Welcome guests and a swarm of accountants and business coaches

Lots of guests and a “swarm” of accountants and business coaches at the March breakfast

We had an impressive number of guests in March and welcomed back an old friend in a new guise, Neil Lennon has left LloydsTSB to set up his own new venture, Jaminka consultancy, helping businesses improvement.

He joined three other business consultant/coaches at the meeting along with five accountants and book keepers. There is no shortage of people able to keep the rest of us in order!

Paul Johnstone, of Paradigm Shakers made us all stand up and attempt to achieve a near-impossible feat of circular digital dexterity to illustrate his provision of thought provoking training.

Simon Burton of 8CW was able to climb down from his ladder for a rare appearance with another of his household tips, this time on how to prevent the musty smell that afflicts vacuum flasks when they’re put away for the summer – simple, just add two sugar lumps!

Jim Darrah came armed with a small fire extinguisher containing a powder and clearly labelled in blue as being for outdoor use.  He has come across a number of places where these were indoors and warns that the powder is lethal in a confined space.  He urged members to spread the warning message if they came across any indoors.

A plea from new Town Centre Manager Sharon Brown

The town council is planning to bid for some of the town centre regeneration money that came out of “Queen of Shops” Mary Portas’ recent review of the country’s high streets.

The bid needs support, so please send letters of support to the town council as soon as possible.

StartUp Suffolk

Tim Meadows-Smith announced an initiative as part of  his work for StartUp Suffolk.  There will be a new not-for-profit club in Stowmarket, the Start and Grow Business Club, which already involves a number of Stowmarket Chamber members, including Lisa Dickson, of Caseron.

Lisa, who is co-ordinating the club, added that there is already a draft plan and that the idea is to offer new businesses a half day workshop each month to help them develop a business plan and provide information on other aspects of business development.

The club is looking for more volunteers with expertise to work with young and start-up businesses as mentors or advisers or as speakers.

Peter’s Bees

Peter and Queen Bee had plenty of updates:

1 The new website is now live. People are urged to register their business, which is free to all, and there is now also a free enhanced listing available to Stowmarket & District Chamber members.

2 The committee is considering changing the membership conditions for those businesses wanting to become town, as opposed to county, members from a maximum of three employees to a maximum of ten employees.

3 Peter represented the Chamber at a seminar at Stowmarket High School for school leavers.

4 Stowmarket & District Chamber is supporting the proposed new Stowmarket Start and Grow Business Club.

Any comments or suggestions please email Peter on:
peter.avoca@talktalk.net

Anyone who has a story to publicise should contact publicity officer Alison Withers:
info@stowmarketchamber.co.uk

And finally….

Fresh from her appearance at Waterstone’s, Ipswich, Niche expert Rachel Henke told us more about her global virtual consultancy helping people to identify their particular niche expertise and then to harness the power of the internet in an organised way through social media, video and other tools, blogs – ending with the message: “whatever your business is, make it fun!”

Dates for your diary: 

next chamber breakfast at the Golf Club

April 20

Remember the earlier start – 6.45 am!
For more information contact Keely Taylor
phone: 01449 770965
e-mail: secretary@stowmarketchamber.co.uk
or book here
http://bit.ly/nm3QvJ 

website:
www.stowmarketchamber.co.uk