Wirral Chamber of Commerce - Making a Difference

WIRRAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

MAKING A DIFFERENCE

Foreword

Sandra Kirkham, Chair, Wirral Chamber of Commerce

It was the shared vision with Wirral Chamber of Commerce that resulted in my joining the organisation in the first place. The rationale behind my thinking at the time was very simplistic – that we both believed in collaborating with employers to build mutually beneficial relationships.

Wirral Chamber of Commerce is pivotal to all businesses, enabling them to receive, or be signposted to relevant services and support. Not only does it provide a vital lifeline for business start-ups but also is a great support organisation for larger businesses having more specialist needs for their business growth strategies.

We will listen to the needs of businesses - but the most important thing for me is to respond to them with a pace of execution. I hold no fear of challenge and, if I believe the business communities that we serve wouldn’t benefit from the cause, then I’ll always raise that challenge.

Introduction

Paula Basnett, CEO, Wirral Chamber of Commerce

With the re-launch of Wirral Chamber of Commerce our key objectives were creating an organisation focused on offering effective services and establishing energetic and collaborative business support. With the encouragement of our members and partners we have moved forward in achieving these goals.

Partnerships are essential, and as such we have formed links with Liverpool City Region LEP and Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, together with collaborative project work with other partners, such as Liverpool John Moores University, the Isle of Man Chamber of Commerce, together with a strengthening relationship with Wirral Council.

We are a modern, proactive organisation looking to address and challenge issues affecting our business community, and we will be pivotal in supporting our membership in driving change and innovation.

Wirral Chamber of Commerce will be key in supporting you with the vision for Wirral.

Looking AheadChamber Ambitions

MENTORING OR VOLUNTEERING

OFFER CREATIVE AND VALUE ADDED EVENTS

“In order to carry a positive action we must develop here a positive vision” - Dalai Lama

Our Vision

Wirral Chamber of Commerce remains true to its original mission in developing effective and fruitful partnerships, representing the voice of members, stimulating economic business growth, and employment opportunities. We will continue to enhance and develop these through:

Developing strong and effective public - private partnerships stimulating business growth, investment and employment;

Delivering high quality initiatives, activities, training and events supporting development;

Providing flexible managed and serviced workspace excellence accommodating and encouraging new, existing and inward investment projects;

Generating revenue that can be re-invested in further supporting business growth;

Creating extensive, meaningful business networks for local, national and international interaction;

Achieving operational excellence to meet British Chambers of Commerce quality standards

Business and Objectives

By setting out key business areas it will form the focus of activities for the organisation services and its delivery.

In developing and delivering our services, Wirral Chamber of Commerce has identified specific areas to develop in overcoming the challenges and creating opportunities through business support, membership and commercial activities. The following overview sets out business sections, performance, objectives and targets for the future.

“Coming together is a beginning, staying together is progress, and working together is success ” - Henry Ford

Partnerships

Partnership is fundamental for Wirral Chamber of Commerce, enabling collaborative strength for our members and businesses to work together and support each other.

Through partnerships, we created positive links with many organisations, including Liverpool City Region (LEP) and Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, enabling improved communications, services, support and access to initiatives, such as the Local Growth Hub. We continue to develop associations with the Isle of Man Chamber of Commerce, a long term partnership promising benefits for both Wirral and Manx businesses respectively.

Wirral Chamber of Commerce and Wirral Council have formed one of the UK’s most advanced public - private partnerships, working together to deliver key services managed by the Chamber in adopting a commercial approach and enhancing the service provision.

We continue our engagement with schools and businesses through initiatives, such as the Careers and Enterprise Adviser Network, delivered with the Liverpool City Region LEP, and the Wirral Young Chamber, in partnering with Wirral Council. We support young people in raising aspirations and work readiness at both strategic and operational levels, and by career paths, Wirral Young Chamber offers our business community opportunities to connect, engage and influence the potential workforce of tomorrow. We will continue building these collaborative partnerships to deliver business and educational support excellence.

Relationship with universities and the college enabled business engagement within key business sectors, and has seen the Manufacturing Technology Centre (MTC) to develop the Skills Factory project, a core element of the Liverpool City Region skills infrastructure and investment made by the Combined Authority’s Single Investment Fund (SIF).

Objectives

+ Support development through partnerships to create economic growth

+ Develop the influence and actions of the Sector Forums

+ Encourage the interactions and activities of Patron and Strategic memberships

+ Engage with members to encourage mentoring in supporting small businesses

+ Strengthen business-to-business engagement to strengthen local supply chain offer

+ Create meaningful new partnerships locally, nationally and internationally.

