Weymouth & Portland Chamber of Commerce the voice of the south Dorset business community …
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Doing business in south Dorset
Weymouth and Portland is a thriving coastal area and an exciting place to live and work. The area blends the outstanding natural beauty of the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site with easy access to the major conurbation of Poole and Bournemouth, along with a mainline railway service to London.
About WPCC
The Weymouth & Portland Chamber of Commerce is committed to supporting economic growth in Weymouth and Portland by helping to provide an environment in which businesses can thrive.
We exist for the benefit of our members, who range from sole traders to national brands. Our members also include charities and other not-for-profit organisations, such as schools and colleges.
There are around 2,000 businesses in Weymouth and Portland, two thirds of which employ no more than four people.
Events & Meetings
We run a busy calendar of networking, social and training events all year round. The mainstay of our schedule is our Business Breakfast, an extremely popular networking meeting held ten times a year (monthly, excluding January and August). These meetings take place the first Tuesday of the month at various member venues with presentations from sponsors and keynote speakers.
Other activities include Business Tours of member venues, giving local firms the opportunity to share hat they have to offer with other businesses in this fast paced environment. We also hold education and apprenticeship events, along with a variety of social gatherings and trips, including an annual Christmas dinner.
Becoming a member
Becoming a member of the WPCC is a great opportunity for your voice to be heard on some of the most important topics affecting business in our area. Through meetings, website discussions, polls and forums we want to hear what you have to say alongside like minded people in your area.
You’ll be able to receive advice and support from our friendly and welcoming WPCC Executive Committee, and also mentoring and business support.
Help shape the future of Weymouth and Portland!
The voice of business in South Dorset
2020 Full Accounts Report By Our Treasurer, Brodie Cook
2020 was my first year as Treasurer for the Chamber, and if you’d have told me at our AGM last February that this is how my first year would’ve gone, then I certainly wouldn’t have believed you!
2020 was been a challenging year for everyone, and The Chamber was no exception to that. Covid-19 had a huge impact on the association with no events taking place and only 2 “normal” breakfasts way back in February and March last year.
I’m sure that everyone is sick of hearing this word, but these really were unprecedented times.
Despite being plunged into the unknown, the Chamber quickly realised that they needed to support their members and the wider business community of Weymouth and Portland. They therefore made the decision to extend memberships for existing members until the end of February 2021, and to offer free membership to new members up to the same date. This offer proved hugely popular and meant that our membership numbers as at 31 December 2020 stood at a staggering 188 compared to 2019’s figure of 88.
The Chamber also continued to support the local community through sponsoring various virtual events and initiatives. These include Air FMs Prom in the Air, Virtual Quayside 1 and 2 and they even helped to “Make Portland Sparkle” over the Christmas period.
In addition to these great causes, The Chamber also headed up some of their own including the Open for Business campaign with Wessex FM, Lockdown Stories and the Weymouth and Portland Video Competition with We Are Weymouth.
For 2021 we are aware that we need a source of income coming in so that the Chamber can continue to help our members in the future. We have therefore discounted the usual annual membership subscription fee to only £49 down from £99 last year and we are grateful to see you all here and still supporting the organisation.
I would now like to take this opportunity to thank Alex Goracy, our Independent examiner at Albert Goodman.
For details of the formally approved accounts please click here
WPCC You Tube Channel - Lockdown Stories
Pesident Craig is out there interviewing members and businesses and finding out about them and how they are dealing with the new working environment.
Chamber Club Card
My fellow Chamber of Commerce Members
This is your exclusive Weymouth & Portland Chamber of Commerce Club Card. We need you to contact Guy at Info@wpchamber.com with an offering. For instance if you are an accountants firm you may wish to offer 10% off or even 5% for other chamber members on production of their Chamber Club Card. You may be a solicitor and you may offer the first billable hour for Chamber Members.
I want to say a really big welcome to the new businesses that now fill our business directory and a fond, “how are you”, to the names that have been members of the Weymouth & Portland Chamber of Commerce for many years. It is amazing to think we are part of a business organisation that began running just after the last major pandemic that threatened our existence happened. Many amazing things have happened in just over 100 years.
Make sure your logo is in the Chamber website ‘Directory’ and if not or you don’t have a logo then please let us know, and we will help you. We usually know a reasonable person.
Why would I want to give something away I hear you say? The reason is, if you are a Chamber member you have an exclusive Chamber Club Card and if all 100 or so members with more joining daily have an offer you will not only never pay full price again just by being a member of the Weymouth & Portland Chamber of Commerce, but more people will be coming to you. What you will lose by discounting or offering time you will easily gain in new customers by volume.
As we come out of this crisis I personally have helped promote the local economy as shops have opened up. I have coordinated with other organisations so that the impact is felt right the way across the borough and although the outcome of our current crisis is not known, this many businesses in one group can work together in a way that no other organisation can.
Craig Oakes
Your President Weymouth & Portland Chamber of Commerce
Our members
Quick news
Gentlemen, Let’s Talk about the Menopause
A trailblazing campaign to tackle the stigma of the menopause in the workplace is being stepped up with an event for men to discuss about the issue. The Dorset Chamber organised session – ‘Gentlemen, Let’s Talk about the Menopause’ – is believed to be the first of its...
Dorset Chamber reaction – Winter Covid Plan
Ian Girling, Dorset Chamber chief executive, said: “Clearly we are not out of the woods yet as the Covid infection rate remains worryingly high. “Whilst the forward guidance in the government’s Winter Covid Plan is welcome, there is still a great deal of uncertainty...
Businesses urged to attend innovation event
Dorset businesses are being urged to attend an event to help them harness the power of cutting-edge technology. Innovation Driving Growth will give business leaders a rundown of ‘oven ready’ solutions which can be adopted immediately to give them the edge over their...
Cabinet asked to approve costs for Weymouth Station Gateway
A recommendation for councillors to agree to the spending of capital funding above £500k on improvements to the Weymouth railway station area, known as the Weymouth Station Gateway Project, will be presented to Dorset Councillors at its meeting of Cabinet next Tuesday...
New Centres of Excellence unveiled at Weymouth College
Two new Centres of Excellence offering the latest state-of-the-art training facilities for construction and engineering students in West Dorset have now been officially unveiled. The new Centres of Excellence for Construction and Engineering at Weymouth College have...
Help for your apprentices.
Operating within the Weymouth and Portland area is a charity called the Sir Samuel Mico Charity. It actively supports apprentices with financial aid whether that be for additional education, tools of the trade or personal development. If you offer apprentices and feel...
Testimonials
Nick Spence from Vaspba Remote Piloted ystems Ltd
“I joined the Exec as I felt that I could add to the already broad spectrum of business owners giving vast and varied experience from many sectors. Being on the Exec gives a good insight as to what is going on in the Chamber and the regular meetings gives us a chance to express our views.”
“The WPCC
Trevor Matthews from Wessex Films
“I have been on the Chamber Executive over the years. It is a very good connection for trading and keeping up with the lastest Business developments happening in the local commercial community
WPCC is an excellent organisation to be a member of.”
Executive Officers
Rick Simmonds
Senior Vice President
Craig Oakes
President
Cherise Luke-Bennett
Proposed Junior Vice President
Contact us
Use the form to get in touch with us and ask any questions you might have.
Alternatively, you can call us on 07730 135973.
Opening times:
Mon – Fri
0900 – 1700