Chamber looks ahead to another year championing county companies
With 2013 now well underway, Richard Sheehan, Managing Director of Shropshire Chamber of Commerce, looks ahead to some of the major issues the county’s business community face in the year ahead, while also taking time to reflect on some of the achievements of the past 12 months.
“While 2012 was a challenging one for the Shropshire business community, it was also a year that saw a number of great successes – not least for us as a Chamber celebrating our 50th anniversary. We’d like to offer our gratitude to our Patrons, without whose generous support we would not be able to do many of the things we do on a daily basis. On a similar theme, our AGM and Members’ Christmas lunch in December raised a fantastic £1,065 for Midlands Air Ambulance, and we’d like to extend our thanks to all Members who donated so generously,” Richard Sheehan commented.
“During 2012, Shropshire Chamber of Commerce took over the management of the UKTI contract for Shropshire, and supporting businesses across the county to capitalise on the opportunities for overseas trade will be one of our main priorities for the coming year. Our four International Trade Advisors are already working closely with many companies across a vast array of sectors, with this advice further backed up by an in-house training provision and documentation specialists processing around £5 million of exports a month.
“Another of our key focuses for 2013 is helping businesses improve the skills and productivity of their workforce. We have been delighted with the take up so far of our business-focused training offer through the Shropshire Chamber Business Academy – it is clear that business owners and managers see the value in investing in the development of their people, and we will support this with a diverse range of training courses.
“The Chamber prides itself on the number and quality of events that we run. During 2012 we staged an astonishing 138 events, all providing opportunities for businesses to gain new contacts and promote themselves to others. We already have a number of exciting opportunities scheduled for this coming year, including our ever-popular all-day Expos, while we have also launched our nationally-recognised Business Awards. Last year’s ceremony was a phenomenal success, and we are very much looking forward to the 2013 event at Telford International Centre’s new Ludlow Suite on 14th June.
“As we head into 2013, the economic wellbeing of our county is the responsibility of us all, and together we can make a difference. As part of this effort, we’d like to highlight the importance of our quarterly economic survey and urge all Shropshire businesses to participate. The survey provides the most up-to-date evidence-based business intelligence available, and feeds into the national picture which is reviewed by Government to gauge business sentiment. It is vital you respond, as it really is your chance to get your voice heard, and ensure we get the support we need to grow our economy,” Richard concluded.
