Hampshire Chamber President Mandy Boughton and Chief Executive, Ross McNally attended the British Chambers of Commerce Global Annual Conference last week along with hundreds of businesses from across the Chamber network. The conference welcomed the keynote speakers Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, and Leader of the Opposition, Kemi Badenoch amongst others.
Ross McNally, Chief Executive of Hampshire Chamber of Commerce said:
“The BCC annual conference provided a great opportunity for Chambers and their membership to share ideas on global trade, skills challenges, and the effects of devolution across the UK. Hearing directly from the PM, leader of the Opposition and the Governor of the Bank of England certainly confirmed just how the BCC business network is valued at the top of Government, with its local Chambers providing the pre-eminent business channel helping inform policy in all areas.”
Shevaun Haviland, Director General of the British Chambers of Commerce said:
“A huge thank you to all who joined us last week, whether at Global Chamber Connect, our Parliamentary Reception, or the Global Annual Conference. Each event demonstrated the power of our collective voice and our shared commitment to answering the most important question facing the UK economy right now: Where’s the growth?
“It was a real privilege to host the Prime Minister and showcase our network’s unwavering commitment to supporting British businesses. Throughout the day, we explored the key levers for growth in an evolving and often unpredictable economic landscape.
“Our Blueprint for Growth report was central to the discussion. There’s no single fix for the UK’s economic challenges, but there are proven ideas from across our Chamber network that can make a real difference. Our Blueprint brings those ideas together, now it’s up to all of us to make them happen.
“We were especially proud that the Prime Minister chose our conference to launch the Government’s new UK Trade Strategy.
“This marks a clear signal that trade is back at the heart of the UK’s economic agenda. The strategy focuses on breaking down barriers, boosting exports, and building trade resilience in an uncertain global environment.”
About Hampshire Chamber of Commerce
Hampshire Chamber of Commerce is the independent voice of local business across the county and one of the largest regional business networks in the UK. With a strategic vision to ‘unlock Hampshire’s potential’, Hampshire Chamber brings together the combined influence, strength and expertise of the county’s three former major chambers. It works with over 2,000 individual firms spanning all sectors and sizes of business. Member services include training, advice, international trade documentation, events, networking opportunities and lobbying to policymakers on issues affecting business. Hampshire Chamber’s business network is designed to help any employer to grow and thrive irrespective of their stage on the enterprise journey.
About the British Chambers of Commerce - Where Business Belongs
The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) sits at the heart of a powerful network of 51 Chambers of Commerce across the UK, representing thousands of firms. It provides a unified voice for these companies, rooted in their communities, at the national level. We link our UK network with over 75 international member chambers, to promote trade and investment, and work for a better future for businesses around the world.
For more information, visit: www.britishchambers.org.uk