Business Matters Website
www.business-matters.biz
'Business Matters' is a brand new website, designed as first stop information source for and about business in Bath & North East Somerset. It contains a wide range of information and web links of interest to anyone running or starting a business in Bath & North East Somerset or interested in relocating to the area.
Featured topics include:-
- The strengths of Bath & North East Somerset as a business location
- Business start up advice and support
- Business related training courses being held locally
- Commercial land and property availability
- Business to business initiatives
- Details of local business organisations
Bath Chamber of Commerce
The Bath Chamber of Commerce was founded in 1902 and its founding members included the draper Paul Jolly, piano maker F H Milsom, and bookbinder Cedric Chivers, all still very familiar names in the Bath commercial scene today. Whilst much of Bath's success as a retail and tourist destination is owed to its historic past, the Chamber is not content to rely on its heritage to ensure its economic development in the future.
Members, who number in excess of 300 spread across all sectors of business, are keen to grasp the opportunities which membership provides. Their ability to present a critical mass of opinion ensures the Chamber regular dialogue with both local, regional and national Government.
Bath Chamber of Commerce
GWE Business West
GWE Business West Ltd is a leading membership and economic development organisation delivering an extensive range of services to businesses. As a powerful voice for business we play a major role in shaping and supporting economic growth and success.
GWE Business West offers a range of business support services, in the West of England, Wiltshire and Gloucestershire, from advice and training to room hire and virtual offices. They have two offices within the Bath and North East Somerset Area, including Bath city centre and Midsomer Norton.
GWE Business West has a network of Chambers of Commerce which offer members a wide range of valuable business benefits, accessible both locally and across the region.
GWE Business West
Chew Valley Chamber of Commerce
The Chew Valley Chamber of Commerce has a membership of over 100 local businesses, providing a voice for the business community in dealing with local and district councils and other government agencies.
The Chamber has also been at the forefront of local campaigns on issues such as Broadband access in the rural areas, local transport and infrastructure. Members have benefited greatly from the networking and referral opportunities available through the Chamber and these benefits can only increase as membership continues to grow.
Chew Valley Chamber of Commerce
Resource Futures
Resource Futures Business Team works with organisations enabling them to become more sustainable. We look at ways organisations can make a positive difference to their 'bottom-line' by reducing utility bills and become more resource efficient, minimising waste, understanding their legal obligations, identifying improvements in travel and transport planning, meeting the environmental requirements of Pre-qualifications questionnaires (PPQ's) and to supporting the implementation of Environmental Management Standards inclukding ISO 14001 and BS 8555 (The Acorn Scheme).
There is an increasing pressure on organisations to show their green credentials' we can help to show how improving environmental performance leads to promoting their business to new markets.
For further help or information please contact us on 0117 914 4953 or email at bat@resourcefutures.co.uk
Resource Futures Website
Federation of Small Business
The FSB is a national organisation, represented locally, that provides support to SMEs and seeks to influence the political agenda for smaller business.
The FSB is the largest campaigning pressure group promoting and protecting the interests of the self-employed and owners of small firms. Formed in 1974, it now has over 185,000 members across 33 regions and 230 branches. On the member benefits side, it offers assistance and support 24 hours a day, while its lobbying arm - led by the Westminster Press and Parliamentary office - applies pressure on MPs, Government and Whitehall, lobbies politicians in their constituencies and puts the FSB viewpoint over to the media.
Federation of Small Business
The Initiative for Bath and North East Somerset
The Initiative for Bath and North East Somerset was formed in 2001 to create an interface between business and Bath and North East Somerset Council to debate and act on strategic matters.
It is a subsidiary organisation of the West of England Initiative set up in 1987. The Initiative for Bath and North East Somerset views the following areas as its priorities:
- Tourism
- Transport and Infrastructure
- Culture
- Global Compact
- Western Riverside
It sees its main contribution as one of helping to secure the new assets needed to rejuvenate the economy for the benefit of all stakeholders, including the wider community.
The Initiative for Bath & North East Somerset
Jobcentre Plus
Jobcentre Plus contributes to the Government's aim of tackling poverty, reducing unemployment, promoting economic growth and opportunity.
Working with a range of partners Jobcentre Plus:
- Promotes work as the best form of welfare, helping unemployed and economically inactive people of working age compete effectively for work, whilst providing appropriate help and support for those who cannot work
- Encourages employers to open up more opportunities to jobless people, assists them to fill their vacancies quickly and helps to address the key skill needs of areas of the country and sectors of the economy
- Pays customers the correct amount of benefit, on time and in accordance with requirements
Jobcentre Plus
Midsomer Norton & Radstock Chamber of Commerce
The Chamber represents businesses within the Midsomer Norton, Radstock and Paulton area as well as the 14 villages these towns serve. The Chamber is a good example of a district Chamber of Commerce, representing local business views to the local authorities, and Government, organising events such as a monthly Farmers Market and breakfast, social and networking opportunities in award winning local hotels such as Stoneaston Park, Centurion Hotel and The Old Priory, as well as the 2004 national Farm Shop at Farrington.
Midsomer Norton & Radstock Chamber
West of England Partnership Office
The West of England is a prosperous area with an excellent quality of life and a growing national and international profile. However, rapid growth means that the sub-region faces increasing pressure on its infrastructure, and it is still the case that there are too many neighbourhoods that do not share in its prosperity.
The West of England Partnership Office was formed in response to these opportunities and challenges. It consists of four unitary authorities - Bath & North East Somerset, Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire - and a range of social, economic and environmental partners.
The Partnership is driving forward action to sustain prosperity and quality of life and to enhance the confidence of public and private investors. Particular attention is being given to transport, appropriate housing supply, economic competitiveness and inclusion, and culture, leisure and tourism.
West of England Partnership Office