WESTON-SUPER-MARE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE August 2014

GREAT LOCATION……GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR BUSINESS!! WWW.WESTONCHAMBER.ORG.UK

A time to shineWelcome to the latest newsletterfrom the Weston-super-MareChamber of Commerce. At the lastAGM in July, we enrolled some newcommittee members that fully enableall required functions. There’s anintroduction to the new committeemembers at the end of thisnewsletter. We now have a renewedimpetus and energy to serve the localbusiness community and our missionis simple:

to create value for business

The Chamber of Commerce has aunique position and profile across theUK business environment. Thelocation and inward investment toWeston-super-Mare provides realaspiration for existing and newbusinesses.

Weston-super-Mare is a lively,attractive coastal town, with a strong

and diverse business base andhighly-skilled workforce. Weston’slocation, as the map above shows, isclose to the major cities of Bristoland Bath, but surrounded bybeautiful countryside and coast,offering the opportunity to achievean ideal work:life balance…..andthere’s more to come; for example,the Junction 21 Enterprise Area isattracting new investment forbusiness growth (see the Hiveofficial opening on page 2), soproviding new jobs in Weston.

New MembersWe are pleased to announce andintroduce more new members,including:

“Listen up... you're invited”

Click the attentive hounds above to check thecurrent schedule of events

If you have a view on the type of event, whenand where they are held, contact BrendaCharles, your Chamber Event Organiser.

Email Brenda

We have a new website address that betterrepresents the status of our organisation

Creating value for business

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

Weston-super-MareChamber of Commerce

Newsletter - August 2014

WESTON-SUPER-MARE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE | August 2014 2

The Official Opening ceremonyfor The Hive was held in July, anevent attended by around 100business and community leaders,business representatives and localentrepreneurs. It was a proudmoment as they witnessed MP forWeston-super-Mare John Penroseand some of The Hive’s first tenantscut a ribbon to formally opening ournew building. Welcoming guests,including the Chairman of NorthSomerset Council, Councillor DavidHitchens and the Mayor of Weston-super-Mare, Councillor Ros Willis,North Somerset Enterprise Agency(NSEA) Chairman Charles Walkersaid: “What we have today, as aresult of a great deal of hard work byall involved, is a superbenvironmentally-sustainable buildingwhich delivers first class workspaceand on-site support to businesses,within the perfect location –theexciting Junction 21 Enterprise Area.

Angela Hicks, NSEA Chief Executivesaid: “Now, when an individual inour community has an idea for a newbusiness – a business that over time,they can come here, to The Hive, notonly for advice, but for everythingthat a small business needs in itscrucial early months and years.

John Penrose MP said: “Everyonewho has tried to set up their own

business will know just how difficultit can be in the early years. Howeverthe small businesses of today withthe right encouragement andsupport are the big businesses oftomorrow and that’s why initiativeslike The Hive are so crucial – not justto the people of North Somerset, butto the economy. We need youngbusinesses to flourish – and The Hiveprovides the perfect conditions forthose in North Somerset to do so.”

Weston Super Food FestivalMain event: 27/28th September 2014This year’s festival sees furtherexpansion and an opportunity forlocal businesses to raise their profile.With a town centre location and 2full days of trading there will beample opportunities to attract newcustomers from across the WestCountry and beyond.With support already received fromWeston Bid, Weston super Mare

www.westonsuperfoodfestival.co.uk

Town Council, Love Weston and theWeston Mercury, the festival willhave high profile promotion as aregional event. To find out how toget involved, for sponsorshipopportunities or volunteering, pleasecontact the organiser, Sally Packer,on tel.: 01934 813407 or by email:

sally@westonsuperfoodsfestival.co.uk

DID YOU KNOW?

Avon Owls have a newhome, visit their website

for details of theirSummer open dayswww.avonowls.co.uk

The Hive

(l-r) Ian and Joyce Oliver (Joyce Oliver Wealth Management), Barry Canfield (AberseaEngineering), David Madsen (DMOptics), John Penrose MP, Angela Hicks (NSEA

Chamber Networking on the Pier withBarclays and the Weston Chamber are now working together to present a freemonthly networking event on the Grand Pier. It is very well attended by adiverse range of businesses and always includes a hot topic presentation.Upcoming dates are listed on the Chamber website, if you have any questionsor need more information, please contact your event’s organiser, BrendaCharles. events@westonchamber.org.uk

WESTON-SUPER-MARE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE | August 2014 3

Weston Super AdminChamber Secretary, Debbie Apted, islooking to start a networking group inWeston for PAs, Secretaries, ExecutiveAssistants, Office Managers andAdministrators with the aim ofmeeting at least once a quarter todiscuss the issues of the day affectingthe office environment, HR, venuesand facilities available in the area,personal development, putting theworld to rights and a chance to makenew friends to name but a few.

