I’m delighted to announce that we are launching a new International Trade forum, open to our member businesses who export and import goods and services from overseas.
The forum will be tasked with exchanging information on international trade, exporting and importing and international trade policy. It will also steer Chamber representations on these matters.
The forum will also develop a Trade Manifesto for the local area and will meet for the first time at our Commerce House office (ST1 5BE), on Monday 20th November at 9AM. If you’re a Chamber member who exports or imports goods and services, we’d love to hear from you and will welcome your support in joining us. Please email declan.riddell@staffordshirechambers.co.uk to register your interest.
Our Chamber policy forums are a great way for member businesses to meet and discuss issues critical to their sector. These forums enable our members to share knowledge and best practice but also help us to represent them better in our dealings with the media and government. Our forums are recognised by the British Chambers’ of Commerce as being among the most influential in the country.
We deliver eleven policy forums, covering the topics of:
- Charity
- Digital
- Energy, Environment and Sustainability
- HR, Employment and Skills
- HS2
- Manufacturers’
- Money Matters
- Planning & Infrastructure
- Rural Business
- Social Value & Procurement
- Transport
Each forum is made up of representatives from our member businesses and meets up several times across the year. Key topics for discussion are identified, guest speakers are brought in and our forums pick up that role of highlighting the matters that concern our members, at both a national and regional level. Each forum has its own Chair, who will steer both the meetings and objectives of that particular forum.
We welcome new faces in all of our policy forums but what’s in it for you and your business? It’s a chance for your views to be heard and the opportunity to work collaboratively with your fellow Chambers’ members in influencing our policy role on specific topics. You also get the chance to grow your networking contacts in similar sectors. It could also be a perfect development opportunity for one of your team, helping to empower confidence.
Some of our forum members have gone on to join British Chambers’ of Commerce (BCC) policy groupings, getting their voices heard at a national level.
Being a part of our policy forums is not a huge commitment with no more than four meetings a year. Meetings typically start at 9AM and last no more than an hour or so.
Being the voice of business is what we do but why not get involved and play your part….and remember that when the forum meetings are finished, you can pop next door to our Members’ Lounge and enjoy a brew whilst catching up on your e-mails.
For further details on our policy forums, please contact Declan Riddell:
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