INBUSINESS VIEWPOINT
Firstly, I’d like to wish you a safe and Happy New Year. I hope 2021 brings with it more certainty for business and an end in sight to this global crisis. The announcement that the country was entering another national lockdown will have caused more uncertainty for businesses. Rest assured your Chamber team will continue to support
your business and will play a leading role in lobbying the Government to provide a long-term strategy to help firms see the light at the end of the tunnel. Business leaders throughout Milton Keynes will have
welcomed the latest round of financial support from the Chancellor. Grants of up to £9,000 are available for the retail, leisure and hospitality sector while a further £594m is being given to local councils to offer discretionary grants to businesses needing support. This is on top of the Chancellor’s announcement before Christmas that the furlough scheme would run until the end of April. It’s now crucial that the support is swiftly distributed to the businesses that need it most to support their cash flow. The Chamber will continue to urge the Government to set out a longer-term package of support, with a real emphasis on how firms can plan for 2021 and grow out of the crisis. A relief for business will be the finale of the Brexit saga with an EU/UK trade deal being agreed at the last moment. While this agreement doesn’t address every concern the Chamber of Commerce Network has raised, it does provide a foundation that can be built upon, while our new trading relationship develops. Companies can contact our International Trade Hub and utilise our ChamberCustoms
service if they need support in exporting to or importing from the EU. I’d urge members to make full use of our services from connecting you with new opportunities, providing advice on trading internationally or supporting your business through these challenging times. Your Chamber will continue to champion the best interests of businesses in our vibrant region and support our members to not only survive but to thrive.
Stay safe, Louise Wall, Interim CEO, Milton Keynes Chamber of Commerce
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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.
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www.chambermk.co.uk FEBRUARY/MARCH 2021 inbusiness 3
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The April/May 21 issue of inbusinesswill include features on: Hotels, Conferences & Events and Manufacturing.
FRONT COVER: HR Solutions See pages 16-17
16
Greg Guilford, chief executive of HR Solutions
IN THE SPOTLIGHT 18
Education, Training & Apprenticeships Award wins for apprentices
20 Communications & Marketing Milestone for Visual Identity
TRAINING & EVENTS
22 The latest comprehensive list of Chamber training courses and events
MEMBER ZONE 24 Understand your customers
26 Member Profile: Jane Russell, of Jane Russell Photography
28 How much are your digital assets worth? 29 Planning for redundancy 30 Next Generation, plus new members
CONTENTS POLICY MATTERS 4
The latest views from policy executive Christopher Jones
BUSINESS REPORT
5 6 7 8
11 12 14
Building a better Milton Keynes MK Gallery winners announced Finance platform offers new service Members join in partnership
Opera house leads the way in regenerating the arts
The value in values GOING GLOBAL Delivering ChamberCustoms TALKING BUSINESS
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