A new support organisation for Hampshire businesses was launched today at the inaugural annual conference of the county’s chamber of commerce.
The Hampshire Business Alliance is intended to co-ordinate a range of help for large employers down to small business start-ups.
It will bring together separate sources of information, advice, representation, research, events and training in a one-stop hub.
The collective approach reflects increasing government emphasis for regions to set their own business support agendas following the demise of Business Link.
As well as Hampshire Chamber of Commerce, the county’s biggest business membership organisation, the new body includes the Hampshire Enterprise Partnership and the Southern Enterprise Alliance.
Jimmy Chestnutt, chief executive of Hampshire Chamber, announced the new organisation to more than 300 business leaders gathered for the conference at Winchester Guildhall.
He said: “Our conference is the perfect platform to launch this combined support service. Given the rapidly changing business landscape, it is vital to ensure companies of all sizes can access the information, advice and support they need easily and quickly.
“The Hampshire Business Alliance will cut duplication of effort and provide the most comprehensive and cost-effective support services possible, capitalising on each organisation’s skills and strengths.”
Alliance partners will retain their own Board and governance arrangements and stay responsible to their own membership and stakeholders, but will be able to share their services more widely. They will also be able to offer more collective input to the new Solent and Enterprise M3 Local Economic Partnerships.
As well as the Alliance announcement, the conference discussed a number of current economic issues including the need to boost investment and growth and keep the pressure on government and banks to ensure businesses have access to capital.
Speakers included Neil Clifford, Portsmouth-born boss of the luxury shoe retailer Kurt Geiger, and Nicola Youern, Chief Executive of the Fareham charity for vulnerable people, YOU.
After her speech, Ms Youern was presented with a British Chambers of Commerce Award for excellence in people development.
A panel of experts debated hot topics and took questions from the audience. In the chair was Dr Adam Marshall, Director of Policy for British Chambers of Commerce. Panel members were Zac Toumazi, Commercial Director of The Rosebowl, Malcolm Thixton, partner at chartered accountants BDO, Marc Long, partner at law firm Clarke Willmott, Gill Gould, Managing Director of Southampton marketing agency Carswell Gould and Paul Morgan, Managing Director of Winchester-based Warrens Office Supplies.
The conference marked a full year since the county’s three main local chambers merged to form Hampshire Chamber of Commerce, now one of the country’s biggest regional business networks.
The event was chaired by Stewart Dunn, Chairman of Hampshire Economic Partnership.
