BUSINESS REPORT


BUSINESS REPORT


Our Chamber Group is delighted to reveal we are now the seventh largest direct membership Chamber in the UK in the network of 53 Chambers accredited by the British Chambers of Commerce. During the past 12 months membership of Northamptonshire Chamber of Commerce, its sister Chamber in Milton Keynes and Next Generation Chamber grew by more than eight per cent – the sixth largest percentage increase across the network. We recruited 503 new members during the


year – the fourth highest amount for a Chamber the UK.


Chambers’ chief executive Paul Griffiths said:


“In the past five years our membership has grown by more than 75% and as a result we have risen from being the UK’s 30th largest direct membership Chamber to its seventh. This has been achieved thanks to our incredibly proactive


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


POLICE WARNING: VERIFY CUSTOMERS


Companies are being urged to verify orders from new customers or contacts as fraudsters use fake university email addresses to steal goods worth thousands of pounds. Northamptonshire Police is sharing


advice from the National Fraud Intelligence Bureau after reports emerged of criminals targeting supply companies in a scam known as distribution fraud. Fraudsters are registering domain names


CELEBRATING GROWTH


staff, our forward-thinking board of directors and our vibrant membership. “We would like to say a big thank you to our members for believing in us and supporting us. During the past year the number of staff employed by our members rose by more than 25%, giving our network even greater strength and ensuring we continue to be highly respected both locally and nationally.” The Chamber Group also came second in the


network for the amount of non-member businesses it engages with and was the 9th highest issuer of export documents. It was the seventh highest provider of


business training courses and had the seventh highest number of participants. Its inbusiness magazine had the fourth highest


circulation figures in the network and its average monthly website hit rate was the seventh highest of any Chamber in the UK.


similar to genuine university domains and using them to order high-value goods such as IT equipment and pharmaceutical chemicals. Once the items are received they are moved quickly on, and the supplier is never paid. Bryan Pye of the Fraud Crime Team at Northamptonshire Police said: “This is a sophisticated scam which can be hugely expensive for victims – elsewhere in the UK, fraudsters imitating one university’s domain led to a cumulative victim loss of over £350,000. “We’re urging all businesses in Northamptonshire to take steps to verify orders from new customers or new contacts at established clients. Use contact details from official sources, or speak to someone you’ve dealt with before, to check the order is real – never use contact details provided with the order itself.” The force has also contacted educational


establishments in the county to make them aware of the scam in case they receive order verification requests from suppliers.


SIMON ELLIOTT JOINS INTERCOUNTY TRUCK & VAN


Intercounty Truck & Van has welcomed Simon Elliott (pictured) as its new managing director. Intercounty Truck & Van sells and supports


Mercedes-Benz commercial vehicles, as well as FUSO Canter light trucks, from headquarters in Wellingborough, and other branches in Milton Keynes, Peterborough, Boston, Lincoln and Toddington. A renowned industry specialist, Simon


welcomed the new challenges and said he came to Intercounty with a number of priorities. Simon said: “I wanted to walk the talk with a


customer focused approach, understanding our customers need great deals on trucks and vans but also need their vehicles delivering back on time and as promised, with the requisite work done to a high standard.


“To do this I need higher levels of staff retention


which we have achieved and engagement from them all too, understanding that they have a key part to play in our story moving forward.” The company has dramatically grown its


online exposure on social media via LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook along with pay-per-click and display advertising. They have also recently purchased their own hospitality unit and begun opening on Saturday for sales as well as service. Simon added: “We are busy in sales, service


and our parts business is growing at an amazing pace. So we need to keep customers happy and informed and as our business grows we need to strategically look at holistic areas that will allow it to grow painlessly for our customers.”


OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2018 inbusiness 5


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