Virtual Office Services
Many businesses are adapting their strategies, diversifying their product offering and changing their working processes (e.g. working from home). We have a number of tools and services that help our members maintain business services through the use of a Virtual Office.
Virtual Receptionist
The virtual receptionist service enables members to run their business at home and to ensure they never miss an important phone call. The service offers a professional call answering service that can take calls and messages using the business name and then relay the call / message to appropriate staff members.
Physical Mailbox
Rent a secure physical mail box at Commerce House. Useful for businesses working remotely or with no fixed address who want to continue using a professional business address.
Virtual Inbox
Forward emails to any address in the world. The Scan 2 email service also scans important letters and emails and forwards them directly to the business owner.
Stay connected
Connect with fellow members, clients, and staff members with our video and conferencing facilities. We also aim to open up our members’ lounge to enable members to enjoy a social distanced coffee and reconnect with peers.
For more information please call 01782 202222
- Published in Marketing & Digital Innovation, Staff & HR
Rural Business Forum Blog
Reshaping Staffordshire’s rural economy
A blog by David Cousins
Assistant principal of South Staffordshire College and chair of Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce Rural Business Forum
The March meeting was my first as the newly appointed chair of the Rural Business Forum and we had a lot to discuss as the impact of Covid-19 continues to play out on the rural business community of Staffordshire.
It is a great honour to take up the post and I and fellow forum members intend to make an impact in helping rural based businesses prosper in any way we can.
There is quite a list of challenges facing rural businesses at present and we touched upon several at the meeting including, access to funding; rural and cyber-crime; broadband; rural networking and links to our curriculum at SSC.
On funding and finance, I know that most local authorities have posted information on grants such as the Mandatory Local Restrictions Support Grant, Restart grants and discretionary grants on their websites and in newsletters. However, the challenge is to ensure that this information is effectively disseminated so that the grants are taken up by those who need them most.
Rural communities do not share the luxury of connectivity and networks as their counterparts in urban areas and this situation has been exacerbated by the lack of physical social contact, for example a conversation at the local pub or Young Farmers meeting simply has not been happening.
We are incredibly grateful that Jeremy Lowe from the NFU is an active member of our group. In his role as county advisor for Staffordshire he can listen to rural businesses about the issues they are facing and employ resources to effectively work on their behalf across all sectors.
Jeremy is doing a lot of work with schools and colleges in the county to make sure that farming and rural business is on the curricular and extra-curricular radar so that we are not only increasing awareness but bringing on the next generation of the workforce with the appropriate skills and knowledge to meet the demands of a changing rural business landscape.
Rural crime has also sadly increased with the pandemic as increased poverty has led to more thefts of equipment and livestock. Worryingly there has been an increase in the theft of lambs as lambing season reaches its peak.
One of my short-term aims as chair is to involve Staffordshire Police in the forum so that we can work towards raising awareness and preventative measures to curb this upward trend of criminal activity.
Finally, a call to you. Forum member Ian Jackson from Staffordshire County Council has drafted an economic strategic paper to formalise all the above and other issues into a working action plan. I would welcome comment from anyone involved in business in the rural areas of Staffordshire. I would also like to increase membership of the forum to harness as much expertise and knowledge as we can.
If you are interested in finding out more or coming along to a future Rural Business Forum, please contact Vicky Frost at the Chamber: vicky.frost@staffordshirchambers.co.uk
If you want to talk about any business issues, you can call the Chambers switchboard on 01782 202222 or call the Stoke and Staffs Growth Hub Helpline on 0300 111 8002 or email: info@staffordshirechambers.co.uk
To join the Forum discussion click here Hot Topics — Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce
- Published in News
Patrons
Patronage ensures that you are well-placed to shape the optimum business environment for you and your customers.
- Published in Membership
Start-Up Membership
Our Start-Up Chamber Membership is tailored to businesses who have been trading for less than year.
- Published in Start-Up & Grow
Business Crime Helpline
The total price tag of burglary, shoplifting, robbery, criminal damage, theft and other offences against businesses in Staffordshire is estimated at over £7,300 per hour.
The Staffordshire Commissioners Office has commissioned Staffordshire Chambers of Commerce to deliver specialist support to businesses impacted by crime. Business Crime Advisors are trained to deliver tailored support packages to businesses following a crime.
If you have been the victim of a business crime or would like to find out more information about how you can support victims, call 01782 900239.
- Published in Finance & Funding
The British Business Bank
The British Business Bank is a Government-owned, independently-run development bank that’s helped more than 126,000 growing businesses find the right finance option to help them reach their next ambition. Their Finance Hub has been built to help businesses understand and discover the finance options that could enable them to grow.
For more information please call 01782 202222 or click here.
- Published in Finance & Funding
Michelin Development Fund
Michelin Development in the UK offers financial support, as well as business expertise and advice, to small and medium sized enterprises.
Michelin has always been involved in supporting local communities, however the launch of Michelin Development and a ‘Loan Fund’ with very attractive terms provides an opportunity to have a far greater impact on our ability to support the regeneration of the local business community and in particular the creation of quality sustainable jobs.
For more information please call 01782 202222 or click here.
- Published in Finance & Funding
Start-up Loan
A Start Up Loan is a government-backed personal loan available to individuals looking to start or grow a business in the UK. In addition to finance, successful applicants receive 12-months of free mentoring and exclusive business offers to help them succeed. The loan is unsecured, so there’s no need to put forward any assets or guarantors to support an application. All owners or partners in a business can individually apply for up to £25,000 each, with a maximum of £100,000 available per business.
For more information please call 01782 202222 or click the banner below.
- Published in Start-Up & Grow
Start-up Programme
All the advice and practical help you need to start a business is available for free with our team of business start-up advisers. The service takes you through business planning, cash forecasting, marketing and market research, legal and financial requirements.
There is ongoing help and mentoring available as your business grows and you expand and employ staff. There are also discounted membership deals for new start-up businesses.
Call 01782 202222 to speak to an advisor, or email start@staffordshirechambers.co.uk
- Published in Start-Up & Grow
Experian Business Express Credit Reports (Subscription)
Credit Check your customers and suppliers with Experian Business Express credit reports.
Staffordshire Chamber members/customers are entitled to a Free Trial and 20% discount on the product subscription.
Experian Business Express has one of the most predictive scoring models in the industry, which lets you easily determine the creditworthiness of your business’s customers and suppliers. Based on Experian’s scoring model, Business Express can help you predict business credit risks and failures within the next 12 months.
Once set up, you’ll have immediate access to all the data you need to make the right decisions for your business. Our commercial credit reports provide the most complete and in-depth analysis of a business’ credit information.
Features include
- Business information including credit scores and limits
- 3 years account summary
- CCJ information over the last 6 years
- Basic monitoring service
- Non limited business reports
- Parent and ultimate holding companies
- Directors and links to other business interests including shareholders
- 3 years’ worth of full financial information
- Payment data for Limited and Non-Limited businesses
- Ownership – Group structure, shareholders & director search facility
Login and visit the member area to receive your discount here.
- Published in Finance & Funding
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