What is the Chamber currently working on?

We held our Business Partners’ annual lunch a couple of weeks ago at which I told these key opinion leaders in Cornwall & Scilly some of the things Cornwall Chamber of Commerce does. A few of our key campaigns were news to them, so perhaps we’ve been hiding our lights under a bushel. Here’s a quick run through some of the issues we’re dealing with and campaigning on.

Not only are we the only business group covering the whole of the UK comprising not for profit companies registered in each area we serve, staffed with passionate local people, but in Cornwall we do lots more. We are the only business organisation with overseas offices in over 40 key export markets and offering international trade courses which gets your business Brexit-ready. Here in Cornwall we are campaigning to improve the A30 and the A38; we are launching a Senior Executive Forum for women; we are working to produce a procurement framework for local government to buy more locally; we run courses on cyber-crime, GDPR and Making the Most of your Membership; we organise loads of fun and informative events at different times of day to suit all needs; we have expertise as a member of the British Chambers of Commerce in all business matters. As the champions of business we have been appointed to run the Skills Hub, the marketing for the Growth Hub, the Export for Growth programme and many other public sector schemes to help private organisations.

Two particular things I would like your feedback on currently: 1. Please complete the Quarterly Economic Survey including the questions about whether you would use a Cornish Embassy in London. It is important every three months that Cornwall & Scilly’s voice is heard but this Embassy concept is hot right now and we need to know your thoughts. 2. You may have heard on BBC Cornwall the concern that our agricultural, hospitality, care and construction businesses have about fewer EU workers coming to work here. It seems a combination of the weak pound, growing economies in the workers’ home countries and a feeling since the referendum that they are less welcome here has led to a steep decline in foreign labour causing severe difficulties to many businesses. If you’re affected or have ideas to solve the crisis please let us know kimconchie@cornwallchamber.co.uk