' the University's Canterbury campus on Wednesday, 10th February and cheese and wine will be served from 17.30 to 19.30.

During the evening, a series of short presentations will demonstrate how companies can work in close partnership with the University, and tap into its extensive commercial knowledge and resources. For more details or to book, please see the attached form, call us on 01227 827376


Early Warning of Tenders

We are delighted to give members an early warning of tenders that Kent County Council will shortly be inviting on behalf of public bodies across the south of England

For further details of these tenders please contact Kevin Harlock, Director of Commercial Services, Kent County Council Commercial Services on Tel: 01622 605352

Regional Airports are Good News of Local Economies

Developing regional airports helps to stimulate economies, creates jobs and boosts the living standards of local communities. That's the conclusion of new research into the valuable contribution of aviation to the UK economy produced by the Airport Operators Association.

As the general election approaches the aviation debate will intensify and the report contributes to that debate by assessing the industry's economic role, both directly and as a catalyst for the wider economy in terms of wealth creation and employment.
The report maintains that as a regional airport grows, it has positive impacts on the surrounding area in terms of connectivity, trade and investment. For more information about the AOA report, visit http://www.aoa.org.uk/

Direct Flights from Lydd to Jersey

Operated by CityJet, using a 50 seat Fokker aircraft, this new service will run from Lydd every Saturday between July 10th & September 11th this year. And to celebrate the launch of the new service, Lydd Airport is also providing free car parking for all those travelling on the Jersey flight in 2010.

With its easy access and fast, hassle-free check-in service, Lydd Airport offers a relaxed and friendly alternative to Gatwick for those who want to explore Jersey. This beautiful island has a wealth of attractions, from adventure parks and castles to superb shops, markets, cafes and restaurants.

Holidays and flights for both services can be booked through local travel agents, online at www.discoverjersey.com/lya or by telephone on 0844 415 6653.

Lydd Airport - What's all the fuss about ?

Channel Chamber of Commerce has received an invitation from Lydd Airport managing director Jonathan Gordon to visit the site on the afternoon of their next Open evening – Thursday 18th February, specifically to give local businesses the opportunity to get a first-hand view of the environmental issues facing the airport’s planning application.
Jonathan tells the Chamber “There has been a tremendous amount of misinformation spread about the environmental issues here and I would urge anyone who has not visited the airport to come along and find out for themselves just what our investment proposals involve. By doing so they will see that our development plans are right for this airport and right for the people of Shepway.”
Channel Chamber is now inviting members and other local business people to the Airport Terminal - 3.30pm on Thursday 18th February when they will make a short inspection tour of the 'pebbled' area that appears to be the main stumbling block to both the Airport's expansion and the building of the new Nuclear Power Station.
The group will return to the Terminal within the hour for some refreshments and a short presentation from Jonathan Gordon. .
Phil Carter, chairman of the Shepway Economic Regeneration Partnership (SERP) forthrightly sums the situation up as a
“Its time to chose: The Pebbles and the leaches/newts OR the People and the jobs/economy/regeneration. If the small number of objectors to the airport, and possible power station plans, have their way on behalf of the pebbles and newts, I hope they can face the youngsters leaving local schools, and explain why there are no jobs or prospects enabling them to stay living on Romney Marsh".
Businesses wishing to attend should contact Peter Hobbs,CEO at Channel Chamber on 01303 270022.

The Chamber Insider

Thanet EXHIBIZ @ G Casino, Westwood Cross – Tuesday 26th January

BOOK NOW to secure your place at this popular new-style networking event - designed to help local businesses beat the recession blues ! At just £20 it’s a fantastic bargain and will help kick-start your marketing and sales efforts for the year ahead.

For further details and booking, please contact Tracy Reynolds on 01303 270022 or email info@channelchamber.co.uk

Lydd Airport – What’s the Problem?

We have received an invitation from Lydd Airport managing director Jonathan Gordon to visit the site on the afternoon of their next Open evening – Thursday 18th February, specifically to give local businesses the opportunity to get a first-hand view of the environmental issues facing the airport’s planning application.

Jonathan tells us “There has been a tremendous amount of misinformation spread about the environmental issues here and I would urge anyone who has not visited the airport to come along and find out for themselves just what our investment proposals involve. By doing so they will see that our development plans are right for this airport and right for the people of Shepway.”

Channel Chamber will shortly be sending out invitations to all members who have already expressed an interest in the Airport’s development plans but if any other business wish to join us for a short visit starting at 3.30pm please contact Peter Hobbs on 01303 270022 or email: peter.hobbs@channelchamber.co.uk

Good For Business Breakfast – Monday 1st February

KATO are organising this business breakfast seminar event aimed at employers with the potential to employ new apprentices or convert existing staff. Taking place on Monday 1st February between 7.45am and 10am at Oakwood House, Oakwood Oark, Maidstone. Register online at : http://www.kato-training.com/event.php

Open Day - Burlington Hotel – Thursday 4th February

Fellow Chamber members are cordially invited to the Burlington Hotel, Folkestone for their 2010 open day - an afternoon of networking together with a cup of tea and some nibbles (4pm – 9pm). Visitors will also be encouraged to inspect the Hotel’s conference, restaurant and bedroom facilities.

Ample on and off site free parking is available and, as an incentive all attendees are being offered a generous 10% discount on their first conference booking.

To confirm your attendance email: janice.whatton@castlewoodhotels.com

Exclusive CRM System

In partnership with Vital Software Limited, Channel Chamber is delighted to offer businesses across East Kent ContactTracker - a powerful and cost-effective Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system from only £149.99 per licence.

ContactTracker is now in use by Channel Chamber as our preferred system, and we are one of many organisations that are using this system to improve sales and marketing efforts, and enhance customer satisfaction and communication.

· Easy-to-use interface requiring minimal training

· Web-based service, with no installation required

· Effectively manage your customer relationships

· Identify and convert sales opportunities

· Closely monitor business activities, sales pipelines, and forecasts

· Improve and track the success of direct marketing campaigns

· Easily manage targeted bulk mailings, bulk emails and SMS

· Totally secure - your data is backed-up and protected

To find out more join us at the THANET EXHIBIZ on Tuesday 26th January at G Casino, Broadstairs when Roger Knight, Vital Software will tell you all about our exclusive, no obligation 7-day trial.