The main aims of the new Chamber are to help businesses in the Bay area to connect with the community, to grow commercially, and move forward positively and strongly. Under the new Chairman, Dave Halton, the past 2 months have been extremely busy!
TOWN CENTRE BUSINESS SURVEY
The Chamber recognizes an urgent need for an up-to-date business survey to show the current trading and retail mix of the town. Councillors have said that it is difficult to make informed decisions about the town’s future when figures are out of date. The Chamber survey will show how business is currently performing, identify where help and support is needed, and how improvements can be made. We have a paper version and hope to create an online version too.
BREAKFAST MEETINGS are soon to resume as open to members and non-members alike. These will appear on the Chamber calendar in due course.
TRAINING, BUSINESS SUPPORT & MENTORING
We are looking for volunteers who can act as Business Mentors to help start-up businesses. Mark Lewis is also working on collating all the business-training courses that are available, many of which are free, so they can be located all in one place via our Chamber website. In the pipeline, with details to follow: We are setting up an HR helpline to a Coodes Solicitor to give some initial free advice to members; and a seminar to explain the legalities of business leases.
THE JUNIOR CHAMBER
Penrice School with teacher, Dave Watson, is fully onboard with the start of Junior Chamber and plans to invite Chamber members, who are interested in supporting this link, to a tour of the school, a lunch and to meet both the teachers and some very amazing students.
CAR PARKING CHARGES
We are researching parking charges against other towns across Cornwall, to make recommendation for sensible and attractive charges that will encourage shoppers to use the town for longer and much more frequently.
CAN YOU HELP?
Can you help with distribution & collection of the business surveys? Or are you interested in being a business mentor or helping school students in the Junior Chamber projects?
If you can, please email: secretary@staustellchamber.co.uk
Choose Cornish awards 2014 - "If everyone in Cornwall spent just 50p per week on Cornish produce it would deliver over £10million into our local economy in a year." 20th June closing date. To enter click here
Cornwall Sustainability awards 2014, is your business working to minimize negative impacts on the environment whilst maximizing the benefits to society? To register and apply click here
Barclays Bank, School for Start-ups South West. 250 free spaces on the programme up for grabs! Closing application 1st June 2014. Expert business advice and mentoring to newly established businesses and those setting up. 6-week programme (includes 6 weeks of mentoring and 3 one day workshops.) The cost normally around £1000/Register via: 0207 7591896/1895, or schoolforstartups.co.uk. Workshops run in either June or September in Plymouth, Exeter, Truro, Torquay and Yeovil.
DATE FOR THE NEXT MEETING
We had to juggle the date.
6pm, Tuesday, 24th June 2014 at St Austell Printing Company
To be followed by a Coyte Farm 2 presentation by Metric / Mercian for CHAMBER MEMBERS ONLY (Join and have your say for just £36 per year).
