GET SET TO CONNECT!
Ever wished you could have the benefit and support of your local Chamber of Commerce wherever you are in the UK? Now, through the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), we can offer you all of these additional benefits with the new and unique and totally free Chamber Connect Membership Card.
The initial Chamber Connect Membership Card can give you:
· Access to increased business contacts and nationwide networking
· Access to discounted business facilities across the BCC Network
· Access to discounted local hotel and restaurant rates via participating accredited Chambers across the UK.
· Discounted access to Servisair Executive Lounges at all the major UK airports.
· Discounted Priority Pass Membership for access to 450 executive lounges all around the world.
Through Chamber Connect you have access to benefits at all five of the East Midlands Chambers: Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Lincolnshire and Northamptonshire.
All the information you need to get connected is available on the Chamber Connect website – www.chamberconnect.info
To obtain further information or your Chamber Connect Membership Card, please contact your membership team on 0116 2471800 or email leics@chamberofcommerce.co.uk
BE ONE OF THE FIRST IN 2006
Whether you want to promote your company in general or start a New Year sales push for a particular campaign or offer you can get your message out to 1600 Chamber members for less than the cost per company of a 1st class stamp.
Pay just £300 +vat for a single sheet A4 flyer insert in our January Chamber News newsletter and we will mail 1600 of your flyers out for you- that works out at less than 19p per flyer- cheaper than a first class stamp plus you’re saving on envelope costs and staff time too!
We currently have just one space left in this edition of the newsletter (please note that flyers would be required by December 15th) so to reserve your space please call Suzanne on Tel: 0116 204 6609 or email: farmer.s@chamberofcommerce.co.uk.
YOUR OFFICE WHEREVER YOU WANT IT TO BE
O2 have a special offer for Leicestershire Chamber of Commerce members, for a limited time only O2 will be able to offer businesses with a minimum of 5 employees a free 30 day trial of BlackBerry from O2 (offer ends December 31st 2005).
With BlackBerry from O2 your emails find you wherever you are* and there's no dial up and no waiting around as new emails are pushed to you over the O2 GPRS network.
BlackBerry uses your existing business email address to send and receive email. You can pick up the latest information en route to meetings. O2 offer a range of handheld devices with easy to use keyboards, large screens and uses push technology to deliver your emails from either a web-based or LAN address. For businesses with a LAN, the BlackBerry Enterprise Server(tm) is needed to interface with your company email network. This will give you secure access to your business email account as well as to other information including your calendar and address book.
You can even use your BlackBerry device as your mobile phone to make and receive calls. To do this, the SIM simply needs to be activated with a Best for Business tariff. Its QWERTY keyboard and clear colour screen are easy to use. It's a handy diary too, with its own calendar to synchronise with your desktop diary so you never miss an appointment. Wherever you are, keep up with everything that's going on back at the office.
To find out more please contact Damian Oldham on: 07730 547376 or e mail Damian.Oldham1@O2.Com
*Subject to network coverage.
Terms apply. Subject to signing a BlackBerry Evaluation Agreement. For more detail visit: www.my-blackberryfromo2.com
The RIM and Blackberry family of related trademarks, images and symbols are exclusive properties of and trademarks of Research in Motion Ltd used by permission.
DOUBLE WIN FOR CHAMBER PRODUCT SUPPLIER
Westfield Health has achieved a remarkable double to take two major industry awards for the second year running. The company, which provides healthcare services to Chamber members, won both the “Best Health Insurance Provider” crown in the highly respected Guardian & Observer Consumer Finance Awards 2005 and the “Best Healthcare Cash Plan Provider” in the Health Insurance Awards 2005.
To find out how you too can benefit from Westfield’s Health Plan call Sharon Jeffrey at Leicestershire Chamber on Tel: 0116 204 6618 or email: Jeffrey.s@chamberofcommerce.co.uk
NEW CHAMBER MARKETING DATABASE
Are you looking for a list of businesses? The Chamber of Commerce has recently subscribed to a new service providing details on UK companies for marketing purposes. Supplied in electronic format, the information comes with contact name and address, telephone and employee size, as well as a description of the company's business activity. You specify the location, size of company (by turnover or employee size), or in which business sector you want to search and we will supply the quotation. For more information on this service call Danny Whitehead, Information Services Manager on 0116 2046613 or email leics@chamberofcommerce.co.uk.
