AS A CHAMBER MEMBER, YOU'RE WELL CONNECTED.
AS A CHAMBER MEMBER, YOU'RE WELL CONNECTED.
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For the latest addition of our recent news summary, Forbes Low (CEO, Kingston Chamber of Commerce), shares exciting updates on Chamber activities and more details on our upcoming events.
March and April have been busy months (as always), but particularly behind the scenes. A fair part of my time is actually spent away from networking events and in conversations with businesses or stakeholders which are always rewarding.
In March, DoubleTree Hilton hosted our first Patron breakfast of the year. Our Patrons share the values that drive the Chamber and key partners to help the growth of the local economy.
The value of the breakfast meetings is to share peer-to-peer experiences and knowledge of the various sectors that our Patrons represent.
The one area which resonated for all our Patrons was the skills, resources and the employment of staff. Whether it be Ai manipulated CV’s, to the influence and expectations of social media, to making Kingston more affordable to live for a younger generation, to HR issues, the pressure on stakeholders and businesses is challenging. However, by sharing their concerns, there were processes that everyone could absorb and maybe implement and certainly, there was an appreciation that everyone was experiencing the same dilemmas.
New Patron members
In April, we were delighted to welcome two new Patron members, 7DOTS and MB Associates.
7DOTS are a Kingston-based digital agency, with a ‘mission to make the world more captivating and less frustrating.’ MB Associates is an award-winning mortgage broker, founded over 20 years ago. When you speak to Sam Page at 7DOTS or Monica Bradly at MB Associates, you will find true business leaders who are not only impressive in what they do, but how they want to actively contribute to supporting the local business community.
Becoming a Patron will provide you the platform to put your knowledge back into the business community. The Patron membership is adapted to suit your goals. Whether it is marketing, extending connections or to be a more integral part of the community, we will make this work for you. If you are interested in becoming a Patron, please contact me at [email protected] or visit our website here.
Kingston Chamber of Commerce is delighted to have announced the new date for the Future of Work Summit 2024, hosted by the Kingston University Business School.
The Summit is dedicated to providing educational insights, networking opportunities and supportive and inspiring business-related seminars.
This year, we will provide a range of engaging cultural and business roundtables and bite-sized seminars which will bring together leaders and practitioners from different areas of business, all of whom will share their experiences into specific topics or challenges. There are many opportunities to network during the day. Pick up a coffee or a bite to eat, and chat with other attendees in the Atrium area. You will also be able to engage with and ask questions with our sponsors and partners here too.
The spirit of the Future of Work Summit is rooted in our local, creative business community. It is our mission to foster new ideas, stimulate business growth and connections, and provide a friendly environment in which to network.
We would like to thank our headline sponsors Kingston University and the Royal Borough of Kingston upon Thames Council and our Gold Summit Sponsors, HR Dept, ZedCarz and Business Clan for supporting this event.
Sign up here to attend: this is free to Chamber members!
To mark this year’s International Women’s Day, the Chamber was thrilled to host our first dedicated #InternationalWomensDay Brunch!
This sold-out event welcomed over 40 attendees – including many new guests and collaborators – to celebrate and recognise the inspiring work of women leaders. Beginning with a vibrant networking session, our Chamber President, Julie Leach (Chartered MCIPD) (Julie Leach Associates), was joined by guest speakers Jessica O’Neill (Harrison Jacks Ltd & #KBBA2024 Award Winner) and Susana Gonzalez (ND Bright Brains Ltd) to discuss their career journeys, spearheading change in male-dominated industries and reflections on this #IWD‘s theme, #inspiringinclusion.
Providing a unique opportunity to reflect on both the accomplishments and challenges of female entrepreneurship and leadership, we would like to thank all of our attendees for their participation and insights – while #IWD may only encompass one day, this brunch highlighted the importance of building and supporting women-led communities within our Borough and beyond.
In partnership with our fantastic collaborators, Time & Leisure Magazine and hosted for the first time at the “brand-new modern oasis” of Fuego by Fenwick, our ever-popular WIB event was the perfect opportunity to catch up with and support our growing business community.
With inspiration and connection in mind, we were pleased to welcome Claire Harrison, Director of West9 Design Ltd, as our guest speaker. Claire’s presentation, “Make Your Mark: Enhance Your Visibility with Personal Branding”, was a truly empowering discussion that demystified the process of developing a distinct professional identity.
The next Women in Business lunch is on June 27th at Haché Brasserie so book now.
In April, we brought together nearly 50 business leaders for a business breakfast at DoubleTree by Hilton, Kingston. There was a fantastic atmosphere with many new faces alongside our active members. We’re proud to provide this platform for you to connect, support, influence each other, and share your energy within our business community.
We were delighted to have Sanja Djeric Kane from Kingston Voluntary Action join us, providing valuable insights into the voluntary sector in Kingston. We were also glad to be joined by Richard Padun, from Sales Geek who explored the subject of targeting kicking off his presentation with the motto “target smart, sell sharp.” His insightful talk covered various aspects of targeting including the sales cycle and ecosystem, revenue value segmentation, alignment of sales and marketing efforts, targeting tools, and adaptation of a multichannel approach.
Thank you to everyone for attending and contributing.
In April, I had the opportunity to catch up and discuss local business issues with our local MP for Kingston and Surbiton, Sir Ed Davey. He was keen to understand the pressures and confidence of our membership. One of the important aspects of our work is to be advocates for business concerns and matters that affect you so although we hear many conversations at our events, we would always encourage you to let us know what is affecting you. When we hear your views, we have the opportunities to then share these with Sir Ed and key
stakeholders.
In March, I was invited to Kingston University to share our insights on business engagement and what businesses are looking for in future employees. In a world increasingly dominated by artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies, Kingston University remains firmly at the forefront of a national and local conversation highlighting the urgent need for skills development to be embedded across higher education.
It was a pleasure to be part of a panel with the knowledgeable Cameron King (Skills and Employment Programme Lead) from Kingston Council, and Kirsten Henly from Kingston First (the local BID – Business Improvement District).
9th May: Business Breakfast
Côte Brasserie, 6 Riverside Walk, Kingston Upon Thames, London, KT1 1QN
Join us for our next Business Breakfast, taking place at Côte Brasserie Kingston. Connect with other like-minded individuals, enjoy a delicious breakfast and learn from Communications Specialist Jude Faultless (Owner of Faultless Copywriting) who will be exploring effective communication.
15th May: Coffee & Connect
The Wych Elm, 93 Elm Road, Kingston upon Thames, Surrey, KT2 6HT
Join us for our ever-popular networking morning at the Wych Elm in Kingston. We’re inviting freelancers, startups, microbusinesses, and those working from home for another chance to exchange ideas and hear from our guest speaker, Kristina Ericsson Richards (Cloudberry Nutrition).
22nd May: Chamber Quiz Night
The Wych Elm, 93 Elm Road, Kingston upon Thames, Surrey, KT2 6HT
We are delighted to welcome back, after a long absence, the ever-popular Chamber Quiz night. Join us at the Wych Elm in Kingston to network, support the local community, sample the Wych Elm’s delicious food and drink menu and showcase your general knowledge!
For more information about the latest events, subscribe to our weekly events newsletter.
If you would like to know more about how we support our local business community, please visit www.kingstonchamber.co.uk, email us at [email protected], or connect with us on LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook.
