Thames Valley Chamber of Commerce

Christmas is around the corner!! The countdown begins... 🎅 #TopicTuesdays #OfficetalkwithTVCC

We are delighted to announce that Jack Rankin, Conservative MP for Windsor will be joining the panel at the Chamber’s Parliamentary Question Time event on 31st January 2025. Hosted by our event partner, University of Reading, this session provides an opportunity for Parliamentarians and businesses to engage on what is important for the future competitiveness of the Thames Valley. Find out more here - #Tvcc #ParlimentaryQuestionTime

TVCC urges Government not to ignore the Thames Valley region in its new national growth strategy. Thames Valley Chamber of Commerce (TVCC) is urging ministers to ensure business communities outside of prioritised city regions can continue to contribute to the solutions and growth required by the whole of the UK. The Government says the Industrial Strategy will be published in Spring 2025, alongside the multi-year Spending Review. Responding to the Industrial Strategy Green Paper, TVCC urges Government to consider how and where dynamic levels of growth have been achieved in localities such as the Thames Valley, with comparatively limited local policy interventions. Paul Britton, Chief Executive, TVCC said: “To be successful, government should also prepare and support a different timetable for places that may not fit with a city region growth agenda. The Thames Valley should also have a resourced plan, both local to reflect the existing public sector institutions but also pan-regional, cross sector and visionary across a wider economic geography. This will help us compete". Read more 👇 https://lnkd.in/eviEKA7h #thamesvalley #chamberofcommerce #industrialstrategy

Don't miss out on joining us next Thursday at our Bracknell Business Networking and Meet the Chamber event, which is being hosted by Village Hotels Bracknell 🎉 Grab your place here before it sells out 👇 https://lnkd.in/eCHRSjAh This is our last event of its kind for 2024 (and what a year it's been!) - there are still a few tickets left for the Christmas Lunch on the 11th December, but be quick! 🎄 https://lnkd.in/e2SKMxZB And if you have your nice fresh 2025 diary already and want to get some networking dates in, we kick off in January with an Oxfordshire event on the 16th in Abingdon, then Maidenhead on the 29th January, with February and March dates on their way. And watch this space for some exciting news regarding the 2025 Business Awards! 💥 See all our full events calendar here 👇 https://lnkd.in/enj-gtFb #thamesvalley #chamberofcommerce #events #networking

🚛 Driving Change in Haulage & Logistics! 🚛 On a frosty Wednesday, 20th November, we were thrilled to welcome such a strong turnout for the 3rd Haulage and Logistics Workforce Development Partnership Meeting at Slough and Langley College, WFCG. The energy and commitment in the room were undeniable, proving once again that collaboration is the key to tackling industry challenges. The morning was packed with insightful discussions led by CILT (UK), Michael Page, and the New Futures Network, sparking conversations about the future roles and skills needed in the sector. A spotlight was shone on digital literacy, showcasing how providers are aligning their training with the needs of employers. Another highlight was the powerful message from the New Futures Network, who shared the benefits of exploring prison leavers as a valuable and untapped workforce stream—an idea that resonated strongly with attendees. A big thank you to all our speakers and participants, including employers, providers, strategic partners, and even students, for your contributions. Together, we’re paving the way for a dynamic and resilient workforce in Haulage and Logistics. 🚚💼 Thank you to our attendees: Sadie Criscuolo – Abingdon and Witney College Andrew Slater, Joshua Thorne – Activate Learning Ugo Igbokwe MCIM – B P Collins LLP Altaf Khosa – Buckinghamshire New University Chris Markey FCMI FCILT – CILT (UK) Rhys Hackling – Direct Connect Logistics Ltd Cheryl K. – Grundon Waste Management Samia Y. – IBB Law Peter Benton – John Lewis & Partners Paul Ducker – New Directions College Louise Freeman – OxLEP Skills Hub Matthew O'Donnell – Michael Page Craig Mincher – West Berkshire Training Consortium Karen Griffiths, Michele Clarke, Emma Raymond – The Windsor Forest Colleges Group Paul Britton, Jane Saggers – Thames Valley Chamber of Commerce Here’s to continued collaboration and innovation in shaping the future of Haulage & Logistics! 🚚✨ #HaulageAndLogistics #WorkforceDevelopment #FutureSkills #DigitalLiteracy #BerkshireSkills #OxfordshireSkills #TVCC #Collaboration #wdp #lsip

