New members

Dorset Chamber welcomes our New Members

Okana

Christchurch 01202 070040 We support company directors, business owners and HR teams through practical employee relations advice and blended HR services, including employee relations support, investigations, mediation, and conflict resolution.

Brewhouse and Kitchen

Bournemouth 01202 830051 Brewhouse and Kitchen is the UK’s largest and most innovative brewpub group.

Founded in 2011 by pub industry trailblazers Simon Bunn and Kris Gumbrell, the entrepreneurs saw an opportunity to recreate the ‘Great British Pub’ – a great social space with knowledgeable, friendly teams, the best beer, wine and spirits (a range of craft beers are brewed on site by the resident brewer) and excellent food.

In addition, offering brewery experience days, beer masterclasses, gin masterclasses and now whisky and beer pairing across the group makes B&K unique and different.

#GetBusinessDone

Havencrown Marquee

Blandford Forum 07717 258925 The UK’s leading marquee and cover washing machine supplier, Havencrown Marquee Cleaning Machines Ltd is a small, privately owned company situated in Dorset. Starting in 1996, it is now owned and run by Steven and Stella Roy. Havencrown machines are designed to be as simple as possible, efficient and highly reliable.

The machines are built to order in our workshops in Blandford Forum. The highly skilled team constructs the stainless-steel frame and many of the key components. The machine is then fully assembled and tested before delivery to the customer.

We are available 24/7 to help with any urgent support requirements, which can usually be handled on the telephone.

House of Risk

Poole 07361 832293 House of Risk is a risk and assurance consultancy business set up to provide solutions that are specifically tailored to each client’s individual requirements. We identify customer challenges and collaboratively create strategies to move forward quickly in a solution-focused approach. We work B2B, ensuring that boards, committees and lenders feel comforted that organisations have appropriate corporate assurances in place. The core areas we offer experienced support are risk management, internal audit, business continuity, insurance programmes and corporate assurance activities.

JW9

Bournemouth 07818 141717 At JW9, we primarily focus on assisting companies with research and development tax credit applications. We work with companies of all sizes and from many different fields. At a time when many companies are struggling, the R&D scheme is providing additional revenue for businesses, many of which didn’t originally know they were eligible to claim.

LEDhouse Ltd

Poole 02038 086917 LED screen and AV production rental and sales. We use the latest technology and have an expert team of specialists to deliver you the highest quality service. We provide large indoor and outdoor screens for a wide range of events such as exhibitions, festivals, sports events, TV production and retail.

Reed Specialist

Bournemouth 01202 585585 As an established recruiter across Hampshire, Dorset and Wiltshire, REED Specialist Recruitment are experts in their field of qualified professionals and transactional roles in any office environment.

The team at Reed Bournemouth recruits for a wide variety of jobs across Dorset, Wiltshire and Hampshire. We have specialist recruiters that cover all roles in the accountancy, finance, business support, financial services and legal sectors. REED has 20 specialisms and each recruiter is a specialist in their specific field.

Please contact the area manager, Jamie Iles, for any recruitment queries or for a confidential chat.

JOIN THE DORSET CHAMBER

To become a member visit: www.dorsetchamber.co.uk/join

BCC Business Manifesto for new Prime Minister

The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) has sent the Prime Minister a Business Manifesto to get firms through the tough months ahead and then power the UK’s economic recovery.

Businesses are the very bedrock of the economy, but currently face a host of challenges which threaten the survival of many; eye watering energy bills, labour shortages, 40-year high inflation, and rising interest rates. The Bank of England is now also forecasting a two-year recession.

The BCC’s latest Quarterly Economic Survey highlighted an alarming drop in business confidence and conditions, with key economic indicators falling back to Covid-crisis levels. One in three firms reported a decrease in cashflow, while 25% reported a decrease in domestic sales.

In the wake of the October fiscal statement, the BCC conducted a snap poll of almost 500 firms, to assess the extent to which the chancellor’s plans would impact their investment intentions. Overall, only 6% of businesses said they would increase their investment, while 37% said they would decrease it as a result of the fiscal statement. The BCC’s Business Manifesto sets out 17 key policies designed to tackle the challenges facing businesses across the economy, the labour market, international trade and Net Zero. Top of the list for urgent action are: Investment in infrastructure Government must prioritise long-term growth by financing public projects, with a particular emphasis on green and digital infrastructure. As a result of the Multiplier Effect, investing in public infrastructure, such as the HS2 rail link, will have a high value impact on growth; stimulating local economies and creating jobs across the UK. Energy support for businesses Rising energy costs is the number one concern cited by businesses. Government must provide certainty on how the energy support package will work from April so that businesses can plan for the future. Tackling the tight labour market There are currently 1.2million unfilled jobs in the UK labour market, meaning businesses must turn new work away. Government must promote the creation of a skilled workforce by offering tax breaks to businesses that invest in training and upskilling. The UK also needs an immigration system that caters to the needs of the labour market. A reform of the Shortage Occupation List is urgently required to help businesses fill job vacancies when they cannot recruit locally. Promoting export-led growth More than a quarter (28%) of SME exporters reported decreased sales in Q3 of this year. International trade presents significant opportunities for UK businesses to expand and grow. However, barriers to trade must be removed in order to allow firms to realise their full trading potential. The UK government must work with the European Commission to reach a negotiated solution on business compliance burdens with the Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland.

Presenting the BCC Business Manifesto, Shevaun Haviland, director general of the BCC, said: “With a new government and prime minister at the head of the table, it is high time we saw a long-term growth plan that involves investment in people and skills; supports businesses to adapt and thrive; and builds good relationships with our global allies to get British businesses selling again.

“People run businesses and businesses rely on people. This business manifesto offers solutions, including cost-free options, to get our economy moving in the right direction again.”