I would like to welcome you all to this (I believe, the 143rd) Annual General Meeting of the Port of Falmouth Chamber of Commerce.
Well, my first period in office has been a varied and challenging one and I would like to thank all our members for their continued support. When I took up this role the Chamber had gone through a period of considerable change and upheaval following the death of Frank Fisher Field the previous Chairman. It was clear that unless the membership could be increased and revitalised the Chamber would lose its position in the town and business community. Consequently it has been my primary aim to reverse the decline in membership and to increase the profile of the Chamber. I am determined to see our Chamber flourish not only for my term in office but for the foreseeable future. This Chamber has been in existence since about 1860 and it would be sad comment on today’s business community if it was allowed to disappear.
We have now begun this process through a number of measures intended to attract new members and provide the business community in Falmouth with a focus for information, advice and support. I have been active around the town signing up new members since taking office and like to think I have been reasonably successful so far. However, I am conscious that our membership base needs to widen to include more professionals such as accountants, surveyors as well as from local industries but I cannot do this alone and would therefore ask that all members join with me in encouraging new members to join and set themselves a target of signing up at least one new member each over the coming twelve months.
In addition to recruitment drive we have also introduced a number of new services and facilities for members which include:
- A new website designed to keep provide the business community with a resource and point of reference for all business related matters and members with additional facilities and services. We also now have the ability to email all members through the website, the notice for this AGM being the first of hopefully many useful and informative communications to our members.
I am delighted that we have started work on the new website for the Chamber. This enables us to demonstrate a progressive approach and will be of great use to members in keeping up to date on events. I would like to thank Peter Graves of Channel Computing for all his help. I also wish to thank all those who have participated in the sites development, providing useful information including web links and articles which I am sure will be of great use to all members. - A free legal telephone advice service for members provided by Preston Goldburn Solicitors. This service operates between 10 to 12 noon and 15.00 to 16.00 Monday to Friday. The helpline provides telephone advice on employment law, contract and consumer law and leases and business property law.
- An insurance helpline that provides quotes on all aspects of business insurance cover. In addition members are entitled to purchase a legal expenses policy with cover for up to £100,000 of cover for £84.00 which is fantastic value for money and is far cheaper than anything provided by the Federation of Small Businesses. I urge you all to purchase this policy. If few take up the policy we will almost certain loose this facility.
- The Chamber has become an affiliated member of The Cornwall Chamber of Commerce. This enables us to participate in discussions and debates with other Chambers of Commerce in Cornwall. This May we will be participating in Cornwall Business Week – which means what?
For the future we will be experimenting with having some of our business meetings in the early morning. We hope this will improve attendances and bring a new vigour to the Chamber.
The recent appointment of Richard Gates as Town Manager is most welcome. Richard has shown a keen willingness to take an pro-active role, and build upon the efforts of his predecessor. I wish Richard great success and look forward to building a mutually beneficial relationship with the Town Manager’s office.
This year has also seen the development of the BID’s project. Although it has had a somewhat uncertain start I am sure that with the appointment of Richard Wilcox as the Project Manager things will continue to improve. I am confident that the BID’s project will deliver on its manifesto and we will be able to work together with the project to achieve further improvement in the business environment for the Falmouth business community.
I must also thank the Town Council for supplying the use of this room , free of charge had they not done so the cost of finding alternative accommodation would have been prohibitively high on our limited revenue stream. I would also like to thank Mark Williams for all his support and encouragement and indeed that of the Councils willingness to support and work with us.
Finally I would like to say that after a few troubled years I believe the Falmouth Chamber of Commerce is now well on its way to regaining its former stature and influence in the town and look forward to reporting back you all next year together with all the new members we have recruited!
Thank you.
