Chamber News

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Tell us your views
The QES closed and we’re beginning to write the content for our Economic Review publication which contains the results and analysis of the QES itself, alongside an overview of our policy work. As part of that, we’d like to include some comments from members about how the economy has affected them over the past few months and particularly since the New Year. Has the weakening of Sterling made a difference to your imports or exports? Is your local area or sector feeling the pressure or performing well? If you’d like to send a comment for inclusion please send your comments in fewer than 150 words to christian.spence@gmchamber.co.uk  by 18 March.

Look out, London!
The British Chambers of Commerce Annual Conference takes place tomorrow and a few of our members and some of our team will be heading down to London to listen to the Rt Hon Ed Miliband MP, Rt Hon Dr Vince Cable MP and the Rt Hon Patrick McLoughlin MP, to name but a few. Our Transport Policy Manager, Emma Antrobus, is also heading to a Virgin Rail and Virgin Atlantic event to hear the latest on the company’s infrastructure plans. We’ll let you know how we all got on in next week’s Chamber News.

Bugged by business rates?
The Chamber is currently looking at the issue of business rates as one of our policy priorities and we’re gathering evidence from you about how your business is affected. Specifically, we’d like to hear from businesses who feel that the value of their property has dropped, but their business rates payments have remained the same. If you have any views that you would like to contribute, email Christian.spence@gmchamber.co.uk. In the meantime, our Chamber Plus team has launched a business rates review service, where they can check whether you have been paying too much, and help you recover the sums. Call 0161 237 4147 for more information.

A whole lot of Hub
Lots of us have heard about the Northern Hub, but many construction firms in the region may well be wondering what’s in it for them. Well, the next property and construction sector lunch will reveal all, as Network Rail representatives will be talking about the opportunities for firms and how they can get involved with the Northern Hub and electrification programmes. The event takes place on 22 March at The Midland Hotel, Manchester.

BYOD tops agenda for the IT crowd
The Chamber has held the first in its series of IT Directors’ Forums, sponsored by Pennine Telecom, which focused on the topic of ‘Bring your own device’ (BYOD). Thirty of the region’s top IT Directors from a wide range of sectors came together to listen to presentations from Richard Absalom of technology analysis firm, Ovum, and Andrew Fowler of Citrix, providers of mobile technology. The conversation will be continuing on the Chamber’s LinkedIn Group, in a special IT Directors’ Forum sub-group, where we’ll also be discussing future topics for the Forums.

Could your IP hold the key?
Most small or medium sized business owners are unaware that they own valuable intellectual property, and even fewer are aware that this resource can be used to raise funds via pension-led funding to help finance their business. We’ve teamed up with Clifton Asset to make businesses aware of how to utilise this overlooked and powerful business asset. The event will take place on 18 April at The Hilton Hotel, Manchester.