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Our businesses are the voice of this great county, and we all know how hard everyone works to push forward and to carve out a successful business profile. So, when companies achieve great things, we want to shout about it. With several Norfolk businesses winning Queen’s Awards this year; Liftshare, Snap-on and Panel Graphics; this is certainly something to shout about! Now in its 53rd year, the Queen’s Awards for Enterprise 2019 recognises the innovation and services provided by British businesses to the local, national and international markets. The awards also highlight the hard work and focus of running a successful business too. With 200 national businesses receiving these awards- there are four categories;

• International trade
• Innovation
• Sustainable growth
• Promoting opportunity  

Liftshare Our member, Liftshare has won this year’s Queen’s Award for Enterprise, which is great news! This is their second Queen’s award, winning their first back in 2008. To date Liftshare have helped their members to save 141,000 tonnes of CO2 and over £72, million in cost too. Wow, that is a lot of good environmental work, keep going!  Liftshare’s CEO, Ali Clabburn, said of the recognition: “Winning the award in 2008 was a huge honour, but to have won it again 11 years later is a testament to the incredible work my team has done to help companies and individuals to travel more sustainably. We are constantly innovating to provide our clients with cutting edge technology, alongside proven behavioural change techniques to guarantee the schemes we implement are a success.  Working with our base of over 700 clients to help them change and improve the way their staff travel is so satisfying, and their success really is our success.  The bigger and better their schemes become, the larger our network grows.” If you and your company could benefit from working Liftshare do get in touch. Snap-on Based in Kings Lynn, Snap-on is a leading manufacturer and supplier for automotive equipment and diagnostic platforms. Receiving two awards; Innovation Award and International Trade, Mark Ost General Manager for diagnostics and equipment at Snap-on, commented: “It is a true honour and privilege for our achievements here at Snap-on to be recognised with the rare and prestigious accolade of two separate Queen’s Awards for Enterprise. Snap-on continues to grow in all markets at home and abroad and we will continue to work hard on bringing exciting new products and technologies to the markets we operate in as well as continuously demonstrating our commitment to innovation.” Panel Graphic Specialising in plastics that are layered with a special coating to make them non-reflective and easier to read. Panel Graphics supplies some of the largest and well-known brands such as Aston Martin, Lotus and other blue-chip companies. Managing Director Steve Earl commented on their success “Winning this prestigious award is a massive pat on the back for the whole Panel Graphics team, it also makes us realise the significant achievements the company has made in growing the business internationally by selling our highly innovative coatings and specialist plastic materials to some of the world’s biggest blue-chip organisations.”

We’re currently recruiting for two exciting roles to strengthen the team at Norfolk Chambers of Commerce: International Trade Coordinator and Customer Experience Team Member. 

We are looking for people with amazing passion and enthusiasm, who are committed to making a real difference, by supporting businesses of all sizes and sectors in this fast-paced environment.

Norfolk Chambers of Commerce is a not for profit business membership organisation with over 900 members of all sizes and sectors. We provide networking opportunities, share knowledge, offer business services and support, international trade documentation, signposting to business opportunities and inspire innovative thinking to enable companies to do better business. Our mission is to connect, support and give voice to every business in Norfolk.

International Trade Coordinator 

Norfolk Chamber of Commerce provides crucial support for businesses trading internationally and businesses seeking advice. We are looking to recruit International Trade Coordinator to the busy International Trade Department to help businesses export/import their goods abroad. The ideal candidate must be used to working in a fast-paced environment working to deadlines for the quick turnaround of documentation to our customers.

Accredited Chambers of Commerce in every nation and region of the UK are trusted to help British goods reach customers overseas. By certifying the origin of goods, Chambers help to reduce the possibility that overseas customs authorities stop British shipments – helping to ensure the smooth passage of UK goods across international borders. The candidate will undergo international trade qualification to become one of the 350 qualified specialists in the UK Chamber Network, who are on hand every working day to help business and international trade to flourish.

To view full job role click here

Customer Experience Team Member

You’ll play an integral part within the Customer Experience Team, dealing with customer queries on a day to day basis and create new and innovative ways to help develop the business. You will actively engage by phone, email or at events with a wide range of business customers to understand and support their needs and then be motivated, inspired and driven to always exceed the customer’s expectations. The Customer Experience Team bridge and connect our customers across all our business areas (finance, international, policy and membership) and work within and environment of complete, transparency and customer care. This role is very varied with no two days being the same, you should be able to embrace change and be a natural problem solver.

To view full job role click here

Our offices are based in the outskirts of Norwich with free parking. Benefits include 26 days holiday plus bank holiday per annum, free healthcare cash plan and a pension scheme.

Closing date is Monday 13 May. First interviews for this role will take place on 23/24 May 2019, with second interviews taking place the following week.

