Move over COVID-19, we’re talking CURRY-21. Can you believe we’ve not had a Curry Club since 2019?

Thankfully, August 2021 sees the much awaited return of East Lancashire Chamber’s famous Curry Club. It’s going to be bigger and better than ever, and with over 12 month’s pent up demand, we’re expecting HUGE interest – so book early.

We’ll be joined by new Burnley FC Chairman Alan Pace – on his first few months as Chairman and his initial impressions of the East Lancashire business scene. Plus a handful of other great speakers and some quality curry-based networking in the Turf’s newly refurbished James Hargreaves Suite.

Plus we’ll be joined by Burnley MP Antony Higginbotham, who will discuss East Lancashire’s COVID response and Burnley Council Chief Executive Mick Cartledge, who will give an update on the major developments currently underway in the Borough and talk about how Burnley is aiming to recover from the pandemic.

The Curry Club is an East Lancashire Institution. Since 2006 local businesses have regularly gathered together to network and share a fine two course curry lunch* and listen to inspirational guest speakers in a relaxed informal setting and we’re absolutely delighted to confirm that KeyFleet will continue to sponsor this event throughout 2021.

Register now to secure your place at what’s set to be a hugely popular event.  Members £25 plus vat, non-members £50 plus vat.

*Non-curry option available

This popular network was launched in 2015 and is aimed specifically at the Property and Construction sectors.

It is designed to provide Lancashire based property and construction businesses with access to information, opportunities and best practice insights as well as providing a forum to meet with peers within the industry.

This event will be hosted onsite at Accrington & Rossendale College. Complimentary breakfast options and drinks will be provided and an optional tour of their construction training facility will be available at the end of the event.

Morag Davis, Assistant Principal for Technical Curriculum at the college will deliver a short presentation about collaboration and how employers and the college can work closely together to develop the technical and professional skills of the construction talent pipeline. She will also touch on the importance of moving forwards together with the low carbon agenda and what the college is doing to support this.

Also joining us will be guest speaker Andrew White, Head of Procurement at Onward Homes. Andrew’s focus will be on the 3 key themes within their Procurement Strategy and the links to engaging with local businesses: Category Management, Contract and Supplier Management, and Innovation.

Onward already has a reputation for supporting its local suppliers, but their new procurement strategy aims to develop that further by:

• Engaging with their markets to build a better understanding of their local supply chain and how they can support their current and future contract opportunities;
• Maximising their spend in the North by creating and opening up opportunities for local suppliers both through direct engagement and via the supply chain;
• Seeking and driving social value for the communities they serve by working closer with their suppliers.

Finally we’ll hear from Iain Hulse from Building For Humanity about their innovative ECO build in Hyndburn. Working closely with the charity Homes For Humanity and also with ex-military charities, the scheme will identify individuals in need of help and guide them through a rehabilitation program of support, counselling, and retraining.

The aim is to utilise their skills in the construction of 46 carbon neutral homes in Accrington, offering them a home of their own and the realistic opportunity to work within the company.

Unlike many networks Construction Connections is a closed group and focuses on the needs of Property and Construction businesses only. Breakfast options and refreshments will be provided for delegates attending in person. Non-members from within the sector are welcome to attend.

COST: Chamber members: Included in your membership | Non members: £20 plus vat

Sponsorship Opportunity Available

Just imagine seeing ”Construction Connections sponsored by [Your Company Name]’ at all our 2021 events …

We are now looking for a sponsor to support Construction Connections throughout 2021 and potentially beyond. Align your brand with this popular and well established sector-focused event and instantly increase your brand’s visibility and company’s perceived image among this ever-growing network. A guaranteed speaking slot at every event will also enable you to share company updates and establish your company as an expert in your field.

Interested? Contact Debbi Dawson or Simon Brierley at membership@chamberelancs.co.uk for more information and an informal chat to discuss all your options.

Sales Club: The Key To Massive Revenue Success in 2021

With the end of 2020 being slightly turbulent and full of unseen surprises, Sales Club 2021 has been designed to help you get some structure and stability back in to your pipeline and ensure that 2021 is a year full of business growth, profitability and closing those big deals you’ve been dreaming of.

At the beginning of this year East Lancashire Chamber of Commerce and Sales Geek worked together to produce the Lancashire Sales Survey 2021, which has been used to gather information from all participants, looking at the challenges, issues, successes and worries that Covid has produced across Lancashire. This piece of research will form the basis for the areas and topics that are featured in this year’s Sales Club events.

If you work in sales or business development, or you’re a business owner or sole trader, this event is for you. Whether you’re a sales director or sales apprentice you WILL learn something.

Cost:

• Members: Included in membership
• Non-members £20 plus vat

Sponsorship Opportunity Available

Just imagine seeing ‘Sales Club is sponsored by [Your Company Name]’ at all our 2021 events …

We are now looking for a sponsor to support Sales Club throughout 2021 and potentially beyond. Align your brand with this popular and well established sector-focused event and instantly increase your brand’s visibility and company’s perceived image among this ever-growing network. A guaranteed speaking slot at every event will also enable you to share company updates and establish your company as an expert in your field.

