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BUSINESS NEWS LATEST NEWS FROM GREATER BIRMINGHAM CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE Paul Faulkner, chief executive


A Chamber for the 21st Century


BY JOHN LAMB


Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce (GBCC) has undergone makeover to ensure its services reflect the business requirements of the 21 Century. The new structure for the


region’s largest business support organisation will from this month include a new top tier membership category, the 1813 Club, which recognises the organisation’s heritage from its beginnings 203 years ago. And Future Faces, the


networking and peer support group for ambitious individuals who are in the early stages of their career, is to be fully integrated with the rest of the GBCC divisions as the Future Faces Chamber of Commerce. Chief executive Paul Faulkner


(pictured)said: “Through extensive research, we have refreshed the Chamber membership to put us in a position where we are able to deliver the services that members have told us they want. “We recognise that an


evolving business climate needs evolving support and this refresh gives addition benefits at the top tier of membership through the 1813 Club as well as encouraging and helping those ambitious individuals who are the start of their careers. “It also brings us up to date


with the business requirements of the 21st Century. “We have done this through


listening to members and conducting a number of focus groups so that we were able to ensure we were giving our members – and those who are not – what they wanted from their Chamber of Commerce.”


6 CHAMBERLINK APRIL 2016


Connect Support Grow


refreshed membership package will include the newly-created 1813 Club and a makeover for the newly-named Future Faces Chamber of Commerce. With recognition of the Chamber’s creation 203


T


years ago, the new top tier 1813 Club will be an exclusive package priced at £3000 + VAT a year. It will include additional benefits such as a free


exhibition stand or annual dinner ticket, personal introductions to members of choice, and additional features in the monthly magazine Chamberlink and daily e-newsletter ChamberlinkDaily. Standard (formerly Essential) and Premier membership will still be available. The whole new membership offer will be delivered


by an integrated membership team, which has enjoyed great success over the past 12 months. The Chamber's membership base is currently eight per cent up on last year and the aim is for continual growth. Membership director Mandy Canny said: “Our new


pledge signifies exciting times ahead for GBCC. Not only will it mean a continued and improved service for existing members, but it will also provide new members with attractive and practical business solutions, ensuring exponential growth of our membership base across all divisions.” The new package has been devised after months of


research, part of which included focus groups with members. And this was all designed to improve the way the


GBCC communicates, adapts and remains relevant in the current business climate. With the GBCC also in its strongest financial position


for years, the marketing and membership re-fresh is all part of an investment plan by the Chamber to improve its offering to the local business community. Focus groups involving a cross-section of members


helped the GBCC to understand what it is doing well and what it could be doing better. It also took soundings across the whole GBCC


network, which extends from Burton, Lichfield and Tamworth, Chase, Birmingham and Solihull, to gain their perspective. A branding workshop with a cross-section of staff


also helped to define the role of the GBCC. The workshop was run by Premier members Orb Creative


Top: membership director Mandy Canny Above: marketing and communications director Katrina Cooke


and held at their offices in Alpha Tower as one of their signature 'drawing board' sessions. The idea was to simplify the offering, making the


GBCC an irresistible proposition for membership. From the work with Orb, it was decided that


'Connect Support Grow' tells members exactly what can be done for them, spelling out exactly what the GBCC’s role should be Katrina Cooke, the GBCC’s marketing and


communications director, said: “One of the GBCC’s greatest strengths is that we


offer such a diverse range of services to a diverse range of businesses across the region. We were looking


For all membership matters call 08456036650


hat is the pledge Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce (GBCC) is making to its members. After an extensive programme of research, a


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