Global Business Network A WINDOW INTO OUR NETWORK

Welcome to and Milton Keynes Chamber

KEY FACTS ABOUT OUR AREA

A Chamber of Commerce for Northamptonshire was founded in 1917 in response to the concerns of boot and shoe manufacturers over exports during the first world war.

Since then Chamber membership has grown significantly and now represents around 1,000 Northamptonshire businesses - who employ over one third of the county’s workforce. We enjoy the enviable reputation of being the largest business support agency in the county.

OUR GEOGRAPHIC REACH IS... List towns/cities in your region/ market where you have a presence or engagement with

Northamptonshire: we reach to – , , , Oundle, , (as south as to North of )

Milton Keynes: distances covered from as far south as Bletchley up to Olney

OUR REGION IS RENOWNED FOR ... Tell us something interesting about your location

Northamptonshire is the origin of the British shoemaking industry and has a successful history of shoemaking which dates back almost 900 years. Famous brands Weetabix, Carlsberg and Doc Martens are all made in the Northamptonshire County.

Milton Keynes - Despite being the butt of jokes about super-size roundabouts, Milton Keynes is quite a green town, with 22 million trees. And it regularly figures in Britain in Bloom competitions. Council Leader Sam Crooks said the town has both the modern hustle and bustle of a thriving city, and the peace and quiet of the countryside.

Page 1 of 4 Global Business Network NORTHAMPTONSHIRE AND MILTON KEYNES

WE ARE REALLY GOOD AT... List your key USPs and strengths as a Chamber for any potential member or services customer

• Dedicated account management allowing our chamber members to fully maximise their membership benefits inline with their company strategy and support. • Diversity of chamber live virtual events, forums and seminars representing a wide range of business sectors and topics. These include, speed networking, Wind down networking and meet the neighbours networking. • Online profile allowing chamber members to directly share latest company news, member offers, tips and blogs. • Chamber INBusiness magazine allowing members free editorial content that gets shared bi monthly via hardcopy, digital edition. • Brexit and custom declarations forums that are being delivered virtually for INT trade members • QES findings that are shared via chamber streams and policy hour events for members. • Dual Membership allowing members the option of joining both MK & Northants chamber. • Referral scheme for chamber members encouraging them to refer local businesses.

OUR CUSTOMERS ARE ... Companies in your membership, including Patrons – list a few recognisable brands

Exporters: Aston Martin, RS Components, CPL Aromas

Foreign Investors:

Others (specify) Mothercare – formally our largest Exporter but due to Brexit have moved a lot of sites into the EU

WE WORK WITH List your key stakeholders – British Embassy / Foreign Embassy / LEPs / local trade bodies etc.

SEMLEP - helps economic growth thrive across the South .

Northamptonshire County Council

Page 2 of 4 Global Business Network NORTHAMPTONSHIRE AND MILTON KEYNES

OUR MARKET / REGIONS MOST EXCITING SECTOR OPPORTUNITIES ARE List most interesting sectors that will offer the greatest scope for future opportunities for business

Milton Keynes is home to one of the UK’s outstanding Digital Tech clusters, serving diverse industry sectors including FinTech, HealthTech, EdTech and High-Performance Engineering.

Milton Keynes has overtaken Cambridge as the UK’s fastest-growing town or city economy, according to Irwin Mitchell and the Centre for Economics and Business Research (Cebr)

THIS IS HOW WE CAN HELP YOU List the top 3 – 5 services you would provide free of charge for trade (import / export) and inward-investment-related services/ support

• Chamber Finance Finder supporting members with access to both government and non-government assisted finance support.

• COVID Business recovery hub, helpline and support offers.

• Chamber Protection benefits including Chamber HR, Chamber Legal, Chamber Health & Safety and Chamber Tax

• Business cost savings including Moneycorp, Chamber AA, Chamber Primary Health Plan and AXA

TOP FIVE BUSINESS CULTURE TIPS List dos and don’ts of doing business in your area

• Do engage with local support organisations such as SEMLEP (South East Midlands Local Enterprise Partnership) • Build a network of trusted business partners and collaborations • Support and source local business providers • Utilize local university and enterprise club assistance

Page 3 of 4 Global Business Network More on the Global Business Network

63 53 Markets across Chambers of the world Commerce in the UK

The British Chambers of Commerce Global The Global Business Network provides access to a suite of Business Network is a network of British services, expertise, advice, business contacts and Chambers of Commerce and equivalent potential partners for any business that is a member of a Chamber of Commerce in the Network. business groups located in 62 markets across the world and 53 Chambers of Commerce in This ‘local global’ expertise provides practical guidance the UK. and insight to over 80,000 British/British interest businesses located in the UK and across the world. The strategic objective of this network of trusted private sector partners is to maintain and grow two-way trade and business between the UK and markets across the world.

THE GLOBAL BUSINESS NETWORK IN ACTION

Thames Valley and Britain Israel Using the expertise and network of Following a meeting of the CEOs of Chamber of Commerce facilitated an the British Chamber of Commerce the Global Business Network, a introduction to the UK market for an in , the British Chamber digital platform provider based in Israeli tech company looking to of Commerce for Italy supported South West expanded its establish an office in the UK. one of its members, a UK leisure business into Spain and Chile using centre brand, to break into the the support and expertise of the German market. British Chambers of Commerce in those respective markets.

To find out more about the Global Business Network including events for 2020/21, contact Anne- Marie Martin: [email protected] / +44 (0) 7813 030426.

ABOUT THE BCC British Chambers of Commerce represents and campaigns for business. We are owned by, and work for, a network of Chambers of Commerce that champion and support our members across the UK and in countries and markets around the world. Our unique perspective gives us unparalleled insight into British business communities – we are the only business group with members in every sector, of every size, in both every region of the UK and globally.Working together with Chambers, we drive change from the ground up, helping companies, places and people achieve their potential.

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