If you know anyone that might beinterested in joining this exciting newgroup then please ask them to emailsecretary@westonchamber.org.uk andDebbie will get in touch with details ofthe first meeting to be held, hopefully,in September or October.

Members Discount for QuarryConcerts!Held in the stunning, yet intimate,surroundings of The Old Town Quarry,Weston-super-Mare.

Concerts in the Quarry is beingsupported by Chamber member C4Events. Ian Williams, Director of C4Events and Vice President of theChamber said, “I’m proud to besupporting this community project,and if Chamber members contact me,they will receive a £2 discount off the

price of a full ticket if bought inadvance. We look forward to seeingeveryone at the shows.”

Speak to Ian about the attractivesponsorship packages to promote yourbusiness that are available for thispopular event.

IN THE NEWS

“North Somerset benefitsfrom over £130m transport

investment”

‘Junior’ Chamber potential inconjunction with NSETCA proposal to support integration ofthe new technology college with localbusiness. Contact Steve Anderson (PRand Membership) for moreinformation of how you can getinvolved and the value benefit to yourorganisation.

on Steve Drew who runs theWeston & Worle View Magazine

How long have you run themagazine? We are celebrating our 5th

Anniversary this month!Who is it for? It’s aimed at the wholeof the Weston-super-Marecommunity.How many issues do you run andwhere do you deliver? It’s a monthlymagazine and we try to reach asmuch of Weston and the surroundingareas as possible, whether by door-to-door delivery, or you will also findthem in a number of the local retailoutlets.

What’s been your favourite storyover the years? I love all the localhistory stories.Can local businesses advertise? Ohyes, just contact me to discuss whatyou need.(email address above)Can you help with content, imagingand formatting? That’s a yes again,we offer a comprehensive service toall advertisers.What plans do you have to developthe magazine? To keep building onthe last 5 years.

www.quarryconcerts.org.uk

steve@ponypublishing.co.uk

WESTON-SUPER-MARE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE | August 2014 4

We want to hear from youThe newsletter will run monthly andwe’re seeking your input and supportfor the news and information that isshared with other members eachmonth. Contact Steve Anderson withyour news.

It could be about a new product orservice you have or an event that youare planning.

This newsletter is for you to sharebusiness news and information,another networking tool that helpsraise awareness of your business andhow it interacts with other localbusinesses.

Introduction to two newCommittee Members

Brenda Charles ofChantry Servicestakes over theEvents co-ordination rolefrom Ian Williams.

Steve Anderson takeson the PR andMembershipfunctions. Steve has awealth of business

and operations experience from adiverse background of seniormanagement roles in the finance,transport and engineering industrysectors. Steve also worked with thepolicy group at Surrey Chamber ofCommerce.

Member OffersThe all-new Weston Chamber website allows members to create theirown profile page AND give exclusiveoffers to other members. As anexample, as previously mentioned,Ian Williams is offering a discount tomembers for the Quarry Concertstickets. Our Member Spotlightsubject, The Weston & Worle View, isalso offering exclusive discounts onadvertising

join@westonchamber.org.ukIf you know anyone interested in joining, please ask them to contact Steve Anderson

If you require any furtherinformation or want to share newsor an issue, please make contact,

we want to hear from you.

President –Gail Parsonspresident@westonchamber.org.ukVice President – Ian Williams

vp@westonchamber.org.ukSecretary – Debbie Apted

secretary@westonchamber.org.ukTreasurer – John Coombe

treasurer@westonchamber.org.ukEvents – Brenda Charles

events@westonchamber.org.ukPR & Membership – Steve Anderson

pr@westonchamber.org.ukjoin@westonchamber.org.uk

Press – Sue Shillabeerpress@westonchamber.org.uk

Website – Rob Hunterweb@westonchamber.org.uk

Chamber Committee Members

Weston Business AwardsThe inaugaral Weston BusinessAwards will be held at the The RoyalHotel on 7th February 2015.You will be notified soon of theAward categories and how toNominate. Keep the date for theAwards evening free, tickets will be onsale soon.

Update your profile on the web sitenow, add your offers when you haveany, and remember to keep looking tosee what offers are available to you!