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We provide our Members with a regular programme of business events running throughout the year with high profile guest speakers which give our Members the opportunity to network and to make those all important new business contacts. Recent speakers at our networking breakfast meetings have included Claire Ward M.P. for Watford, Ed Balls Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families and Dorothy Thornhill Elected Mayor of Watford. Future speakers include Alec Stewart the former England Cricketers, Graham Taylor former England and Watford Manager and from rugby Kieran Bracken so please do look out for further details of these exciting events We are always looking for sponsors for our networking events so please do give us a call in order that we can tell you of the benefits that it can bring to your company. Our Women in Business Group provides the happy combination of excellent speaker subjects and great company. If you are a working women, whether self employed or working for a large company and would like to know more about the group then please do get in touch with us here at the Chamber. To assist local businesses we are able to provide them with a wide range of financial information including data bases and company searches. We are also able to undertake mailshots to members of the chamber. All you need to do is to supply us with 600 copies of either a flyer or letter on A4 format and we will do the rest. The Members Directory on this website is proving to be a valuable resource, allowing users to search for products and services offered by creditable member companies. As a special offer the Chamber invites you to upgrade from the free basic listing to a Premium Listing to further promote your products and services to get more business. For example select 'Members Directory' ( a resource used by local businesses to find creditable companies and services). Then try a name search for J2- you will be offered two records: J2 Design ( Premium) and Jefferys West ( Basic). As you will see the Premium Listing offers a bespoke banner advertisement which also acts as a live link to your business website. Get your business noticed- our Chamber website received over 5,000 page impressions last month from the local business community- all potential customers for your business. A Premium Listing gives you increased opportunity to market your business to these customers by attracting them with a bespoke banner advert and URL link direct to your website. For a special price of just £197 ( or £297 for two years) Chamber Member J2 can undertake all the work on your behalf. For those of you who already enjoy the benefits of a banner advertisement this work can be renewed for a further year at a cost of just £127 or £197 for two years. We also take part in and promote Local Business Award Schemes which identify and give publicity to local businesses. The Watford & North London Business Award Scheme has been running for five years and we are delighted to say that during this time Chamber Members have won numerous awards. Cpngratulations to the following Chamber Members who recently wond awards at the final which was held at the The Emirates Stadium: Business of the Year - Sigma Pharmaceuticals Internation Trade & Export - Link Research Growing Business - Optoma Europe Success through People - Clock The Chamber continues to strengthen our links with key players such as the Watford Council, One Watford, The University of Hertfordshire and the Chamber currently chairs The Watford Town Centre Partnership. We are also affiliated to the Hertfordshire Chamber of Commerce which means that between us we have over 1500 members which makes us part of the largest business organisation in the county and one of the largest Chambers of Commerce country. We continue to work closely with local charties and our April networking meeting raised over £1000 for the YMCA and a full house at our recent Charity Golf Day in aid of the Princes Trust raised over £3500 All profits from our November Networking meeting with Graham Taylor will go to the Peace Hospice and our Big Breakfast in December is in aid of Watford & District Mencap. We provide our Members with an interesting quarterly Chamber Magazine which carries articles about the Chamber, our forthcoming events and our Members activities. It also gives our members the opportunity to advertise and publicise any new product or service. We also produce a Chamber Yearbook giving full details of our members and a Chamber Diary. Both these publications provide the ideal opportunity to promote your company. Advertising opportunities are available in both publications and for further details of availability and prices please contact chamber members Charlie Kenny at Avaline on 01923 241852 or Alex Nicolaou at Origin 1 on 01923 246116 The Chamber's International Department provides a full documentation service together with help and advice on all aspects of exporting. Our export documentation service is used by an increasing number of companies seeking a fast and efficient service. The Chamber is authorised to process Certificates of Origin for all countries of the world including the Arab League States with Chamber Members receiving discounts of up to 50%. A series of Foreign Documentation Courses will be run throughout 2007/8 |