Sussex Chamber of Commerce – Supporting Business Growth
8th August 2022
Author EditorPosted on Categories Business
by Ana Christie, CEO
I was absolutely thrilled when Mims Davies MP agreed to officially open our first Sussex Chamber Business Expo.
The expo allowed members to network, increase their brand awareness, and brought business together from across the Sussex county.
My amazing team managed to put the expo together in a very short period of time. For our first expo, it was incredible!
A huge thank you to our keynote speakers on the day:
• Claire Beech, Senior Account Manager, Love Local Jobs Foundation who spoke about Inspiring young people to reach their full potential, personally and professionally
• Clive Bonny, Owner/Director, Strategic Management Partners Ltd who spoke about How your eco and social value credentials can win new business
We could not have delivered the expo without the support from our wonderful sponsors. Thank you to Pentagon Plastics Group, Harwoods Group and Creative Pod.
Of course, a huge show of gratitude to the amazing attendees who came along to support us but, more importantly, to meet all of the exhibitors and amazing companies.
Mims Davies, MP for Mid Sussex, officially launched the expo and took the time to speak to many of the businesses on the day.
She said: “I was delighted to open, alongside Ana Christie, the inaugural Sussex Chamber of Commerce Business Expo, held at the Kings Church in Burgess Hill. This very successful event gave our brilliant local companies the opportunity to come together to showcase themselves, promote their latest products and services and make those all important new connections to grow their businesses. It was a pleasure to meet with them, hear their experiences and their plans for the future. This was a really valuable opportunity for businesses to network and I hope to see more of these important events in Mid Sussex going forward.”
To support business growth in Sussex, I will continue to work closely with local MPs, local authorities and other key stakeholders.
We all know that businesses are facing unprecedented challenges. The economy is still facing massive structural issues, including uncertainty about the UK’s relationship with the EU, supply chain breakdowns, problems in recruiting people and rocketing energy costs. Through the British Chamber network, we will ensure Government are aware of business concerns and these are addressed to develop a long-term economic strategy for growth. The role of Government is to set the conditions that allows the UK to be the best place for our entrepreneurs to start and grow a business and to incentivise investment in growth.
Only a few weeks ago, I attended a SussExport event with local MPs, Department for International Trade and businesses to promote the county. Sussex has a global brand that can be maximised through the Chamber’s services in international trade. Through our export and customs documentation services, as well as connections with both national and global British Chambers of Commerce, your business has huge potential for growth.
Businesses want to train, develop and give their staff opportunities to grow. We are already seeing a drag on economic growth due to the lack of people in our labour market. Too many businesses are struggling to find the people they need to succeed and grow. 78% of firms tell us they are struggling to recruit. Government can do more to help firms fill their gaps. We supported businesses through the Kickstart scheme, helping young people from job centres into work to develop key essential skills – a scheme which was supported by Mims Davies MP, when she was appointed as Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Employment at the Department for Work and Pensions.
A great example of the Power of Partnership over the last year has been in the development of the eight Trailblazer Local Skills Improvement Plans, one of these being Sussex Chamber. We are already seeing positive outcomes from this truly collaborative process with colleges adapting their provision to better meet local needs, and businesses having a renewed focus on the long-term skills they need to succeed. All businesses can get involved to help develop the local skills plan. Email: skills@sussexchamberofcommerce.co.uk
Tackling the devastating effects of climate change is one of the biggest challenges facing the world today. All of us have a responsibility to play our part in reducing our carbon emissions, and the time to do that is now. The journey to Net Zero can be daunting, especially for SMEs who may have fewer resources to dedicate to it. The Chamber network is here to help and guide businesses to sources of advice and funding. Reducing our carbon footprint is crucial but helping businesses to innovate through green products and services is essential.
All of the businesses I meet across Sussex are run by innovative, dynamic, committed people. Now is an exciting time to support each other to grow back our local Sussex economy.
The Sussex Chamber Business Expo was a new development for the Chamber. We will continue to evolve and bring greater opportunities to all.
Our next expo is already planned for November 15th, so contact us to book! Join us in supporting Sussex business growth.
info@sussexchamberofcommerce.co.uk
Tel: 01444 259259