Survey Shows Networking as Top Perk of Chamber Membership

West Cheshire and North Wales Chamber of Commerce’s 2011 annual survey has shown members value networking opportunities and access to perks like HR and legal support as the best reasons to join the organisation.

Distributed electronically in December to more than 700 businesses across West Cheshire and North Wales, the annual survey asked for their views on a range of subjects like issues that concern their business, government legislation and the best types of networking.

The survey was designed to be brief, asking focused questions the Chamber felt would help identify areas of success and improvement.

More than half of the people (56.5%) who responded said they joined the Chamber for access to high quality networking opportunities and events. 13% said access to membership benefits was the main factor to signing up, whilst 8.7% said it was to stay informed about local business news.

The survey identified issues that concern members across the region, with 27.8% of respondents saying that competition/reduced market due to the economy was the biggest problem. 26% said it was the possibility of a double dip recession, whilst 11% suggested finding recession support.

Members also felt the Government needed to do more to:

• Support SME’s to ensure larger corporations pay their bills within 30 days
• Reduce bureaucracy and ‘red tape’ wherever possible as it is a waste of money and resources
• Make planning processes more efficient and deal with tax evasion
• Reduce or abolish insurance premium tax as it acts as a barrier to business.

More than 60% of respondents said Government legislation had in some way affected their business:

• Lack of funding slowed the housing market
• Levies charged across the insurance industry relating to PPI’s has led to businesses paying for indiscretions of others
• New employment laws in a positive way and the rate of VAT negatively
• Bureaucracy through health and safety as well as employment legislation
• Consistency of employer supported childcare benefits has been positive.

After identifying networking opportunities as the strongest reason to join the Chamber, members felt that business to business events, networking events organised jointly with other organisations and seminars as the most useful types. They dismissed sports themed events, curry nights, speed networking or other ‘gimmicky’ opportunities as least useful.

Members were also asked which priorities the Chamber should focus on, with 25% asking us to develop new business opportunities. 21.5% asked us to provide more support for businesses, whilst 18% want us to do more to support the regional economy. Some respondents also identified other areas they felt the Chamber should consider:

·More networking events

·Ensure regional situation is main focus rather than national issues

·Review/expand range of training courses/events to cover up to date legislation

·Information on grants that may be available for small businesses.

Peter Hawkins, Chamber Vice Chairman for West Cheshire said: “As a membership organisation, our members are our focus and priority in all the work we do. As always the annual survey has been an invaluable tool for Chamber members to have their say on the organisation and the work both the staff and directors complete on their behalf.

“The 2011 survey has provided some extremely interesting results, especially that members value our high quality networking events as a key reason to join the Chamber. It has also helped us understand the areas that are their concern and where we should be looking for ways to provide support.”