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Chamber News
 December 2013


Merry Christmas and
a Prosperous New Year!

 


Christmas
Networking Reception

Thursday, 12 December 2013
5.30 pm Arrival
 

Please join us for our annual Christmas Networking Reception at The Holiday Inn Express. You’ll be greeted with a Christmas cocktail on arrival and there will also be canapés for you to enjoy. Mayor Wendy Flynn will also be on hand to help launch the new chamber website. The evening will give you lots of opportunities to meet, mingle and network with Chamber members and the Executive Board. Why not invite friends, colleagues and customers to come along? We look forward to seeing you there!
Tickets: £12 pp for members and guests
£20 for non members; cash bar
Dunalley Street, Cheltenham GL50 4AT
Bookings: Pauline Harris(01242 252626)

 
Member Profile:
Mark Loveridge
UK Country Manager, Hero Echo Ltd.

 
Mark Loveridge bleeds green. More than just spotting a trend, he lives and works to promote a greener society with a keen business sense. He has spent his action-packed career managing eco-friendly products with the likes of Urban Mover, Ultra Motors, SITA and Ecotricity. Now as UK Country Manager of Hero Eco Ltd., a leading UK manufacturer of electric vehicles, Mark promotes a stylish bicycle product line that is renowned here and abroad for its leading edge technology and green credentials. Mark is also Chairman of BEBA (British Electronic Bicycle Association) and Council Member of the Bicycle Association of Great Britain. So, a green business sense through and through.
 
We caught up with Mark to ask him about his career, the way ahead for green transport and how the Chamber can support his efforts. Read more.
 

Chamber Seeking
Marketing Consultant 

 
The Cheltenham Chamber of Commerce is looking for a marketing professional to take on its marketing functions, plan and implement marketing activities and assume the lead in steering its strategic marketing efforts. This position offers the opportunity to earn significant success-based income. An informational briefing on the role will be held on Thursday, 12 December at 10:30 am at the Chamber’s Conference Room. Anyone interested in this role is invited to attend this briefing. Please email your RSVP by Monday, 9 December to jfairchild@cheltenhamchamber.org.uk. Light refreshments will be served.


New Website Goes Live!
 
The Cheltenham Chamber's much anticipated new website went live on 18th November. The site will be officially launched by Mayor Wendy Flynn at the Chamber Christmas Networking Evening at the Holiday Inn Express on 12th December (5.30pm start; see above). 

The new site provides greater communication capabilities, easier navigation, more information on member benefits, and a greater source of regional business information. The website will not only keep local businesses and Chamber members informed about Chamber activities but also provide a number of promotional opportunities.

The new site enables members to:
  • Enroll or renew membership online
  • See a detailed list of benefits and membership levels 
  • Keep up to date with Chamber news 
  • Promote your company news and events
  • Advertise on the website and promote special offers to other members
  • Access Chamber videos and links to our social media 
“Cheltenham Chamber of Commerce is working hard to provide more services and more benefits to all their members and the new website is just one part of this,” commented Michael Ratcliffe, Chief Executive of Cheltenham Chamber of Commerce, “The new website looks more professional as well as being more accessible and easier to navigate. If you're not already a member of the Chamber, then visit our new website and join today!”
 
We are already receiving very positive feedback: Officeworx Ltd said, “Looks great! Very easy to navigate around."
 
Please visit our website at www.cheltenhamchamber.org.uk as well as follow us on Twitter (@Cheltchamber) and Facebook.
 

Join Mayor Wendy Flynn's Charity Day at the Races
Four jockeys in colourful silks racing astride their horses.
 

Mayor of Cheltenham, Councillor Wendy Flynn, will be inviting guests to join her at the Cheltenham Racecourse on Friday 13th December to raise money for her chosen charities. Cheltenham Racecourse has donated a hospitality suite at the Istabraq bar for the day. Ticket proceeds will be shared between the charities of the Mayor of Tewkesbury, Councillor Clare Wright, and the Mayor of Cheltenham. Last year’s mayor’s charity event was a huge success, and we encourage all members to support the mayor’s good causes.
 
If you would like to attend this event, please complete the online invitation form and email it to the Mayor of Cheltenham’s PA, Jennie Ingram, at jenni.ingram@cheltenham.gov.uk
 

Promoting Cheltenham in Art

Christmas 2013 will offer Cheltenham businesses the opportunity to showcase their company through a revolutionary digital media programme, Promoting Cheltenham in Art.

We personally invite your company to be part of a cutting-edge event, by displaying your corporate brand on to Eagle Tower between the 16th and 21st December 2013 and helping to promote Cheltenham using art. Eagle Tower is one of Cheltenham’s most visible and high profile buildings in the town and this project will make a stunning impact to the South of the town. Read more.


