Associated Chambers

DORSET BUSINESS FOCUS / BUSINESS PARTNER NEWS Associated Town Chambers

Bridport Business Chamber of Trade and Commerce

www.bridportbusiness.org.uk Our mission is to ensure that Bridport provides the ideal environment for businesses to thrive and to supply the goods and services that the town and surrounding area needs to remain economically vibrant.

Dorchester Chamber for Business

www.dorchesterchamber.co.uk We play an active role helping to promote local business and enterprise, representing a wide range of businesses both large and small. Our priority is to help our members work together to boost trade. In addition, we are also working with community partners on our Retain & Retrain campaign to promote apprenticeships and similar initiatives to further enhance employability in Dorchester.

Gillingham Chamber of Commerce and Industry

www.gcci.co.uk Gillingham Chamber of Commerce and Industry has been around since the 1930s. Many of our members come from outside the High Street where diversity encompasses old family firms, industrial estate units and new modern work from home and digital businesses. We are very much involved in local initiatives and other groups such as Town Council, Gillingham School, Gillingham in Gear, Dementia Friends, Town Team in particular. www.shaftesburychamber.co.uk The Shaftesbury Chamber has around 100 members from its two business parks and independent High Street businesses. They hold monthly networking meetings and are very active in the development of the town’s economy. Unlike many other towns, Christmas lights and activities are entirely run and paid for by Chamber members.

Sherborne Chamber of Trade and Commerce

www.sherbornechamber.co.uk The Sherborne Chamber of Commerce exists to promote its members’ businesses and the wider business community. It has a membership in excess of 150. The chamber is involved in just about every event that takes place in the town, supporting the Sherborne community, attracting media interest and creating a memorable experience for visitors to the town.

Swanage & District Chamber of Trade

www.swanagechamberoftrade.co.uk We have many ways of helping to promote all businesses in Swanage, the most popular of these is the Swanage Map. This is provided to tourists free of charge through all local hotels and the tourist information centre. As a member, you will be taking an active part in helping develop business opportunities in Swanage.

SturBiz - Sturminster Newton Chamber of Commerce

www.facebook.com/SturBiz The Sturminster Newton Chamber of Commerce was set up in 2018 and named SturBiz for simplicity. Its mission is to promote and enhance Sturminster Newton and surrounding area’s economy and its businesses and support a thriving and effective business community

Weymouth & Portland Chamber of Commerce

www.wpchamber.co.uk The chamber has been supporting businesses for over 100 years, encouraging and inspiring businesses of all sizes. We’ve helped many people to find their feet in the local business community, by providing an environment where they can connect with likeminded people. In recent years we’ve represented the concerns of businesses to the local councils, contributing to a significant cut in the cost of car parking charges. We played an important role in the establishment of the Weymouth BID, in whose operation we take a keen interest.

#GetBusinessDone

Let there be light!

Poole Sea Cadets held their AGM and prize giving recently and were able to reflect upon another successful year.

The prizes were presented by the unit’s patron, the Mayor of Poole, Councillor Tony Trent accompanied by the Sheriff of Poole, Councillor Mike Brooke. President, Rear Admiral Nick Lambert, RN (Retd), was also on hand to help guide proceedings.

The evening was held with the large audience sitting under lighting which didn’t have to tap into the national grid at all, which reflected a big achievement story of the year. The cadet unit successfully implemented a solar panel scheme which the cadets named ‘Project Liquid Sun.’ This was achieved through a successful grant bid to Low Carbon Dorset and, as a result, solar panels were installed which provide clean energy and feed battery storage. The panels are now generating enough energy to enable the unit to sell electricity back to the grid.

Poole Sea Cadets is the first Sea Cadet unit in the country – out of more than 400 – to implement such a strategy and it is likely that many others will now follow Poole’s example.

The substantial sum of money saved can now be spent on the cadet experience.

At the awards, achievements of all sorts including musical, sporting, seamanship and helping support the community were all highlighted. During the year, the 60 cadets who form the unit achieved 492 qualifications which is an endorsement not only of the cadets, but also the valued band of volunteer instructors. www.sea-cadets.org/poole

Smart meters are a smart decision for your business this winter

Firms of all sizes are currently being confronted by a host of challenges, from soaring energy bills, labour shortages, spiralling inflation, and climbing interest rates.

As a business owner, you need to ensure that your doors stay open and that your business can thrive, no matter what the season brings.

Did you know that a smart meter could help your business this winter and beyond? Smart meters are the next generation of gas and electricity meters currently being rolled out in homes and small businesses across Great Britain by energy suppliers.

If you are looking for practical advice to help tackle these challenges, a smart meter could be a positive step for your business. Make informed choices about your firm’s energy usage A smart meter could give you valuable insights into how your business uses energy, day and night, helping you to identify ways to reduce your energy use. Close the door on estimated bills Installing a smart meter is a positive step in taking control of business outgoings. Once installed, smart meters digitally measure how much energy you’re using and send your meter reading directly to your energy supplier at agreed intervals, putting an end to estimated bills. Don’t let energy costs keep you awake at night Installing a smart meter can help you closely monitor where you spend your money, helping with planning and projection of costs in the short, medium, and long term. They allow you to spend less time worrying about cash flow and more time running your business. Find out if you are eligible for a smart meter Whether you rent or own your business premises, you could still be eligible. If you don’t have your own gas and/or electricity meter, ask your landlord if they plan to get one for your building.

Half of eligible businesses across Great Britain already have a smart or advanced meter installed.

Firms with 10 employees or less could be eligible for a smart meter.

To find out more please visit www. smartenergygb.org/about-smart-meters/geta-smart-meter.

You can also contact your energy supplier or broker.

FOCUS ON legal

with Frettens Solicitors

The members of a company can remove a director before the expiration of their period of office, even if they have an agreement with the company, under Section 168 of the Companies Act 2006. If shareholders feel that a director is failing to act in accordance with their duties they can take steps to remove the director. The strict process for removing a director is as follows: 1. Serving special notice on the company, at least 28 days in advance 2. On receipt of the notice, a general meeting must be called by directors 3. The director is given the right to make written representations in response to the proposed removal 4. At the meeting, the director is also entitled to make representations in person and once these have been heard, the members in attendance (and who are entitled to vote) must vote on the resolution 5. The resolution will be passed if a simple majority (over 50%) of shareholders vote in favour. Significant legal consequences can arise for a company if a director who is also an employee is removed under Section 168 without careful consideration being given to such matters. There can also be consequences where a director has been removed who is also shareholder. If you are considering removing a director under Section 168, we recommend seeking legal advice to mitigate the risk of such claims.

Once the director is removed under Section 168, the company’s statutory books need to be updated and Companies House must be notified within 14 days.

Zoe Watson, the author of this article, is an experienced Corporate & Commercial solicitor and the latest addition to our growing and well-resourced team, alongside Paul Longland. Zoe and Paul would be happy to provide tailored advice on removing a director legally, without giving rise to claims. zwatson@frettens.co.uk 01202 499255 www.frettens.co.uk