BUSINESS REPORT


BUSINESS REPORT


NORTHAMPTONSHIRE CHAMBER keeps its members up to date with all the latest business news. Whether it’s through the pages of this magazine, via our website or by regular email updates, we will always endeavour to keep you in the picture and informed


CHAMBER TRIUMPHS AT AWARDS


Northamptonshire Chamber of Commerce has won an award at the national Chambers Awards for the third year running. The organisation has now won the coveted


“Excellence in Membership Services” award for the past three consecutive years at the prestigious event which is organised by the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) and is considered to be one of the UK’s most hotly contested business awards. It was also a finalist in the “Chamber of the


Year” category for the second time after winning the award in 2015.


Northamptonshire Chamber Chief Executive


Paul Griffiths attended the gala awards ceremony at The Brewery in London in November with a team from the Chamber, which also incorporates its sister organisation Milton Keynes Chamber of Commerce. He said: “To have won this award three times


is a testament to the hard work of every member of our team. This award recognises the high quality service we provide and the important role we play in the local, regional and national business community.


“I am grateful to our entire team, the Board


for their support and guidance, local partners and stakeholders and our members and businesses for their ongoing assistance. “We could not have achieved this well-


deserved award without everyone’s support.” The national Chamber Awards recognise and


reward business success across the UK and the work of 52 accredited local chambers of commerce. Each year the BCC opens four categories to


local chambers. EXECUTIVE CHAIR OF HMRC VISITS CHAMBER


Our members received exclusive access to talks with one of the Government’s highest ranking civil servants. Edward Troup, who is the executive chair of


HM Revenue and Customs and its most senior tax professional, visited Northamptonshire Chamber to help our members learn about his department’s plan for Making Tax Digital. Members also used the meeting to raise with


Mr Troup their view that there had been a lack of communication from HMRC about the proposal, especially for SMEs and micro businesses. Northamptonshire Chamber chief executive,


Paul Griffiths, said: “It was a useful discussion which enabled our members to raise their questions at the highest levels of Government. “Members were concerned about the lack of


communication about the proposal and questioned whether the digital connectivity in the area could support the plans. This is a subject that we are lobbying on locally as well as nationally via the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC). It is rare for businesses to have access to such a high profile Government figure. We are able to put on events like this for our members because we are hugely proactive and we work closely with the BCC.”


During the meeting it was suggested that Chamber members could potentially adopt a trailblazer approach to testing the software for Making Tax Digital when the situation arises. Other issues discussed included HMRC’s Your


Charter, which is the department’s pledge to provide a service that is fair, accurate and based on mutual trust respect. Information about Making Tax Digital and


HMRC’s Your Charter is available on the Chamber’s website at www.northants- chamber.co.uk/ membership/benefits/benefits- representation


FEBRUARY/MARCH 2017 inbusiness 5


Credit: Powell Media & BCC


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40