St Helens Chamber adds a duo of awards to its trophy cabinet
Posted by John Perrian on Tuesday 1 December 2009
St Helens Chamber has scooped two more national awards, making it the only Chamber ever to win four awards in just three years at The British Chamber of Commerce Annual awards.
St Helens picked up the British Chambers of Commerce’s Award for Most Effective Campaigning, sponsored by BT, as well as the Award for Excellence in Membership Services, sponsored by CLE (Composite Legal Expenses), at a ceremony at the National Maritime Museum in London. Both awards recognise that Membership is at the heart of everything they do.
This follows on from their successes at the 2008 awards when they were awarded for “Meeting the Skills Agenda” and 2007 when they were crowned “Chamber of the Year”.
The Most Effective Campaigning award was won for the Chamber’s innovative campaign to reduce local unemployment by literally getting people on the buses – winning a real vote of support from its Members.
The Chamber’s campaigning to start the 920 bus service to Haydock Industrial Estate came after local employers on the site highlighted that they found it difficult to recruit and retain staff due to a lack of public transport to the area.
The success of the campaign has meant companies on the estate now have staff that can get to work on time every day and unemployed people from the Borough can now apply for jobs that they previously couldn’t get to.
David Frost, Director General of the British Chambers of Commerce said: “The St Helens’ Chamber campaign was well-researched and effective. It had a positive impact not just on businesses and its members, but also had measurable social benefits for the area.
“The Chamber’s dedication to its Members has seen it become a real part of the business community in St Helens.”
The Chamber’s work with the business community has not gone unnoticed by their Members. A member satisfaction survey showed that 96 per cent of members were satisfied with the Chamber – an impressive score which lead to the Chamber’s second award of the night.
Membership of the Chamber has shown significant growth thanks to its pro-active approach to customer care.
Sara Williams, Director of Enterprise Development at St Helens Chamber, said: “Although we have grown and diversified our services over the last few years, at our heart we are a Membership organisation and it is critical to us that we are able to offer services that our Members value.
“Serving our Member’s interests is, and always has been, our priority and we are delighted to have won both of these awards in recognition of this.”
Pictured from left are: Sara Williams, St Helens Chamber; Sue Waller, St Helens Chamber; Bob Bissell from award sponsors BT
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