Here are this week’s highlights from the team: Nova We had a great collaborative catch up with Norfolk and Suffolk Chambers LSIP teams. I helped Norfolk County Council celebrate the success of the Insights Apprenticeship project, which we work with them on. Had some a good initial meeting to work in collaboration with EEEGR at the Festival of Knowledge. Dipped in and out of a productive Chamber team meetings looking at what we need to achieve in 2024 to help connect support and give to every business in Norfolk! Jack
We’ve spent a lot of time this week laying the groundwork for our exciting new skills-focused event in March 2024…the much anticipated Festival of Knowledge. It’s so cool seeing this re-invigorated skills event come to life, and we can’t wait to share it with the Norfolk business community. We’ve always spent a lot of time together as a team, looking ahead to 2024 and what we’re going to deliver for our members and the wider business landscape across the county. This has been especially exciting as the whole team hasn’t been together for a few weeks owing to some well-earned annual leave!
I’ve said a few times that I’m a shameless policy nerd so it’s great to be able to indulge that guilty pleasure through our Chambers East group. This is a group that brings together Norfolk, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire and Essex Chambers to work together on our big policy asks that impact all of us. Things like roads and rail infrastructure, skills, energy, net zero and so on. For Norfolk this is the epitome of the ‘voice’ bit of our mission to connect, support and give voice to every business in Norfolk.
I also can’t emphasise enough how great it is that Norfolk is now one step closer to a devolution deal this week! Norfolk County Council have voted to support the deal which is worth £20m per year over 30 years and gives Norfolk much more control over housing, development, education and skills. It also puts us much nearer the front of the queue for future funding pots. What’s not to like!?
Lastly, it’s just been great seeing so much engagement between our amazing Chambers team and businesses as we head towards Christmas. 2023 hasn’t been the easiest year in business, but there’s a sense of some optimism for 2024 despite some very real uncertainty about the economy. Norfolk Chambers will continue to support you and we can’t wait to see you all in the New Year.
Rick (Me) My highlight of the week had to be sitting down with all the team and sharing my marketing plan for 2024, and all the new exciting initiatives we are looking to put in place as well as revamping some of the existing core member benefits and how they are delivered. Lots of enthusiasm and some great ideas from the wider team, members you will be excited to see some of this launch in January, and if you’re not a member now really is a good time to join so you get maximum benefit for 2024. Andrea
It was great to have a full planning day on Tuesday hearing about our ambitious plans for 2024, there is so much to look forward to.
On Wednesday I spent some time looking at regular networking in North Norfolk. A fantastic meeting was held with Emma from Example Marketing, Sarah from Sarah Knights Coaching and Louise from M+A Partners. All of us are super passionate about engaging with businesses in the North of our region and we can’t wait to bring these events to you.
Following on from exciting Strategic Partner meetings over the last couple of weeks, including introducing a new partner soon – watch this space – I’m delighted with the work Rick is putting into the branding of this and can’t wait to share our ideas with the Strategic Partners and the wider business community.
Caroline Although this week has been full of sneezes and coughs it’s been a great week for planning for 2024 from the team. We have a packed Events calendar again for 2024 and some exciting projects coming. This week I also had the pleasure of attending the South Norfolk Business Breakfast organised by South Norfolk and Broadland Council, great to see so many familiar faces and catch up before the Christmas rush! Katie Was fantastic to host the drop in and chat session over in Kings Lynn and talk to local businesses about our exciting plans for the new year to get the business community together more often. Sam & Ethan (International)
We had our final zoom & Learn of the year which essentially is between all chambers of commerce and chambercustoms to discuss outstanding news, changes to customs legislations etc. We were one of the chambers where all clients are now CDS (RO-RO) movement ready meaning we are on track again to be ready for the chief switch off early next year.
It was also a great call to understand a bit better the sheer workload over the past year and how each chamber of commerce performed throughout. They broke down the different areas of import/export, sea/air/road shipments etc. which was a good insight into the goods travelling in and out of the UK daily.
The photo of the week from the team has to be the amazing sunrise captured by Caroline on her way to yet another successful coastal Co.nnect event this week in Great Yarmouth! Thanks for reading. I will have more highlights next week! Rick Notley Marketing & Communications Manager
