Hampshire Chamber of Commerce has officially opened its new Southampton base.
City MP the Rt Hon Dr Alan Whitehead performed the ribbon cutting at the Southampton Solent University Business School.
The move to new offices at the Sir James Matthews Building is designed to improve member services and strengthen strategic links with the university and wider business community.
It will give members access to more fit-for-purpose space for meetings, training and other Chamber services.
Stewart Dunn, Hampshire Chamber Chief Executive, said: “The Chamber is a great institution and we want it to achieve even more in the future. We are thrilled to have moved to the Sir James Matthews Building in the heart of town. Both we and Solent University are at the centre of business life in the city and the move gives us a more modern, dynamic and exciting space to continue improving member services.”
Dr Whitehead said: “The Chamber is a vital part of the life of Southampton and the wider city region. The move into these offices in what is the most vibrant and exciting part of the city in terms of new development is good for the Chamber and good for Southampton.”
The Chamber’s long-standing partnership with Southampton Solent University was formalised in the signing of an accord in October 2013.
The agreement includes the sharing of regional economic analysis, the offer of internships at the Chamber for Solent graduates and other collaborative support for SMEs and start-ups.
Professor Mike Wilkinson, Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Southampton Solent University, said the Chamber’s move was core to the University’s aim of collocating industry and commerce with education.
He said: “We already have a productive and active partnership with Hampshire Chamber. In welcoming them to our business school and having them physically here, we will strengthen our joint working for mutual benefit. It means the University can continue to make links with the business community while the Chamber can take advantage of our exciting, dynamic space for member services.”
To enable the move, the Chamber Board last year authorised the sale of Bugle House which had been the business organisation’s home in the city since 1964.
The four-storey Listed building, in Bugle Street, had become less integral to Chamber activities in recent years.
Since 2012, the Chamber has located the bulk of its events, membership and general enquiry services for south Hampshire at Wates House in Fareham.
In addition, an increasing number of services such as export documentation are being done online with less need for a physical front office.
