Stowmarket & District Chamber of Commerce

The Stowmarket & District Chamber of Commerce plays an increasingly active and significant role in the business and commercial scene in the town. With a lively and growing membership, the Chamber is fully representative of Stowmarket business, and has full affiliation with the Suffolk Chamber, bringing all the benefits of County Chamber membership.

Membership

Currently membership of the Stowmarket and District Chamber is about 50; mainly small enterprises providing professional services ranging from overseas investment, to domestic banking, physiotherapy, advertising website design, IT support, HR services and secretarial support. We are seeking to increase representation from the retail sector.

Networking Breakfasts

A monthly event open to members and guests where one can learn about other local businesses and exchange information that may lead to opportunities for new business and for collaborative ventures.

Breakfast meetings frequently include a short talk on relevant business services or on recent changes to statutory controls which may affect business.

Seminars

Half-day seminars on best business practices are held each quarter. These informal seminars can lead to extension of management skills and staff training.

Stowmarket Town Centre Promotion Group

The Chamber is an active participant in this group, which was formed as an initiative of the Town Council, to bring together representative of public and private sector interests in the town to consider and take action upon immediate issues such as litter control and to exert influence on planning of future facilities in the town, including transport and infrastructure.

Projects

A diverse range of local initiatives is undertaken to promote visibility and foster activity among local business ventures, including:

Sponsoring a hanging basket for the East Anglia in Bloom competition
Donating trophies for Stowmarket Rugby Club 15/15 Competition and also for the Best Christmas Window.
Tour of facilities at container Port of Felixstowe, including discussions with port officers and shippers.
Sponsorship of children’s playground equipment (under consideration)
“Dragon’s Den” business challenge for Year 10 schoolchildren and participation in other “school to workplace” initiatives.

Suffolk Chamber of Commerce

Affiliation of Stowmarket and District Chamber with Suffolk Chamber of Commerce gives members ready access to a wide range of networking events and key business services, facilitating business development and opening the door to better links within the wider business community, including:

Market analyses, intelligence on new and overseas markets and export documentation services; all at preferential rates.
Suffolk Online Business Network. Enter www.suffolkb2b.co.uk to receive alerts by email or text of invitations to tender from a wide range of public and private sector purchasers.
Over 60 workshops on important business topics each year, including changes in taxation and legislation.
Discounted commercial services including Healthcare, Utilities and FREE Legal Advice.
The Information Centre offers the business the gateway to a wealth of data to help their business flourish e.g. grant searches, product sourcing, credit searches etc.
Assistance for companies with grants for training and helping businesses with the launch of local, national and trans-national projects. Last year members of Suffolk Chamber benefited from over £100,000 in training grants.
Liaison with neighbouring Chambers of Commerce in Bury St Edmunds, Haverhill, Hadleigh, Ipswich and Felixstowe, leading to participation projects of mutual interest.

Stowmarket - a good place to do business