A word as the year draws to a close and boy, what a tough year it’s been, my two ‘all embracing’ words to every brilliant Norfolk businesses are ‘thank you’. Thank you for all your positivity, stamina, continued fortitude and support for others. Brilliant, brilliant you. Thank you, because Chambers only works when we able to match the energy you create. We grab it in all its forms, amplify it, share it and the region benefits as a direct result. When I look back over the year, all I see day after day is thousands of people in the widest range of businesses bouncing back with smiles and enthusiasm. Willingly sharing essential knowledge and heart felt experiences via our knowledge hubs though to selling out the widest range of networking events, conferences and our flagship B2B event. I mean, who knew that the greatest recovery for lockdown blues would be paddleboarding? So then, what’s coming in 2022? Building on our theme of ‘What you need is what we do’ we have a whole raft of innovations ‘popping out’ next year. For example, a dynamic replacement for our very old website is launching. This new customer centric web platform is powered by a replacement of our even older CRM system. Both built during lockdown using Norfolk businesses. This substantial investment will, for the first time allow is to truly innovate the chambers digital offering for at least the next 5 years. Also two new unique initiatives to mention, starting with the Business Climate Leaders program ‘A free to access programme for every business, designed to educate, enable and support SMEs to seek, understand and apply appropriate, tested actions and activities that will put them on the path to Net Zero’. The aspect of this programme that I love the most is, that success starts with each business who wishes start, or further develop their Net Zero journey, elects their own Business Climate Leader. That elected person will act as the organisation’s key point of contact and will work directly with and within the BCL Programme and with other climate leaders to get that organisation on their Net Zero journey and help keep them on track. (back to chambers matching the energy you put in). Secondly, Co.next. Launcing now to provide a structured, inclusive, collaborative, vibrant and Norfolk wide approach to supporting working professionals under the age of 35 with appropriate and engaging knowledge and networking programs. Oh yes, and of course heaps more business led support, events, knowledge hours, engagements all delivered by your amazing chamber team. So, enough of my ‘mardeling’s’ Happy Christmas everyone, I raise a glass to you all and it the spirit of the region we work in, ‘ You all keep ‘a troshing’
