Wirral Life September 2018 | Page 90

WIRRAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE WIRRAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE OPENS ITS NEW SUPPORT OFFICE IN WEST WIRRAL BY PAULA BASNETT, CEO OF WIRRAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE My ambition for Wirral Chamber of Commerce has always been to ensure that we could further expand our business reach, and I now feel we have moved forward in this by recently opening our new Chamber satellite office in Hoylake. This initiative – Wirral Chamber of Commerce (West Wirral) - will enable our staff to engage with more businesses by creating a visible presence and geographically offering easier access in the west of Wirral to visit, find out more about our services and work directly with the Chamber. From here we will be able to offer significant services and support to better serve the needs of our membership and to help businesses in the area. I would encourage businesses that are looking at support for growth or new business opportunities to come along to the office in the former town hall building in Market Street and talk to us. I am very grateful for the support we received from Chamber members in West Wirral, NW Security Group, UTS, The Tallents Partnership, and also those with a broader geographical reach which are keen to serve West Wirral more closely, such as Westfield Health and Kingsbridge Insurance Brokers who partnered with us in launching this new office (group image pictured at top). Andrew Hess of Kingsbridge Insurance Brokers told me why they supported our initiative, “We are proud to be partnering and supporting Wirral Chamber of Commerce in opening this new office. Having worked with the Chamber and a number of their members we have seen first hand the positive impact they have with the local business community and hope to see this success replicated in west Wirral.” By locating in Hoylake we are also supportive of the The Beacon project, which has received planning approval and will comprise leisure, cultural and business features and amenities. This will include a cinema/arts space with fine dining restaurant and associated cafe/ bistro, atrium cafe/bar, together with retail units around a central 90 wirrallife.com courtyard. Additionally, there will be apartments on four levels above the ground floor area. This is a project which will bring greater footfall to the area and many benefits for local businesses. At our office launch in September, Mark Howard of Hoylake Village Life said, “It is exciting that Wirral Chamber of Commerce has opened an office in Hoylake. This will create a range of business opportunities for those operating from locations throughout West Wirral. We are especially pleased that the Chamber has shown its commitment and confidence in the Beacon scheme and I look forward to working with them as the project emerges as an enterprise engine encouraging business development and growth.“ I am pleased to highlight that since re-launching in 2014, the Chamber has grown its membership, recruited key patron and strategic partners, offered effective training programmes, gained British Chambers of Commerce accreditation, provided key export documentation services, and now Wirral Chamber of Commerce (West Wirral) will play a significant role for us to help and support more new and established businesses. Wirral Chamber of Commerce (West Wirral) office will be open Monday – Friday (9am - 5pm) so if you are in business and would like to arrange a meeting please call 0151 650 6988 to book an appointment, alternatively please email: [email protected]