Interested? Contact Debbi Dawson or Simon Brierley at membership@chamberelancs.co.uk for more information and an informal chat to discuss what’s included.

Join Miranda Barker, CEO of East Lancashire Chamber of Commerce in conversation with Emma Howard Boyd, Chair of the Environment Agency.

Emma Howard Boyd has been the Chair of the Environment Agency since 2016. The Agency is a public body responsible for the protection and enhancement of the environment in England.

She’s also an Ex officio board member of the Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA), and an Advisor to the Board of Trade. Emma, with a background in finance, is a board member or advisor to many organisations which include The Prince’s Accounting for Sustainability Project, the Green Finance Institute, the Coalition for Climate Resilient Investment, the Centre for Greening Finance and Investment, the Council for Sustainable Business, the European Climate Foundation, and Menhaden PLC. Emma was the UK Commissioner to the Global Commission on Adaptation from 2018 until its sunset in January 2021.

Before becoming the Chair of the Environment Agency in September 2016, she has served as a Board member since 2009, was Chair of the Audit and Risk Assurance Committee until 2016, and served as Deputy Chair. Her other past roles include being the Chair of Trustees at ShareAction from 2015 to 2018, Vice-Chair of the Future Cities Capital from 2013 and 2018, and acting as a Non-Executive Director at the Aldersgate Group (2012 -2018) and Thrive Renewables (previously Triodos Renewables, 2004-2012). Before that, she held various executive roles at Jupiter Asset Management. She was also Chair of UKSIF (the UK Sustainable Investment and Finance Association), a member of the Commission on Environmental Markets and Economic Performance, and the Green Finance Taskforce.

Chamber Health and Safety Forum is attended by nominated Health and Safety personnel from businesses across Lancashire and proudly sponsored by Nelson & Colne College Group.

Delivered three times per year, these sessions are designed to provide a network for continuous improvement, professional development and sharing of knowledge within the field of Health and Safety.

At this next event we’ll hear from Sarah Haworth from Nelson & Colne College Group, plus we’ll receive an update from Active Lancashire about the Business Health Matters programme, which has been developed to support local businesses in improving the physical and mental health of their employees so that staff are happier, healthier and more resilient.

The Active Lancashire led initiative is supported by a range of partners including UCLan, Lancashire Mind, UKactive, Lancashire Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP), Chambers of Commerce, Sport England and Lancashire County Council.

By delivering training, health screenings and supportive interventions in workplaces, through a network of local authorities and leisure trust staff, employees are empowered to improve their overall health whilst employers benefit from increased productivity within their workforces.

Cost

• Members: Complimentary (included in your membership)
• Non-members: £20 plus vat

This event is aimed at anyone responsible for health and safety in the workplace. It will also be of interest to CEO’s, business owners, senior managers, HR and training managers, buildings managers, etc.

Our prestigious meetings provide vital, informative presentations from guest speakers specifically designed for our Importers and Exporters to develop their knowledge of key issues and to share their experiences with fellow members.

Topics to be confirmed

Guest presenters

To be confirmed

John Pickervance – Partner & Head of Commercial – Forbes Solicitors

Your membership. Your Club.                                                                                                                                                                

Contact Stef Heywood
Call: 01254 356454
Email: international@chamberelancs.co.uk

Future Dates include:-

2 December 2021 – International Trade Club Gala Luncheon and Awards

Marketing Mix was created following demand from the region’s professional marketers and their need for a forum to meet, share best practice and invest in their careers through continuous learning.

It is a group for client and agency-based marketing professionals across East Lancashire to access support and education about the latest news, opportunity and statistics from the industry.

“If your most recent professional learning was more than 18 months ago, then your knowledge is out of date.” The Chartered Institute of Marketing

As well as a short presentation from event sponsor Mark Robinson, MD of Bellyflop, we’ll also be joined by guest speaker Dawn Stockell, Marketing Director at VEKA plc:

“Those Who Shout Loudest, Might Well Be Wasting Their Breath!”

Dawn’s focus will be around the importance of Marketing Planning in order to support overall business objectives via a 3 stage approach:

• Insight
• Strategy
• Tactics

Ultimately it’s not about shouting loudest; it’s actually about who you are shouting at … and importantly what you are shouting about that will create value for your business.

COST

• Members: Included in your membership
• Non-members: £20 plus vat

Making it in Lancashire was launched in 2017 to provide Lancashire manufacturers with access to information, opportunities and best practice insights as well as providing a forum to meet with your peers.

This highly successful manufacturers network is hosted by local manufacturers and usually includes a factory or showroom tour, which have proven to be incredibly popular. Unlike many networks, Making it in Lancashire is a closed group and focuses on the needs of manufacturing businesses only. Non-members from within the industry are welcome to attend.

Chamber members: included in membership | Non-members: £20 plus vat