INBUSINESS VIEWPOINT
It is with an immense amount of pride that I can say you have chosen to belong to one of the very best Chambers in the UK. At the end of 2017 our Chamber won its third national award in
three years at the annual Chamber Business Awards run by the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC). These awards are one of the UK’s most contested and prestigious award programmes. I am delighted to tell you that alongside the two awards for
Excellence in Membership Services and the Chamber of the Year award that we already hold our Chamber, alongside its sister Chamber in Northamptonshire, has now won Excellence in International Trade Services. Our International Trade team is well respected by Chambers
across the country and overseas and is held in high regard by the Government’s Department for International Trade (DIT). The fantastic connections they have with DIT and other international trade experts enables them to run our International Trade Forums which give members the chance to learn about different markets. Last year the team was also the country’s 10th largest issuer of export documents and
helped businesses to send more than £563m of goods around the world. With all this talk of awards it won’t come as a great surprise when I tell you our Chamber has
once again been accredited by the BCC. We are one of only 52 Chambers in the UK to receive this accreditation from the national body. Belonging to the BCC means we can raise
your issues at the highest levels of Government and has enabled us to give you access to key Whitehall decision makers. I want to thank our team who have
enabled us to once again receive this accreditation. I’m also grateful to our board for their support and want to thank every one of you for making our Chamber a strong network which inspires others.
PAUL GRIFFITHS
Chief Executive Milton Keynes Chamber
paul.griffiths@
chambermk.co.uk
CONTACT DETAILS
EDITOR: Catherine Bontoft T: 01908 547820
MILTON KEYNES CHAMBER OF COMMERCE 500 Avebury Boulevard, Milton Keynes MK9 2BE W:
www.chambermk.co.uk
NEWS AND ARTICLES SHOULD BE SENT TO:
inbusiness@chambermk.co.uk
PUBLISHED BY: Kemps Publishing Ltd 11 The Swan Courtyard, Charles Edward Road, Birmingham B26 1BU T: 0121 765 4144 W:
www.kempspublishing.co.uk
MANAGING EDITOR: Laura Blake T: 0121 765 4144 E:
laura.blake@kempspublishing.co.uk
DESIGNER: Lloyd Hollingworth
ADVERTISING MANAGER: Jon Jones T: 0121 765 4144 E:
jon.jones@
kempspublishing.co.uk
PRINTERS: Stephens & George Print Group
FRONT COVER Anna Cawley, director of customer service at Cawleys
COVER/INTERVIEW PHOTOS: Jane Russell Photography FOLLOW MILTON KEYNES CHAMBER AT:
www.facebook.com/miltonkeyneschamber @ChamberMK @ChamberMKExport
www.linkedin.com/pub/milton-keynes-chamber-of-commerce www.youtube.com/MiltonKeynesChamber
ABOUT THIS MAGAZINE: inbusiness is a bi-monthly publication and digital magazine distributed to over 3,000 Chamber members and key businesses in Milton Keynes. The publication focuses on news and information about local companies and the initiatives and advice available to increase the prosperity of firms in the Milton Keynes area. Milton Keynes Chamber welcomes newsworthy articles of business interest, giving preference to Chamber members. As editorial space is limited, inclusion cannot be guaranteed and the editor may amend or reject articles submitted.
inbusiness is produced on behalf of Milton Keynes Chamber by Kemps Publishing Ltd and is distributed without charge to all Chamber members and other leading businesses in the Milton Keynes area. The Chamber and the publisher are committed to achieving the highest quality standards. However, views expressed in the magazine are independent and while every care has been taken to ensure that the information it contains is accurate, neither Milton Keynes Chamber nor the publisher can accept any responsibility for any omission or inaccuracies that might arise.
For further information on Milton Keynes Chamber, call: 01908 547820 or visit:
www.chambermk.co.uk
17 How DIT can help your export aspirations TALKING BUSINESS
18 Cawleys waste management firm outlines its plans for future growth
ISSUE SPOTLIGHTS
20 Education & Training The Open University wins coveted award
22 Manufacturing Skincare firm rebrands for overseas market
TRAINING & EVENTS
24 The latest comprehensive list of training courses and Chamber events
MEMBER ZONE
26 Member Profile: Ai Solutions 27 Solicitors launch £50 challenge 29 Double award win for Chamber charity
30 Find out which companies have joined the Chamber and what members are offering
BUSINESS ALLIANCE GROUP PARTNERS 2017/18
The April/May 2018 issue of inbusinesswill include features on: Exhibitions & Conferences and Communications & Marketing
FEBRUARY/MARCH 2018 inbusiness 3 CONTENTS BUSINESS REPORT
4 5
6
7 8
Chamber triumphs at National Awards High turnover for marketing agency
Milton Keynes looks back on first year as a Gigabit City
Grant Thornton celebrates premises move Recruitment firm enjoys rapid growth
11 HR firm in acquisition 12 Howes Percival expands team BAG PROFILE
14 dbfb GOING GLOBAL
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