This morning the Chamber welcomed delegates to a sold out 'Business focus on UAE and Saudi Arabia' event which was held in collaboration with The Corporate Group. Hosted by Malin Geanovu and Laurie Goodall, delegates heard from Ayman Al Awadhi, Co-Founder of The Corporate Group (TCG), Lawrence Coward of auxilium Services and Iseeb Rehman, Founder and CEO of Sherwoods International Property. The UAE and Kingdom of Saudi Arabia offer a strategic location, world-class infrastructure, and a business-friendly environment, making them ideal destinations for international expansion. Delegates received an overview of UAE and Saudia Arabia markets, learnt about the many opportunities available and got valuable insights into the latest government reforms. Find out how Chamber membership can help your business 👇 https://lnkd.in/gBEAH59 #tvcc #chamberofcommerce #international

So good to catch up with Chamber members and chat to lots of potential members at the B2B Expos Bracknell Expo today. As always, another very busy event, with some great seminars and a packed speed networking to close the day with Sarah Irving Account Managers Robert Nienaber and Manoj Pandya CeMAP had a positive day of promoting the benefits of Chamber membership to local businesses. It was also an ideal opportunity to shout about our current membership offer of 10% off all memberships (excluding Business Alliance) when purchased online 👇 https://lnkd.in/gBEAH59 Huge thank you to the wonderful team of Matt Larcome, Megan Mellor and Juliet Overington for hosting another great Expo - we looking forward to a busy 2025 calendar! Make sure you get the dates in the diary - the first one for us is Reading Expo on 27th February, but take a look at the full calendar 👇 https://lnkd.in/dsfgX7m4 #tvcc #chamberofcommerce #b2bexpo

It was a pleasure to see so many people join us last night for the grand opening of the Stage, Screen & Design Facilities at Windsor College! Over the past year, CUBE Studio in partnership with industry leaders, the college team, and with support from the Berkshire LSIP, has transformed traditional classrooms into a state-of-the-art creative hub. I remember from my days at school and university how important the equipment available was when I first had access to the first DSLR cameras with video capability. For the first time, I could experiment and push my creativity without limits. Having access to industry-standard equipment unlocked ideas I didn’t even know I had and laid the foundation for everything I’ve done since. These new facilities at Windsor College offer that same transformative potential. As the first of their kind in the UK for 16-18-year-olds, they include a virtual production studio, post-production suites, podcasting spaces, audio and DJ booths, and enhanced areas like green rooms and hair & make-up rooms. They give young creatives the tools, training, and technology to explore their creativity and build the confidence they need to thrive in the industry. In the years ahead, these students will achieve incredible things and play a vital role in shaping the future of the Film and TV industries and driving growth in local businesses. To employers: I encourage you to connect with the college team and explore how you can offer opportunities to these talented students—whether through apprenticeships or collaborations—and discover how your business can benefit from these cutting-edge facilities. Together, we can empower the next generation of creators and redefine the future of production. Let’s build it—together! A special thank you to Paul Britton for the introduction to Gillian May and the college team on the project Karen Griffiths, Amanda Down, Jamie Davies, David Linaker, and Tim Mace. Thanks to industry partners - Thames Valley Chamber of Commerce, Jigsaw24, Brompton Technology Limited, PSCo, Cirro Lite (Europe), Mo-Sys Engineering Ltd, Resource Productions, Glenside Commercial Interior Projects Ltd, David Girdlestone and Haydn Lamb #VirtualProdudction #Studio #Education #CreateBeyond

In support of the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC’s) ‘Green Innovation Campaign’ in the lead up to COP29 we are showcasing our members who are leading the way in green innovation. To underline its global commitment to sustainability, Lonza has developed a binding Supplier Code of Conduct that it expects its suppliers, business partners and contractors to adhere to. It is an important criterion in the company’s selection and evaluation of suppliers. Crucially, Lonza expects suppliers to ensure that these standards and principles are upheld throughout the supply chain. Find out more about the Chamber’s Sustainability Working Group - https://lnkd.in/ecWbhw8R #ChambersUnite #COP29 #MemberSpotlight

Inflation Rises as Cost Burdens Loom for Business  Whilst the latest ONS data shows inflation is considerably down from the same time last year, October saw a larger than expected uptick, which highlights the continuing price pressures in the economy. Results from our Quarterly Economic Survey (QES) from Q3 provided important evidence for our lobbying to Government based on the concerns of Thames Valley businesses. With the Q4 currently live, it is crucial that businesses take 2 mins to have their say on the issues they are facing. https://lnkd.in/efnE-ShK #tvcc #chamberofcommerce #voiceofbusiness