Spalding & District Area Chamber of Commerce - Lincolnshire Chamber of Commerce and Industry, UK

The Spalding and District Area of the Lincolnshire Chamber is the newest area to form and became part of the county Chamber network in 2010. It is run by local members, investing their membership fees in activities and events that will help to stimulate and develop local business.

Local businesses leaders have seen the benefits of joining together to act as a collective to help Spalding and its hinterland to compete and flourish, and in doing so make it more attractive for the businesses in the area to operate. In short, joining together and working as a local Chamber area is a clear attempt by the businesses in and around Spalding to invest in their own futures.

There are three key aims overarching aims that the area are working to, being:

More business – achieved through networking events, introductions to perspective buyers and commercial leads, business advice, international trade services and providing a platform for members to promote their products and services

Better business – achieved through training, seminars and workshops to improve skills, together with cost-saving opportunities and greater efficiency though use of technology

Better conditions for business – achieved by its representational role and lobbying work carried out on behalf of members

Members have decided to look at an alternate membership package and have designed an associate package for membership, which contains the following features and benefits:

• Policy and Representation – a local, countywide, regional and national Chamber structure to support local businesses. Facilitating networking, forums and events to enable members to exchange ideas, information and views. Working as a collective group means action is more likely when issues are raised, making sure the bigger voice of Business is heard and that it carries real weight.
• Networking and Events – a range of networking events and information courses will be agreed locally. These will also attract businesses from out of area to attend. A number of options include Legislation Updates, Networking Lunches, Business After Hours, Inside Story and Bank of England forums will be considered.
• Dedicated Website Presence – micro sites within our main site so that every member has the ability to have a presence on the web (free of charge to members).
• Marketing and Merchandising Opportunities – access to a variety of opportunities are available, including opportunities to promote member-to-member discounts.
• Information – access to a network of business related business sources. A range of e-shots including the bi-weekly Spalding Area news, and monthly Policy, Events, Training, and International Trade updates, along with the regular Member-to-Member eshots to keep members informed and help build profile.
• Dedicated News Area – a Spalding & District news area on the Lincolnshire Chamber website.

In practise, members will pay an annual membership fee based on the number of employees within their organisation, and in return will receive a number of dedicated benefits, which include:

• Competitive Credit Card Merchant Fees*
• Business Directory Entry, distributed to homes in and around Spalding
• Inter-Membership Discounts Scheme
• Free web presence through Chamber micro site
• Lobbying and representation of members views
• Other benefits – networking events (available at discounted membership rates), dedicated Spalding Area information (e-shot and magazine) and training e.g. Internet trading, personal development, management training.

Full membership can be taken with access to further benefits.

The area has identified specific champions to support key sectors. If members need to raise issues on these areas they are encouraged to speak directly to their local contacts, or click on the names below to send an email.

Tourism - This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Security (CCTV, Pubwatch, CRASH) -  This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Membership -  This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Lobbying - This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Funding -  This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it