Businesses are stronger when they’re part of something bigger, but also when they’re part of something local. Fine words – but isn’t this an impossible combination? Absolutely not. As we’re always keen to explain, with membership of the Bedfordshire Chamber of Commerce, you get the best of both worlds, as you’re also connected to the nationwide force for business that is the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC).
And now is a particularly good moment to be raising awareness of this, as it coincides with BCC’s latest campaign, Where Business Belongs, which is louder and prouder about the organisation’s power as a collective than ever before.
But fine words and pride aside, what’s in it for you?
No mere talking shop
It’s important to understand that the campaign is founded on principles and history that are about more than just dialogue, and are proven to deliver influence, pressure and progress.
By bringing together 53 accredited UK Chambers of Commerce, and 80 international Chambers, BCC’s campaigns amplify members’ voices to lobby for change both at Governmental level and even on the global stage.
Past triumphs speak for themselves. In unifying the voices of its constituent Chambers, BCC’s campaigns have driven outcomes that have shaped the economy in its members’ favour – from reforms to free childcare to employer funding for T-Level placements; energy cost support to changes to tax and NI policy, and much more besides.
In short, this campaign is a reminder that business belongs where its interests are represented best. But how does that translate to the day-to-day benefits to your business of belonging to the local Chamber network?
A network that’s more than just networking
Two things are absolutely key here: our ability as your local Chamber to help you grow your business through relationships with the local people and organisations that matter, and our ability to connect you to the knowledge, resources, learnings and tools that support you through change and opportunity.
On the first front, we’re active in everything from our own and partners’ networking events, to targeted Meet the Buyer sessions, to annual and seasonal gatherings; and attendance is invariably strong. Our recent Summer Reception Event, for instance, drew 185 attendees – the largest turnout post-Covid – and the networking went on long into the night!
But whilst networking is crucial to enabling local businesses to sell and to thrive, there’s a whole lot more opportunity to support businesses not just through relationships and contacts, but through resources, tools, professional guidance and learning.
On this second front, the BCC’s Where Business Belongs campaign puts things rather neatly: “Our network of Chambers offers practical benefits that can help your businesses set up, scale up and grow. From setting up an HR function, improving your technology or expanding overseas, your local Chambers can help your business, whatever stage you’re at in your growth journey.”
We couldn’t have put that better ourselves.
Always anticipating, always delivering
But it’s important to remember that these aren’t simply good initiatives – they’re the right initiatives.
No finger-in-the-air guesstimating or ‘best efforts’ approximation here – our strategy to provide high-value resources and knowledge is informed by what we learn from our regular dialogue with the BCC, as well as what we, as experienced business leaders ourselves, know about our local businesses and communities, and the challenges they face.
Our connection to the BCC, then, delivers real value at a local level – and it’s value your business can tap into.
All you have to do is… well, belong.
You’re in good company
One of the cornerstones of the BCC’s latest campaign is the notion that when you join an accredited Chamber like Bedfordshire, your business is ‘in good company’ – and our member credentials certainly back this up.
We represent well over 700 Bedfordshire businesses with some 60,000 employees, across all sectors, from sole traders to multinational corporations and major local employers – such as London Luton Airport, Lockheed Martin and Vauxhall, to name but a few.
We help over 32% of our member businesses with their export requirements and we make, on average, well over 500 business referrals and connections a year, and we are recruiting new businesses every month… the network is continuing to grow!
That’s company we’re proud to be in.
How to be where business belongs
The BCC’s campaign speaks forcefully of its commitment to drive progress, build resilience and propel members forward in tough times, and it’s certainly an organisation with the pedigree and credentials to do that – founded in 1860, it’s one of the oldest and most influential business organisations in the UK, and it has the ear of Government.
But unlike many other organisations that protect the interests of business rather less effectively, you don’t pay to get your voice heard; we as your local Chamber do that for you.
So, once you join Bedfordshire Chamber, you join BCC – and your business is where business belongs both locally and nationally.
As the BCC campaign puts it: ‘Our future is the story of the towns and cities in which we live. It’s the story of success, often against the odds. Of the strength of local connections, pulling us through. And of the business heroes who push us forward’.
It’s a future that starts with your joining us today.
For more information on how to join Bedfordshire Chamber of Commerce, visit www.chamber-business.com, or call 01582 522448.
