NORTHAMPTONSHIRE Chamber of Commerce has taken unprecedented steps to support the county’s business community as it deals with the consequences of the coronavirus(COVID-19) pandemic.
Most dramatically, the not-for-profit organisation, which offers support to more than a third of Northamptonshire’s workforce, launched a £100,000 Membership Relief Fund. The fund was set up, in collaboration with its sister Chamber in Milton Keynes to help Chamber members facing hardship to get a rebate on their Chamber membership fees.
The Chamber has launched a dedicated Coronavirus Helpline to enable its members to access support, advice or help to deal with isolation issues. It has also been highlighting the immediate needs of the county’s business community with the highest levels of Government through daily conferences with the British Chambers of Commerce and its accredited Chambers across the UK.
Northamptonshire Chamber Chief Executive Paul Griffiths said: “We’re taking major steps to support our members because they need our help now more than ever. We launched the Membership Relief Fund so that none of our members were forced to leave the Chamber unwillingly due to a lack of funds, as this would have cut them off from our vital support services when they need them the most. Our members can access a comprehensive Protection Service which offers a vast array of support covering HR, legal, health and safety and tax matters and we know from speaking to businesses that this help has been invaluable to them, particularly over the past few weeks.
Paul said: “Our team is busy taking calls from members daily helping them to access the latest support and guidance and we’re highlighting their needs to the highest levels of Government through our connections with the British Chambers of Commerce.
“We will continue to issue the latest guidance and support to our members but in the interim, we urge them to keep in touch with us so we can offer them as much help as possible.”
A link to the British Chambers of Commerce’s online Coronavirus Hub, which is updated daily with the latest support and guidance, can be found at www.northants-chamber.co.uk
Northamptonshire Chamber’s Coronavirus Helpline is available from 10am to 4pm on weekdays on 01604 490414.