Membership

Wirral Chamber of Commerce supports and connects our businesses, enabling opportunities for economic growth and development. We look to meet and exceed all needs and expectationsbasic foundations on which a successful Chamber of Commerce is built and can grow. We will attract new membership in all categories and retain existing membership through key services, member benefits and developing positive working relationships.

In growing an effective Chamber of Commerce we will:

Attract new membership and increase retention by valued initiatives, services and member benefits

Recognise and respond to business needs ensuring service excellence

Introduce a new Industry Leader membership category

Develop the strength of Patron and Strategic Partnerships

Improve communication with businesses

Develop and improve links to educational and training opportunities

Cultivate the influence of Wirral Chamber West Wirral (Hoylake) as a prime location for member and business engagement

Membership Targets

5 Introduce

Industry Leader Memberships

50 Increase Patron Membership by

Percent

45 Increase Strategic Partners by

700 Increase total business to

Percent members

“Effectively, change is almost impossible without industry-wide collaboration, cooperation and consensus” - Simon Mainwaring

“What do you need to start a business? Three simple things: know your product better than anyone, know your customer, and have a burning desire to succeed” - Dave Thomas, Founder of Wendy’s

Business Growth

Wirral Chamber of Commerce will create a business environment offering positive and creative opportunities for businesses to network, meet, extend participation in local, national and international markets, exchange ideas and best practice, together with building strong collaborative relationships.

Business Starts 2018

65 business starts created*

••••••••••••••••••••••••

••••••••••••••••••••••••

•••••••••••••••••

*over two year programme

204 entrepreneurs supported to be enterprise ready

TWO HUNDRED AND FOUR

Objectives 2019

+

Business Growth Projects 2018

To develop more strategic collaborations and provide strategic business engagements supporting economic growth, development and job creation

+ To enhance sector development activity supporting investment

+

To develop and encourage a sector focussed business start approach

Targets

+ Deliver in-depth support to a minimum of 80 companies

+ Support new businesses to a minimum of 55 new starts over a 12 month period

+ Increase event activity to 150 leading to 10,000 attendees (25% increase)

Events

Assets

Creating quality business accommodation is the bedrock of our business model. We will continue to seek opportunities to strengthen our property portfolio for the benefit of businesses, community and economic growth.

We have continued improving and attracting both business and third sector organisations to the Pacific Road Business Hub, The Lauries, and Egerton House in offering locations suited to business development.

In extending our reach by opening Wirral Chamber of Commerce (West Wirral) office (Hoylake) we have enabled greater engagement, visible presence and easier access for businesses in West Wirral.

Wirral Chamber of Commerce will continue generating profit and revenue from its asset portfolio and other income streams bolstering reserves and strengthening its sustainability and growth.

Our objectives are clear: to bring quality and flexibility in developing opportunities for job creation and economic growth.

Objectives

+

To strengthen revenues enabling investment into a sustainable and developing asset portfolio

+

To continue a creative process in bringing accommodation to the marketplace for the needs of business

+

To ensure that where applicable locations are able to hold key events supporting both business and third sectors

+

To identify new assets and other place-based opportunities

EGERTON HOUSE THE LAURIES PACIFIC ROAD

100% 12 120 23,000

85% 26 250+ 32,000

95% 22 140 25,000

deliver more than expected.” - Larry Page, Co-founder of Google

“Successful people do what unsuccessful people are not willing to do. Don't wish it were easier; wish you were better” - Jim Rohn

Place - Birkenhead BID

The importance of Place cannot be underestimated. A modern Chamber of Commerce needs to encourage its places to fulfil objectives. Wirral Chamber of Commerce supports place development and shaping through initiatives such as Birkenhead BID and promoting and developing the Visitor Economy.

Birkenhead BID works strategically across the delivery of four key performance indicators

Making Birkenhead Clean and Attractive

Making Birkenhead Safe and Secure

Marketing & Promoting Birkenhead

Supporting Businesses within Birkenhead

Objectives 2019 / 20

+ Retain a second term Birkenhead BID

+ Develop place making plan alongside key stakeholders for Birkenhead BID area

+ Curate a vibrant, thriving offer of events attracting people and communities to Place

+ Generate a robust commercial framework through various Lottery Partnership Funds, Commercial Sponsorship to enhance all elements of Place

+ Create a positive impact within the Birkenhead BID by increasing our economic impact

“It’s not about ideas. It’s about making ideas happen” - Scott Belsky, Co-founder of Behance

Place - Visitor Economy

We look to create a vibrant Visitor Economy to shape and develop an environment to meet the needs of a modern visitor industry and a thriving and profitable economy. Wirral Chamber of Commerce will support engagement locally, nationally and internationally promoting and marketing our offer through partner collaboration s in building a vibrant sector which adds value to Wirral’s economic prosperity.

