Sheffield Chamber – the voice of business in the city – has been short listed by the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) for two awards.
The recognition comes in two out of the four categories awarded annually by the BCC, which attract scores of entries.
‘Excellence in Membership Services’, and ‘Excellence in International Trade’ are the categories where the Sheffield Chamber have been shortlisted for the awards dinner in London November 30.
Brenda Jordan, Operations Director at the Sheffield Chamber, said: “This really shows that the new membership offers, launched in the latter part of 2016, offers a business proposition to our members.
“Like all organisations we want to be known for the service we offer. Businesses can choose the service they require, and membership costs reflect that service. We are particularly pleased by how many members have chosen Premium Partner level which costs £1,200 per year but delivers a wide range of services and events that our members seem to really appreciate.”
International Trade has been a target area for many years, where the Chamber has always campaigned that the best way to repair the economy is to sell more abroad.
Nick Patrick, International Trade Manager, said: “We have worked hard to deliver a value added, one-stop shop for businesses already trading, or wanting to start, in all areas of the world. We measure ourselves on how many enquiries we get from our members and how many of those turn into profitable orders.
“It has necessitated a different approach to traditional business support projects and we maintain an active network of agents who can act on behalf of our clients all over the world. We have had some wonderful success this year where clients have secured big orders.”
Richard Wright, Executive Director, added: “This shortlisting is a just reward for the hard work many people have put into the Chamber over several years and the support we get from our hundreds of members. Our strategy has been to remove our reliance on public sector contracts but focus on real business services.
“The membership offer reflects that, but International Trade is something we believe we are best in class at and reflects business reality. We firmly believe that this will be the Asian century. By 2050 we will be more interested in trade with Asia and India than we will be with Europe. Brexit is important but only for a while!”