The Retail World: Tour of Selfridges
Date: 18th January
Time: 2pm-8pm
Venue: Selfridges Store, Birmingham
Cost: £22.50 ( travel not included)
Integra, in conjunction with Selfridges in Birmingham, is offering this unique opportunity to see behind the scenes at this most impressive new store. The event includes a tour by the store’s Head of Facilities followed by a buffet and networking.
Network Leicestershire...over lunch
Date: 24th January
Time: 12 noon-2.30pm
Venue: Whitwell Hotel & Conference Centre, Oakham
Cost: £25 Chamber Members/ £35 Standard
Hosted by Whitwell Hotel & Conference Centre in the newly refurbished gastro pub The Noel, this lunchtime event gives Chamber members an opportunity to exchange company literature over a glass of wine whilst gaining an insight into the excellent facilities the venue has to offer.
Business Women's Link Evening with Tina Bettison
Date: 1st February
Time: 6pm-8pm
Venue: Holiday Inn Leicester, St Nicholas Circle, Leicester
Cost: £17.63
Tina Bettison, founder of the new Diva Club and equestrian coach and author, will be telling us how she came to be Chief Diva of such an organisation and how she aims to positively affect the lives of British women.
The Leicestershire Women of Achievement Awards 2006
Sponsored by Headstorm Marketing & Event Management, Jobcentre Plus, Leicester Mercury, Leicester YMCA, Leicestershire County Council, LL&R Community Foundation, Maz Photography and O2.
Date: 3rd March
Time: 7pm-midnight
Venue: Leicester City Football Club, Leicester
Cost: £40 + vat or £375 + vat per table of ten.
This gala awards dinner will provide a spectacular evening of networking, delicious food and wine and the chance to see and meet all the finalists and award winners themselves.
For more details or to make a booking contact Kam Atker at Leicestershire Chamber on Tel: 0116 204 6614, email: atker.k@chamberofcommerce.co.uk or visit our website at: www.chamberofcommerce.co.uk
BUSINESSES ENCOURAGED TO GET INVOLVED
Local businesses are being encouraged to enjoy and help to support local arts by joining the Friends of the Philharmonia Scheme in Leicester. The Friends group run an annual programme of events include pre-concert talks, dinners with the orchestra players, wine tastings and chamber music concerts.
The group are organising an evening of chamber music on February 1st at St Philip’s Church, Leicester where soloists of the Philharmonia Orchestra will perform a programme including Ravel, Debussy and Chopin.
To buy tickets or for more information about joining the Leicester Friends of the Philharmonia call 020 7242 1976 or visit www.philharmonia.co.uk/friendsofthephilharmonia
LESSONS FROM THE FRONT LINES OF DOING BUSINESS IN CHINA
Date: 18th January 2006
Venue: Pera Innovation Park, Melton Mowbray
This seminar, organised by the East Midlands International Trade Association (EMITA), will look at how British companies can start to do business with China. Guest speakers include Simon Rodwell from the China-Britain Business Council and James McGregor a journalist and businessman who has spent almost 20 years in Greater China. The seminar will also include a choice of workshops covering various aspects of trading with China, a question and answer session and lunch.
This event is free of charge for EMITA members, £25 for non-members.
Register online at emita@myb-group.co.uk
BUSINESSES INVITED TO JOIN MARKET VISIT TO CHINA
(Shanghai with the option for Ningbo)
February 27th – March 4th 2006
The East Midlands International Trade Team is taking the lead in the region’s export initiative to China with a visit to Shanghai in February / March 2006
As the commercial, financial, and industrial centre of China, Shanghai has maintained its GDP growth rate at two digit figures for 13 successive years. Its key industries include IT, automotive, chemicals and biopharmaceuticals, and its finance, insurance, transportation, telecommunication, retailing and wholesale sectors are also growing rapidly.
Benefits of joining the visit include:
· £750 travel grant to a limited number of companies
· Full support from your local UKTI International Trade Team
· British Consulate General Shanghai Team support in market, briefing and support from Ningbo Municipal Government
· Pre-visit briefing, publicity & trade visit brochure
Closing date for applications is 31st December 2005
For more details contact: Min He, Co-ordinator, Leicester Shire China Trade Bureau
Tel: 0116 258 7312
Fax: 0116 285 5951
e-mail: min.he@blleics.co.uk