Chamber salutes strong momentum from successful year
Knowsley Chamber of Industry & Commerce has posted its strongest set of achievements in its 32-year history.
The figures, revealed at its recent AGM were boosted further with the announcement of its first executive partnership arrangement with ABGI-UK, which will start in the New Year.
For the year ended March 31, the chamber saw cash at the bank and in hand rise to £236,312, compared with £177,528 in 2018. Net current assets stood at £188,093, up from £136,210 the previous year.
The chamber reported a 25% increase in memberships in 2019.
This increase in memberships, alongside additional contract wins during the year for further business support – such as Brexit Readiness – all contributed to a bumper year, it said.
Chamber chief executive, Lesley Martin-Wright, said: “Knowsley Chamber has had a very strong year on the back of solid economic growth, across Knowsley.
“We appointed our first business development manager back in June and now we can reveal that we have stepped up our engagement offer with our first executive partner. This higher level of partnership support will help us to deliver more networking events, provide more support for our members and help the chamber to steadily grow.
“We are delighted to welcome ABGI-UK into membership.”
ABGI-UK will become the official sponsor of the Knowsley Manufacturing Network for 2020. The network, chaired by Rod Wah, Beverston Engineering, is one of the most active and well supported business networks in Knowsley.
The addition of former Jaguar Land Rover communications executive, Neil Roscoe, as business development manager from June has also helped to take Knowsley Chamber to the next level.
Chairman Alan Seeley said: “Knowsley Chamber is reflecting the growth and confidence we are seeing across Knowsley.
“Adding Neil to the team in the Summer, with his experience, gained at one of the UK’s biggest brands, has helped us to take Knowsley Chamber up to the next level and I expect to see further growth next year.”
Other notable achievements during 2019 included:
- 811 company engagements and 325 business meetings
- In depth Brexit Business Readiness support and 1:1 surgeries
- Launch of inaugural Knowsley Apprentice Partnership Programme with All Saints High School
- 18 Wellbeing grants delivered and 105 businesses received Wellbeing support
- 2,768 Followers on Twitter
- 800 Followers on Instagram
- Inaugural business forum bringing together Armed Forces Covenant award winners from across the City Region
The chamber operates out of Civic Way, Huyton, in South Liverpool.
