Global Business Network A WINDOW INTO OUR NETWORK
Welcome to Hertfordshire Chamber of Commerce
KEY FACTS ABOUT OUR AREA • Hertfordshire county offers plenty for visitors to see including scenic gardens and open spaces showing the best in the English countryside, historic houses and attractions and some charming small towns and villages. Local attractions & places of interest include Hatfield House, St Albans Cathedral, Knebworth House, Ashridge Estate and House, de Havilland Aircraft Heritage Centre, Warner Bros Studios, Henry Moore Foundation, Lee Valley White Water Centre, and Paradise Wildlife Park. There are a number of historic buildings, castles, museums and galleries for visitors to explore in the area. • The area is host to a number of local festivals, shows, fairs and concerts throughout the year • Population: 1,107,600 • Area total: 1,643 sq km • Closest Airports: London Luton Airport, London Stansted Airport & Heathrow Airport. • Famous Attractions: Hatfield House, St Albans Cathedral, Knebworth House and Ashridge house.
OUR GEOGRAPHIC REACH IS... List towns/cities in your region/ market where you have a presence or engagement with
All of Hertfordshire and some of the surrounding towns in Bedfordshire, Essex, Cambridgeshire and Buckinghamshire
Watford, Hemel Hempstead, Stevenage, St Albans, Welwyn Garden City, Hatfield, Cheshunt, Hoddesdon, Hitchin, Letchworth, Hertford, Harpenden, Bishops Stortford
10 districts: East Hertfordshire, North Hertfordshire, Three Rivers, and Welwyn Hatfield; the boroughs of Broxbourne, Dacorum, Hertsmere, Stevenage, and Watford; and the city of St. Albans.
OUR REGION IS RENOWNED FOR ... Tell us something interesting about your location Though nowadays Hertfordshire tends to be politically conservative, historically it was the site of a number of uprisings against the Crown, particularly in the First Barons' War, the Peasants' Revolt, the Wars of the Roses and the English Civil War. The county has a rich intellectual history, and many writers of major importance, from Geoffrey Chaucer to Beatrix Potter, have connections there. Quite a number of Prime Ministers were born or grew up in Hertfordshire.
Hertfordshire is known for its historic estates, countryside and of course, that glorious cathedral... but the county is also awash with smaller, weirder and wilder wonders that are waiting to be uncovered.
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WE ARE REALLY GOOD AT... List your key USPs and strengths as a Chamber for any potential member or services customer 1) Fastest growing Chamber across the 54 accredited Chambers in the UK, with an 18.01% growth from 2018 moving up 48 places to top of the table 2) Innovative events incl. Sector Summits, Women in Leadership Lunches and conference 2020, online Networking events and expert masterclasses in leadership and management 3) Entrepreneur Foundation – new initiative to support entrepreneurs in the county with training, mentoring and networking 4) The Inspiring Hertfordshire Awards are a fantastic way to showcase your business to the County 5) Dedicated export team with over 30 years experience 6) Tailored membership packages to suit business needs regardless of size
OUR CUSTOMERS ARE ... Companies in your membership, including Patrons – list a few recognisable brands
Importers: British Lead, car dealerships such as Porsche, Lexus, etc. Exporters: Tesco, Eisai Europe, Hamamatsu Photonics, Ashley Wilde Group Foreign Investors: MSD, Warner Bros Others (specify) Our patrons: Altro Flooring, AutoGlym, Borough of Broxbourne, Ashbourne Insurance, Austins Funerals, Barclays, BioProducts Laboratory, Chasebridge WM, Croft Communications, Heart FM, JPA Workspaces, Longmores Solicitors, Middlesex University, MOD, Moore Kingston Smith, NHS Hertfordshire Community Trust, NIS, Pearldrop, Tate recruitment, Pharmaron, Sopwell House, University of Hertfordshire, Wagada, Willmott Dixon, Warner Bros Studios. Other members: Stevenage Football Club, The IET, Mettler Toledo, Metro Bank, Airbus, MBDA, GlaxoSmithKline, Ocado, Arriva UK, London Stansted Airport, Johnson Matthey, Hotel Chocolat
WE WORK WITH List your key stakeholders – British Embassy / Foreign Embassy / LEPs / local trade bodies etc.
We are part of a consortium including:
• Hertfordshire Local Enterprise Partnership • Hertfordshire Growth Hub • University of Hertfordshire
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OUR MARKET / REGIONS MOST EXCITING SECTOR OPPORTUNITIES ARE List most interesting sectors that will offer the greatest scope for future opportunities for business
• Pharmaceuticals / Life Sciences • Property and Construction • Financial and business Services • Advanced Engineering & Manufacturing • IT • Creative Industries • High end logistics
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
a. Advise on what documents are required for individual countries b. signpost to e.g. DIT, HMRC etc. giving advice where appropriate c. Helping companies find partners/agents etc. overseas
TOP FIVE BUSINESS CULTURE TIPS List dos and don’ts of doing business in your area
1. Connected Connecting and collaborating with as many businesses as possible in your area. 2. Engagement Building relationships that will last, for long term prosperity 3. Transparency Being clear with your offering and in how you conduct business 4. Inspiring Inspiring members to participate in Chamber activities in order to promote themselves and grow their business 5. Diversity and inclusion. Chamber membership is welcomed by all types of companies and individuals. In an inclusive working environment, diversity is always welcomed and appreciated.
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 Germany, the British Chamber digital platform provider based in Israeli tech company looking to of Commerce for Italy supported South West England 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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