CHAMBER NEWS

RISING TO THE CHALLENGE

WE CAN PLAY OUR PART TO HELP THE GROWING HUMANITARIAN CRISIS IN UKRAINE, SAYS CORNWALL CHAMBER CHIEF EXECUTIVE, KIM CONCHIE.

With the lifting of restrictions in the UK, I really didn’t think my April column would take such a sombre tone. I don’t feel I can launch into light-hearted chat about Cornwall’s business community without first acknowledging the events that are unravelling in Ukraine.

When situations like this arise it’s often difficult to ascertain exactly how one can help from a distance – all sorts of giving pages pop up, and different charities organise missions out to the region to assist. I’ve been blown away by the businesses and individuals here who have taken the bull by the horns and used the resources they have to get stuck in.

Cornwall is almost top giver per capita in the UK and our generosity is shining through as we rally to get essential supplies out to Ukraine.

So many businesses have put their expertise and/or resources to good use, getting packages out to people in desperate need and raising vital funds. At the Chamber, we helped provide blankets and toiletries to go in the West Cornwall Removals van that made the long trip to a refugee camp in Warsaw, Poland.

At the beginning of March, in a post on Facebook, West Cornwall Removals said: “We are used to travelling around the EU with our work and we have the equipment so we thought let’s help as much as we can.”

That kind of instant, unquestionable willingness to support just sums up Cornwall for me. We may have businesses to run – heavily impacted by the pandemic and just getting back on our feet, but there’s a crisis and we have the means and knowledge to make a real difference, so of course we’re going to.

Cornwall should be proud of the way it has responded to the war; we are historically very generous when it comes to humanitarian crises, even though we are far from rich compared to other regions.

At the Chamber we will continue to support in any way we can, so do get in touch if you need help getting a message out.

CORNWALL BUSINESS FAIR

Our annual Business Fair, ‘The Future of Business’, sponsored by Wildanet, will soon be upon us and we’re very excited at how it’s shaping up.

Cornwall Festival of Business runs from June 13-17 and our much-anticipated Business Fair takes place in the middle of the week, on Wednesday June 15 at a brand-new venue for us - Falmouth University’s Penryn Campus.

This year, the Business Fair - the largest celebration of the innovative, forwardlooking businesses and business support in The Duchy, is sponsored by Wildanet and will continue the Chamber’s sustainability theme and focus on the future of business in Cornwall and the world.

The day starts with our June BIG Breakfast, sponsored by Coodes, which we’re hoping will be our largest yet with 200 people filling the Uni’s Stannary restaurant.

There’s plenty of opportunity to get involved and showcase your products and services in whichever way works best for your business: have a physical presence alongside 64 other businesses with a promotional stand in Falmouth Uni’s sports hall, run an event on campus during the day, or gain visibility by sponsoring parts of the day like the tea and coffee station or a row of stands.

Put the date in your diary now! If you have young colleagues – bring them along, our young Chamber group, Surge of Entrepreneurs will be well represented. It’s the perfect environment to dip a toe into business networking and make some brilliant contacts.

Visit https://www.cornwallchamber. co.uk/cornwall-business-fair for more information about Cornwall Business Fair.

Email: hello@cornwallchamber.co.uk Call: 01209 216006 Online: www.cornwallchamber.co.uk WHY JOIN?

Cornwall Chamber of Commerce is an independent not-for-profit organisation accredited by the British Chambers of Commerce. We solely exist to represent businesses in Cornwall. Our events provide a platform for businesses to connect, create and make valuable business relationships. Membership to the Chamber starts from as little as £17 +VAT per month and provides you with the tools to promote your business.

Get in touch today to have a chat about how we can support you and your business.