Frequently Asked Questions

A Chamber of Commerce is a not-for-profit membership organisation providing the latest business advice, news, events and training to help improve the business environment locally.

A Chamber will work alongside companies and in partnership with a range of organisations to represent different sectors of the business community. Using its platform and relationships with government bodies, a Chamber identifies and lobbies against barriers to growth to ensure its region has a strong economy built by local businesses.

Members join the Chamber of Commerce for many reasons, but ultimately joining will give you access to a range of benefits designed to help you towards the success of your business.

Members tell us they value the opportunity to network at our events with like-minded local businesses across Herefordshire and Worcestershire. Businesses are encouraged to take up the offer to raise their profile by sending their latest good news into ‘Business Direction’ (the Chamber’s bi-monthly magazine which has a readership of over 10,500) and use the many discounted online training* offers.

In addition, businesses that are thinking of trading overseas value the export advice from our dedicated International Trade team.

Members also have access to free HR and legal services, as well as policy advice and representation.

For more information see the full list of benefits HERE.

6.676065Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce Membership is funded by annual subscription fees. Our subscription fees include affiliation to the British Chambers of Commerce and West Midlands Chamber of Commerce, which includes costs to deliver the services offered in your Membership and all related administrative costs.

Membership prices are based on the number of employees in your business, irrespective of industry type. The only exception to this is for charities where we would require proof of charitable status. Prices start from as little as £24.48 per month.

*Social/Community Enterprises with a charity status and less than 50 employees excluding volunteers. Excludes all public and private educational establishments.

**Businesses in their first 3 years of trading. This membership is only suitable for businesses with 1-5 employees.

We welcome all types of businesses from both the private and public sectors.

All sizes are welcome including those from businesses with just one person working from home to large, international corporate companies. 

We represent all industry types and employee sizes.

Most Chamber events are bookable via the website and can be found HERE. Booking instructions will normally be found where the event is advertised, but all events enquiries can be answered by calling 01905 673612 or emailing [email protected]. Once you have advised us that you would like to attend, we will reserve your place and will confirm this via email once we have received payment.

Sole traders will fall in the category of 1- 5 employees.

All employees of your company who work in the two counties will be covered by the Membership and therefore eligible for discounts on events and training. They will also able to access the legal advice and health advice telephone support numbers.

Membership runs for a 12-month period from the date on which you join. After this time your Membership will auto-renew every year until resignation is submitted in writing. Resignation must be at least 30 days before the next renewal anniversary. 

When you become a Chamber Member, you have a dedicated Account Executive just a phone call away to help you with any queries which may arise.

Beyond that, all Chamber Members have access to the whole team who are on hand to help with questions relating to PR & Marketing, Events, Training, Policy, International Trade and more.

As with any investment, you get out of Membership what you put in. We aim to make it as easy as possible for you to achieve maximum benefit from your Membership. 

Although the vast majority of our Members are from one of the two counties, we do have businesses from other counties join the Chamber to expand their business network. Businesses may also decide to join one or more Chambers locally.

Herefordshire & Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce is an accredited member of the British Chambers of Commerce Network (BCC) which represents 53 Chambers nationally. 

As such, the Chamber adheres to the accreditation standards that are laid down by the BCC in relation to engagement with the business community, membership, financial health, governance and management and the regional, national and international development of the Chamber network. 

Accreditation to the BCC provides access to national discounts and services as well as ensuring that our lobbying is effective both nationally and internationally.

The Chamber is a private company which is funded in the main by Membership subscriptions and income from business support services provided. In addition to this, we competitively bid to deliver government-funded contracts to provide more free business support services. We are a non-profit distributing company which reinvests any surplus back in to the company to provide enhancements to the service provided.

Partnership working between our Board of Directors and the Chamber Senior Management team is vital to our business success.  The Chief Executive and Senior Management team are responsible for around 65 staff involved in the day-to-day running of the Chamber and to ensure a profitable business is maintained. In addition, the Chamber has two Area Councils – one for Worcestershire and one for Herefordshire. 

Each area council consists of representatives from Member businesses to ensure that Members are maximising the services and support available to them and to provide a strong local, sub-regional view of Members’ needs and of representational and lobbying issues.

A Business Engagement Executive will act as your initial contact prior to your joining the Chamber. Once you join, you will be allocated a dedicated Account Executive as your main point of contact who will help you to maximise your Membership. More information on the rest of the team can be found HERE.

The Chamber of Commerce for Herefordshire & Worcestershire does from time-to-time run joint events with other Chambers. We also work closely with Chambers across the West Midlands sharing ideas and best practice, but when you join the local Chamber you are only entitled to local benefits and services.

No, but we do work in partnership with them on many projects. One of the key roles of the Chamber of Commerce is to act as an advocate on behalf of members individually and collectively and to make representations on their behalf. In doing this, our team works with politicians, government and agencies at all levels. The Chamber must maintain party political neutrality in all such actions which allows us to promote, support, oppose, or seek to change or influence policies of any government, agency, organisation, political party or individual, regardless of their political leanings.

If you are interested in becoming a trainer provider for the Chamber, take a regular look on our website where the Training team will post tenders for course requirements. Training providers are required to be Members of the Chamber.
For more information email [email protected]