Please apply through Indeed Jobs, clicking on the link to the role above. 

Technology Giants Nick Wilson Vice President of Enterprise group and Managing Director of HP UK and Ireland Peter Ford Head of Service Provider Director, IBSG Emerging Markets Cisco Systems Ltd will be joining a strong line up of local entrepreneur speakers at the Norfolk Chamber’s technology event Be Better @ Online on 19th September at the Forum in Norwich.

The expert line up of national and local speakers will help Norfolk’s business community big and small get to grips with where technology is going in the future and as important give them the tool to ensure that their online activity is reaching the right customers and getting the right results.

Nick Wilson and Peter Ford will highlight what HP and Cisco are doing to help businesses be more successful and how they see the world of technology changing.

Expert local speaker from Further, The SEO Geek, Square Social, Archant and 101 Media will show through real practical examples and advice, how to be better at online networking, engaging website, selling through social media and email marketing.

Caroline Williams CEO Norfolk Chamber of Commerce said:

“It seems amazing that only two years ago I was fretting about what to do about social media and so created the first of our annual technology events to help me find the answers and to assist the wider business community find theirs. On the back of that event the Chamber created a new website and by using what we learnt then and at our 2012 technology event the Chamber now does significant business through our website and by using social media.

We are very excited to have such a strong line up of national and local speaker in Norwich at our annual ‘be better @online technology event this year, to learn practical examples which we can implement straightway to better our business but as importantly to help us to may the right decision as to how to move forward to the all important next stage. This event is a great opportunity for all sized businesses with an appetite to grow “

Be better@online 19 September, 2013 at The Forum Norwich. All details ‘be better @online

Over 70 of the region’s most influential women from business and the public sector will be attending a Norfolk Chamber of Commerce Working Lunch today at Sprowston Manor Hotel to review and debate what Economic Equality means to the Norfolk Economy and what more can be done to inspire Norfolk’s young people.

Caroline Williams CEO Norfolk Chamber said: “As women business leaders, it is important to review if we are as visible as we could be to help our young people understand what is achievable?

I believe that it is up to us individually and collectively to raise the profile of our achievements across our industries to inspire the next generation of our young people. There is already a lot of good work happening in Norfolk and surrounding counties but we need to do more.

This working lunch is an opportunity to bring together, the region’s influential women to discuss and debate what we can do differently to raise the profile of our achievements and to see how we can achieve Economic Equality.

We are delighted to have secured Wendy Bowers, a successful enterprise ambassador, from So Business Solutions as a keynote speaker. In addition to identifying key actions, we will also, through our discussions, add value to the research currently being undertaken by Dr Haya Al-Dajani of the UEA, on behalf of the NALEP Economic Equality Group who are reviewing how the full potential of women within the economy can be unlocked.”

Norfolk Chambers recently announced their success One Hour Networking in King’s Lynn was moving from one hour on a Wednesday to Two Hours on a Tuesday.  We also announced that we would be available for businesses to drop in and talk to us and the ‘experts who would be joining us.

We are really pleased to announce that our key note speaker for our first Two Hour Tuesday free networking will be Glenn Savill, Relationship Manager at Aston Shaw. 

Glenn is the Making Tax Digital adviser for Aston Shaw and has recently held over half a dozen seminars on the topic throughout East Anglia, including King’s Lynn, so be sure to ask him any burning questions you may have to ensure your business is ready for the upcoming changes imposed by HMRC.

He has also agreed to be available for our drop-in session that follows, so if you want to know more about the Chambers and how we can help support your business, or if you have a financial question that you would like to put to Glenn, we would be delighted to see you.

West Norfolk ‘Experts’ – We Need You

If you’re an expert in your field, based in West Norfolk, and would prepared to volunteer some of your precious time to help support fellow local business-people, please get in touch. Our drop-in sessions are designed to add value and support the business community, so anyone who’s interested in passing on their expertise in a non-salesy way will be warmly welcomed. We’d love to hear from you! Drop a quick email to Nicole Risby on email: nicole.risby@norfolkchamber.co.uk.

Sounds Amazing – When and Where?

All sessions will be held in the Council Chamber Room at the King’s Lynn Town Hall, Saturday Market Pl, Norfolk PE30 5DQ.  The next Two Hour Tuesday will be on the 14th May starting at 7.30am.

Dates for the rest of 2019:

• Tuesday 18th June
• Tuesday 23rd July
• Tuesday 20th August
• Tuesday 24th September
• Tuesday 8th October
• Tuesday 19th November
• Tuesday 3rd December

To get involved or find out more please contact Nicole Risby, Customer Experience Team, on 01603 729702 or by email: nicole.risby@norfolkchamber.co.uk