InspireIntroduction
From the Chief Executive Busy time, successful activities We’ve run a number of highly successful information sharing, networking and inspiration events. In March, more than 80 Hertfordshire businesswomen attended the Women in Leadership’s launch lunch to hear the success stories by two highly successful women, incredibly inspirational people, who smashed their glass ceilings, Nora Senior (British Chamber of Commerce president) and science writer Sue Nelson. We feature their stories in this edition. Charles Walker, MP for Broxbourne and Council Leader, Paul Mason, spoke at a Chamber networking event, giving very eloquent, inspiring presentations on Ambition Broxbourne’s priority on skills and employment development, part of the area’s wider economic strategies. We grab every opportunity to get our Hertfordshire Members of Parliament to hear how their support is critical to Hertfordshire receiving some much needed government funding through both our Regional growth hub funding bid, and also the LEP Strategic Economic Plan bid (SEP), and what we as a business community need. We’ve banged our drum with Stephen McPartland (Stevenage), Anne Main (St Albans), Charles Walker (Broxbourne), David Gauke
(South West Herts) and Grant Shapps (Welwyn & Hatfield) — and we’ll continue to do so.
Binding with other Chambers In March we affiliated with the Berkhamstead Chamber as part of our vision to expand our direct membership — for greater networking and business-building relationships for our members. We are exploring ways to develop greater dual membership opportunities with other town chambers such as Bishop Stortford, for the same mutual advantages for our respective members and the business community in general. We’re also working with sister Chambers in neighbouring counties, Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire, to build relationships and unify our business voice.
Economic review According to the latest British Chamber of Commerce’s Quarterly Economic Review for Hertfordshire, there are strong signals for optimism — sales, orders, turnover, profitability, prices and export sales and orders have increased. The factors that remained a concern for Hertfordshire businesses were exchange and business rates, inflation, competition and corporate tax.
The Budget, since then, will have addressed some of these. It is so important that Hertfordshire businesses complete the Quarterly Economic Review requests — they do have an impact in central government economic policies. Without your voice, we don’t have one.
Local economic initiatives As a voice of business in the county, we fully support the Herts LEP Strategic Economic Plan that campaigns for £346m government long-term investment in Hertfordshire with £42m shortterm funding to jump start our local economy. This funding will help us achieve 38,600 net additional jobs, £3bn net additional uplift in economic growth, of which, it is planned; £3.25m will be for an SME Business Growth Package.
Sector forums We’re setting up forums for information sharing and industry campaigning where needed, and invite our members to participate in the Women in Leadership, the Engineering and Manufacturing forums. To register interest, contact Christine at: christinefaulkner@hertschamber. com. Please do come forward and represent your sector.
Inspiring Hertfordshire The responses to the Awards 2014
Information Editorial and General Enquiries Hertfordshire Chamber of Commerce MacLaurin Building, 4 Bishops Square, Hatfield, Hertfordshire, AL10 9NE Tel: 01707 398400 Fax: 01707 398430 Email: enquiries@hertschamber.com Web: www.hertschamber.com Chief Executive: Yolanda Rugg Publisher Ian Fletcher Benham Publishing 3tc House, 16 Crosby Rd, Crosby, Liverpool L22 0NY Tel: 0151 236 4141 Fax: 0151 236 0440 Email: admin@benhampublishing.com Web: www.benhampublishing.com Published April 2014 © Benham Publishing and Hertfordshire Chamber of Commerce. Advertising and Features Karen Hall Tel: 0151 236 4141 Email: karen@benhampublishing.com
entry invitation have been fantastic. The quality and number of entries is very impressive with even more businesses entering. We urge you, if you haven’t entered, to come along and be inspired by the talent we have in the County, and world class businesses. Come along on Thursday 15 May; book a table for your company and be part of our celebration of success and inspiration.
Working together By getting involved with the Chamber’s various activities, and supporting it in growing our local economy, through jobs creation, investment, sector growth, there is no question about it — you get much more out of it for your business; developing good contacts, generating income opportunities and picking up along the way best business practice. Please do get involved by supporting the local forums, speaking at or attending events or sending in articles.
Contents Production Manager Fern Badman Tel: 0151 236 4141 Email: studio@benhampublishing.com Media No. 1389 Disclaimer Inspire is published for Hertfordshire Chamber of Commerce and is distributed without charge to Chamber members. All correspondence should be addressed to Hertfordshire Chamber of Commerce. Views expressed in Inspire are not necessarily those of Hertfordshire Chamber of Commerce. Reprinting in whole or part is forbidden except by permission. © 2014. Please note that submitting an article does not guarantee publication. Whilst every effort is made to ensure the accuracy and reliability of material published in this journal, Benham Publishing and its agents can accept no responsibility for the veracity of claims made by contributions in advertising or editorial content. Benham Publishing cannot be held responsible for any inaccuracies in web or email links supplied to us.
Up Front 4-13 Spotlight on... 16-18 Regional Feature 21 24 Hours 23 International Trade 24-25 Skills Apprenticeship 26-27 Chamber Policy 29 Inspiring Herts 30-31 Business News 32-37 Forum News 38-39 Women in Leadership 40-41 New Members 42-43 Member Benefits 44 Chamber Chatter 45 Chamber Events 46-47 Member Spotlight 48-49 Last Word 50
INSPIRE
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