What's on at your Chamber?

June was certainly a monumental month for Shropshire Chamber and our members!

Our annual prestigious Shropshire Chamber Business Awards 2024 was another huge success, and a great opportunity to celebrate the very best businesses in Shropshire. While we're all sad that it's over, let's take a look at some of the highlights from the evening and say another huge congratulations to our twelve fantastic winners.

You can check out the full list of our winners here

Or, click here for their fantastic winning shots!

If you are as obsessed about the Business Awards as much as we are, click here to read even more about the night for further insights from the evening from our CEO Ruth Ross, and our President, Piran Littleton.

And if you fancy reminiscing about the evening, you can watch our video highlights - including exclusive interviews with the winners and behind-the-scenes footage revealing all the blood, sweat, and tears that went into the build-up to the event.

Introducing Our New Apprentice

In early June, we were thrilled to welcome Chloe Symms to our Chamber team as a Business Support Apprentice.

Before joining us, Chloe worked in hospitality, enhancing her customer-facing and communication skills as well as being able to respond well under pressure. She's now eager for a new challenge and is seeking a career in finance.

Already, Chloe has become a massive help in the office. She assists the team with staying up to date with their to-do lists and keeps them organised with those dreaded admin tasks that we all put off for as long as we can (we all do it, don't lie). Chloe has also started attending training to upskill in areas needed for the finance world, including Excel, time management, and much more.

The team is really excited to support Chloe through her apprenticeship and help her meet all the criteria to achieve her certification to the best of her abilities!

She's a huge asset to the Shropshire Chamber team, and hopes to work her way up to our Finance department following the completion of her Apprenticeship.

Please join us in extending a warm welcome to Chloe into our community and connect with her on LinkedIn:

Chloe Symms ??

What's Coming Up in July/August?

We know that the next month or so is particularly busy - with the kids breaking up from school, and lots of your team members off enjoying their well-deserved summer holidays. As a result, our event and training calendar is a little quieter over the next few weeks so you don't miss out on important and exciting events or opportunities.

But don't worry - for those of you still interested, you can check out our full line-up here. And our team is on-hand to support with any questions you might have.

Upcoming Events

• Netwalking - 19th July
• Chamber Evening Social - 8th August

Network Clubs

• Oswestry Combined Network Club - 24th July
• Oswestry Network Club - 1st August
• Telford Network Club - 15th August
• Shrewsbury Combined Network Club - 29th August

Upcoming Training

There is no training going ahead in August but keep your eyes peeled for our next LinkedIn newsletter to discover what courses we have coming up for the next few months.

Want to plan ahead? Click here to view all training courses that are scheduled for the remainder of the year and secure your places.

That said, there's a whole host of UKSPF courses (fully-funded by the UK Government) available over the next few weeks - so do check out the below and see if it's of interest for you and your team.

UKSPF - What is it?

UKSPF stands for UK Shared Prosperity Fund, which focuses on levelling up opportunity and prosperity across the UK. It is, fundamentally, about enhancing people's pride in the places they love and seeing that reflected back in empowered local leaders and communities.

The UK Government provides ￡2.6 billion in funding for local investment by March 2025, and this money will go straight to local places right across England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. The three local priorities are:

• Communities and place
• Support for local businesses
• People and skills

That's why here at the Shropshire Chamber of Commerce we're now offering fully-funded courses to boost productivity, spread opportunity, restore a sense of community, and empower local leaders and communities.

We have two projects that could benefit you:

UKSPF Upskilling Project

This project consists of two programmes that are business focused, targeting managers, employees, and others. Both programmes are designed to upskill employees and employers, allowing them to foster growth in their businesses.

Click here to find out more about UKSPF Upskilling Project

UKSPF Shropshire Skills Hub

This project is focused on support for individuals based in the Shropshire Council Local Authority area, providing fully funded vocational qualifications.

Click here to find out more about UKSPF Shropshire Skills Hub

Latest News and Top Tips From Shropshire Chamber Members

Mfg Solicitors Urge Couples to Legally Protect Their Property For Loved Ones

Miss McAneny said: “There must be an increased awareness that if you own a property with your partner as tenants in common and decide to then leave your share of that property when you die, to someone else such as a sibling or child, your partner may be forced to sell the property for the sibling or child to receive their inheritance, unless you make provisions to protect your partner in a Will."

Read more to see how this could affect you. ?

Serchems Release Their Ultimate Professional Hygiene Range

The new range touches every facet of cleaning, and provides the answer to difficult areas of hygiene!

Alison Arnold, Commercial Director of Serchem, said: “We are delighted with the end result and believe it will make a massive difference to companies and other organisations in helping them to meet their cleaning, hygiene and decontamination needs to the very highest standard."?

Read more and find out how Serchem can tailor to your unique requirements.

New Government Must Commit to Long-term Infrastructure Plan

McPhillips, Shropshire's biggest construction company, today, urged the new Government to commit to developing UK infrastructure, including investing into hospitals and schools.

Paul Inions, Managing Director of McPhillips said: “We need to see Sir Keir Starmer and his new Labour Government commit to its key ambition to deliver a strategic long-term programme of investment in the nation’s “crumbling infrastructure".”

Read more

Don't forget, our team is always here to help you and your business! Call us on 01952 208200 or email us at [email protected] to get in touch today.