JUNE 2009

"What’s in it for me?!" is so often the cry from Members or those who consider joining Hayle & District Chamber of Commerce. Fair enough question – let me answer it with two questions – "What do you think you have the right to expect from your Chamber and what are you prepared to contribute?"– well, one of the most important things the Chamber does is to get it’s Members to relax once a month at our meetings where we always break for a great buffet. The meeting helps take us all out of ourselves enough to realise that there are others with similar business ailments, and just maybe find the right people to help with solutions !

I’ll leave you with those thoughts for a while.

It’s mid-June and I hope the anticipated "Season" is coming upon you faster than ever! We could do with a good summer after the last three. So what has Hayle Chamber been up to ? Aside from the important work, of which more below, there was the time and soul searching on a most important matter pertaining to a cure for overwork, resulting in a solution in two parts: a guided tour of Skinners Brewery in Truro and a Chamber BBQ at "The Old Quay House"!!

Did that surprise you?

As Chamber Chairman I was invited on air with Radio Cornwall the other day to discuss the problems small businesses are anticipating in Bude if a new Tesco store arrives as it might. We are consulted because it is known how involved we have been with our recent retail expansion and how much we have been consulted in the last decade over all the proposed development of Hayle. Sainsbury and Asda, hopeful entrants to the business life here, are meeting with us as with the regular meetings we have with ING, the developers of the £200m retail Hayle Harbour site. All this in the last three months.

We are known for our tagline "Working for the Common Cause" and known that we speak for business people and residents as, in Hayle, the two are often the same. Developers, planners and Councillors all want to know what the Chamber thinks because in a town of 7,500+ our Membership runs at 80+ companies, a union of sole proprietors to branches of national concerns.

Have you thought about answers to my questions? The Members who attend as often as they can, get knowledge to help their businesses and the opportunity to influence the future of Hayle. Knowing that Hayle Chamber speaks with such a powerful voice all agencies want to listen and talk to us. I call that influence. If you expect more, how will you help us achieve it ?

Have a good summer!

Jeremy Joslin