WPCC President Andrew Knowles is writing a series of articles for the local magazine “The Register”.
How the Chamber of Commerce helps Weymouth and Portland.
Did you know that the Weymouth & Portland Chamber of Commerce has raised thousands of pounds for local charities? That it’s helped young people to gain valuable work experience? And that it’s helped many local firms to do more business?
The work of the Chamber is often invisible to people outside it. Take charity fundraising, for example. Every year the President of the Chamber nominates a charity, for which funds are raised at events such as the Chamber Christmas lunch. The charity selected for 2017 is Butterflies, a small local organisation that raises money to buy specialist equipment for disabled children. All the money is raised from Chamber members. For the last few years the Chamber has helped make it easier for a local student to set out on a rewarding career. This is by sponsoring a student from Budmouth College, allowing them to undertake work experience in a local company. The sponsorship makes it easier for the student to gain several weeks of intensive work experience in the industry they have ambitions to work in. As a result, the student has a better understanding of the workplace, making them more attractive to a potential employer. The Chamber also helps support apprenticeships and Chamber members give up time to help students with mock interviews. Another way that the Chamber benefits our community is by helping businesses to grow and thrive. This happens in many different ways. The Chamber is a source of useful information to local firms, making them aware of training courses, finance opportunities and general business news in the local area. By bringing people together at regular events, such as the popular Business Breakfast, the Chamber helps businesses to get to know one another. This encourages them to work together and can lead to local collaboration and partnerships. The Weymouth & Portland Chamber of Commerce has brought benefits to both its members and the wider community for almost a century, and it’s continuing to work hard to serve Weymouth and Portland today.