Key Objectives

+ Support the Wirral Visitor Economy Network (WVEN) growth in developing partnerships and opportunities

+ Achieve aspirations and ambitions in making Wirral a must visit UK destination. + Raise Wirral’s profile, enhancing its image and reputation as a Place to visit, live, work and invest.

2019 Targets

+ Support the Wirral brand in regional, national and international markets

+ Increase WVEN membership by 50%

Wirral Visitor Economy is worth over £426 million

Employs over 5,347 full time staff21% increase since 2012

Attracts over 8.8 million

day and short break visitors every year - a 26% increase since 2012

+ Support performance development and productivity of visitor economy businesses

+ Increase membership of visitor economy start-up businesses by 25%

+ Ensure employee skill development within visitor economy sector

+ Promote Wirral and Liverpool City Region through business and organisation clusters for sharing best practice and improving operational quality

+ Drive ambition and inspiration within education system through Wirral Young Chamber and Young Chamber Cadets programmes – 2,000 young people +

+ Position, understand and express Wirral’s unique selling points and communicate to key markets.

+ Develop Wirral’s appeal as a valued added destination, increasing satisfaction, length of stay and expenditure

+ Support Wirral Council and the business community to increase business and leisure footfall

“The greatness of a community is most accurately measured by the compassionate actions of its members” - Coretta Scott King

Community

Wirral Chamber of Commerce will develop its community support through a diversity of involvement related to social, education, and visitor economies. We are supporting the local authority and its 2020 vision through Wirral Together in creating a partnership of residents and communities in building a vibrant economy.

Community Action: Wirral

Community Action: Wirral (CAW) has come together with Wirral Chamber of Commerce to develop relationship and collaborations in promoting, supporting and engaging with Wirral’s communities. CAW has enabled a deeper understanding of the local voluntary sector and also valuable signposting to groups in contributing views to project specific development.

Voluntary and community organisations play vital roles, creating opportunities and connecting people to participate in community life and support each other, creating change in the lives of people in the community and those community organisations.

CAW Proposed Activities 2019

45

New organisations supported in set up process

30

Trustee

Chamber Start

Woodside Area Community Interest Company – Woodside Ferry Village

Woodside Area Community Interest Comapny (WACIC) was formed to look at project development in and around the Woodside area of Birkenhead. During 2018 WACIC developed the Woodside Ferry Village concept in redesigning and restyling the existing main hall of the ferry terminal into a food village based on other successful national and international locations.

Woodside Ferry Village looks to support Wirral Council’s regeneration and wider growth proposals in creating development opportunities and employment.

Objectives and Targets 2019

+ Launch Woodside Ferry Village in Spring 2019

+ Create a vibrant destination venue attracting and increasing local and visitor footfall

+ Support existing and new start businesses to operate, flourish and grow within Woodside Ferry Village

+ Bring employment benefits by developing education, creativity, skills and talent

+ A minimum of six food concessions in place

+ To generate high levels of public participation

+ Involve local communities and group activities in developing Woodside as a Place Destination

“Our most valuable resources - creativity, communication, invention, and reinvention - are, in fact, unlimited” - David Grinspoon

Objectives

+

Communication is key to the relationship with our members, partners and the business community. In celebrating the success and contributions of our members we will continually evaluate and develop PR and marketing offers and services, including social media, digital and print media, E-newsletter, events and member collaboration.

Promote business success and achievements in championing Wirral

+

Publicise events to gain maximum attendance

+ Continue to support awareness of initiatives and events

+ Develop effectiveness of the Chamber website and content

+ Engage with membership stimulating media opportunities

+ Increase online visibility through social media networks

+ Engage with members not attending events or activities

Wirral Chamber Board of Directors

Sandra Kirkham - Chair (Progress to Excellence Group)

Paula Basnett - Director (Wirral Chamber of Commerce)

Geoff Street - Director (Sun Valley)

Rafael Willisch - Director (Finsa UK)

Alastair Gould - Director (McEwan Wallace)

Asif Hamid - Honorary President & Director (The Contact Company)

Alan Evans - Director (Wirral Council)

Somnath Saha - Director (Poundstretcher)

Patrick McCarthy - Director (Magenta Living)

Jonathan Quinn - Director (Quinnovations)

John Robinson - Director (Scantec)