Funded growth support available to businesses

Businesses in Bradford, Leeds and North Yorkshire can access specialist business support thanks to a new stream of funding received by West and North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce.

Firms with up to 50 employees can now benefit from the Chamber’s expertise after funding, which reduces the cost of annual membership by 75%, has been awarded from the Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership (LEP) and delivered by the West Yorkshire Combined Authority through the Leeds City Region Growth Deal, a £1billion package of Government investment to accelerate growth and create jobs across Leeds City Region.

West and North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce – one of the biggest in the UK and which combines Bradford, Leeds and York and North Yorkshire Chambers – specialises in helping businesses with growth, advice and business management.

It’s 2,000 strong, cross-sector membership base includes business start ups, sole traders and multi million pound turnover manufacturers.

Sandy Needham, Chief Executive of the West and North Yorkshire Chamber, said: “Chambers of Commerce in our region have been supporting businesses of all sizes for almost 200 years and the pressures and challenges of running any enterprise through a global pandemic is something new to us all and better managed as a collective than in isolation.

“Because mutual support and collaboration is crucial for many businesses to survive, we are absolutely delighted to have received funding which, at this critical moment in time, makes our Chamber’s expertise and resources even more accessible to the businesses who need it. This year has been tough for everyone, but funding such as this will help move our region forward by supporting those responsible for the health of our local economy.”

The West and North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce is part of the British Chambers of Commerce, a network of 52 individual Chambers which represent 5.8million employees across the country. The organisations were praised this year by Her Majesty The Queen for “helping firms, championing trade and rebuilding communities” and are relied upon by the Government to feedback on the challenges and needs of businesses across every region.

Andrew Wright, Chair of the LEP Business Innovation and Growth Panel said: Andrew Wright, Chair of the LEP Business Innovation and Growth Panel said:

“The LEP is continuing to expand its service to help businesses impacted by the pandemic, and it’s great to see our partnership with the West & North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce to provide additional support to local businesses across West and North Yorkshire.

“The WNYC can provide vital support to its members that will be greatly beneficial during these unprecedented times, and I’d encourage businesses to take advantage of the offer.”

Suzanne Watson, Managing Director of Approach PR joined the Chamber as a sole operator in 2001: “I’ve been a member of the Chamber of Commerce since starting my business almost 20 years ago, and the connections, the expertise, the information and the training it provides has seen me through two rollercoaster decades including the recession of 2008-2013, expansion of my team, four office moves, business growth and today the challenges of surviving a global pandemic.

“Through the Chamber network and access to its expertise, I have made friends, met mentors, secured new business, grown my business and managed my business. Today, no-one knows what the future holds, but I feel secure with the consistent support that the Chambers of Commerce continue to offer and would encourage any business looking for advice, support and a truly welcoming network to take advantage of this latest business support funding.”

Further information on the Leeds City Region Growth Deal and the criteria for qualifying can be found at www.wnychamber.co.uk/growth-deal/ where you can also join online using voucher code MOVINGFORWARD