 
Pitman Training Cheltenham are delighted to be a partner in delivering the Growing Gloucestershire Skills Project which is funded by the European Social Fund. The project is focused on raising the skills level of people working in Gloucestershire Businesses that have less than 250 employees. Within Gloucestershire the ESF money is being targeted at 3 key areas that were agreed with GFirst:LEP, the Gloucestershire Local Enterprise Partnership:
  • Retail
  • Leisure & Tourism
  • Engineering & Manufacturing
Pitman Training Cheltenham will be working with local employers and employees to enhance their office and business skills to make them more effective employees and the companies more productive and efficient. “One of our sayings is ‘Believe in yourself, invest in your future’ “ commented Kath Daws. “Local companies can now afford to invest in their staff and in the future of their businesses. If your business and your staff could benefit from effective keyboard skills, audio transcription, book-keeping or good Microsoft Office skills, then talk to us.”
 
If you think that your business can benefit from this project then please contact Pitman Training Cheltenham on 01242 228080 and ask to talk to Kath or Kevin Daws.


 
Keep up to date on business in Cheltenham via Twitter (@CheltChamber), Facebook and
Chamber website.

 
  
Don't Miss
Christmas Market Offers


Here’s a chance to capture additional end-of-year sales by providing your promotional offerings to Chamber members to purchase in December. The Chamber’s Christmas Marketplace is now available so members can purchase seasonal offerings from other members at a favourable discount. Read more.

 

At this Price, It’s a Gift!


 
Buy a whole year membership at Fitness4Less for an amazing £150! (This is equivalent to only £12.50 per month). To join simply visit www.fitness4less.co.uk and use voucher code CHELTMP at step 3 of the online joining process. This offer is only available for members of Cheltenham Chamber of commerce and the voucher will expire on 31.12.13. Read more.
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Upcoming Events

Improve the Right Customer Experiences: Learn What You Need to Do and How
Jerry Angrave
Empathyce Customer Experience

Queen's Hotel
Thursday 5 December, 11.30am - 12.30pm
Bookings;
 (01242 252626)
Free for all Gloucestershire-based Chamber members; £5 non-members
Complimentary refreshments and free parking
at the hotel.



Member Events

Wellbeing and Performance Symposium 
Wednesday, 11 December 2013 from 16:00 to 19:30 (GMT)
Oxstalls Campus, University of Gloucestershire,
Oxstalls Lane, Longlevens, GL2 9HW

View Map


Employment Law ‘On the Go’
Breakfast Seminars

(Each seminar: 7.30am until 9am)

Strategies for Creating a Lean Workforce
Thursday 23 January 2014

Top 5 Employment Law Issues
for Non-profit Organisations

Tuesday 18 March 2014

Top 5 Employment Law Issues
for Professional Practices

Thursday 15 May 2014


National Star College, Ullenwood Manor, Cheltenham, GL53 9QU
£15 per seminar (incl VAT); £30 for all three seminars.
Contact 
events@willans.co.uk: 
Lesley Kadwell on 01242 514000. 
Read more.

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Welcome
New Members


Contact: Martin Booth

Inspire Sales is a sales agency dedicated to delivering improved sales and profit to SMEs. We specialise in sales strategy, customer relationship management (CRM), lead generation, internet marketing and sales training.
 


Jonny-Rocks Taxis
ContactJonathan Horrocks
 

Established in 2007, Jonny-Rocks Taxis are an Executive Taxi and Chauffeur service based in Cheltenham specialising in chauffeuring clients to venues throughout the Cotswolds and to central London and all major UK airports and seaports. So whatever your destination, arrive in comfort and style in a Jaguar XF.

Officeworx are a leading supplier of office stationery, office supplies, office furniture, catering and janitorial and warehouse supplies throughout Gloucestershire and beyond. From our head office in Cheltenham, our own fleet of vans service the local area with satellite warehouses for servicing the rest of the UK.

 


Morgan Accounts Ltd. can improve your businesses efficiency by taking routine bookkeeping and accounts tasks off your hands, allowing you to devote your time to the more innovative aspects of running your business.We provide temporary and permanent services to businesses and individuals whose workloads and requirements may vary.
 

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Recent Chamber Events
 

                   
 

The Chamber was busy throughout November. Mark Ryan,(above right) Managing Director of Gloucestershire Airport, spoke to a full house at The Everyman's Matcham's Restaurant on the history and future direction of the airport. Darren Stevens (bottom picture), Managing Director of Prestbury Marketing and Consulting, presented effective marketing techniques to an over-subscribed SME audience. The Chamber would like to thank Mark and Darren and The Everyman for their efforts and hospitality. More seminars and events are planned for the New Year. For more information, read more. (photos: Brian Chaplin, Eurovideo).
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Advertising and Sponsorship
Members can secure advertising space at advantageous rates and participate in sponsorship deals which will be available on the new Chamber website and other areas. Make a smart move by including the Chamber in your marketing plans for 2014! Contact the Chamber office (01242 252 626) for details.

 
Free Publicity for Your Company
  
Do you want some free publicity? If you're a fully-paid Chamber member and have a newsworthy story about a product launch, a significant customer acquisition or something special happening in your business, we can help you promote your news through the Chamber communications (e.g. newsletter, Twitter, Facebook). Just let us know! Take advantage of this key benefit of membership to build awareness of your company at no cost!. Send your submissions to the Chamber office today. (photo: Brian Chaplin, Eurovideo)
Copyright © 2013 Cheltenham Chamber of Commerce, All rights reserved.
Please note: deadline for January submissions is 20/12/13.