These results are not conclusive, however they provide good insight into the business perceptions and expectations of the Chamber’s current role and function.
The survey usefully opens for discussion how the Chamber will best be able to continue to improve its service for its current and future members.
St Austell Chamber has two distinct functions:
1) For the benefit of it’s members, helping business to grow. The more members we have the more of the following benefits can be offered.
- Provides: Networking events and referral opportunities
- Peer to peer support and mentoring
- Advice, help-lines, preferential promotion opportunities (e.g. the website)
- Access to training and recruitment, funding opportunities and so forth.
2) It also serves several important functions for the wider business community and as the commentator for economic needs of this area:
- Through local knowledge and experience, it providesthe authentic voice for business and is able to lobby on behalf of its members and the wider business community.
- It is also required to be the leading commentator on our local economy and hold principal information about trading within the town and the surrounding area.
- Our Chamber has a significant part to play in informing planners, politicians and major stakeholders of its recommendations on decisions that could either inhibit growth potential or those that are most likely to stimulate improvement.
- The Chamber also can comment in the area of Developers Contributions (Section 106 monies), where mitigation for potential harm is required and discussing what measures would assist in strengthening the performance of the town or particular area that is likely to be most affected.
