Having recently completed our successful name change and rebranding to become North Cheshire Chamber of Commerce & Enterprise, the team held the first of many ‘Meet the Chamber’ networking mornings at The Colony HQ in Wilmslow with Tatton MP, Rt Hon Esther McVey, joining as guest speaker.

The ‘Meet the Chamber’ initiative is an opportunity for businesses throughout our catchment area to learn more about the services and benefits of becoming a member of the Chamber whilst enjoying a relaxed networking environment.

Attendees were treated to a continental breakfast and refreshments in the stylish surroundings of The Colony HQ; a private business members club blending the latest technology and business facilities within sophisticated and discrete areas in which to work and meet clients.

Esther talked about her views on the world of work as it evolves and the challenges of running a Government Department with a turnover the same size as the 37^th biggest nation in the world. She talked about the need for the benefit system to be able to support people both in and out of work. She then answered members questions on local, national and international issues.

Esther added “I was pleased to be at the inaugural ‘Meet the Chamber’ event of the rebranded Chamber. It is always interesting to meet business owners, who I see as key to the success of Cheshire as a whole, and the event had a wide range of business interests reflected in the attendees”.

The Chamber’s 2018 Golf Day was in full swing earlier this month at the challenging yet picturesque surroundings of Macclesfield Golf Club.

On yet another beautiful day, seven teams teed off for their chance to win the coveted Gradus shield and enjoy a well-deserved pint after walking the 18-holes of undulating terrain.

Winners this year were the ‘Chamber Mixed Team’ made up of Andrew Thorp (MojoLife), Andy Walker (Filtration Services), John Butcher (Immense Digital) and Ollie Tovee (representing Macclesfield Golf Club). Runners up were the defending champions from 2017, SAS Daniels led by Nigel Read. Charlie Reed from the Wright Marshall team won Longest Drive and Bob Mortimer from the Macclesfield Golf Club team won Nearest the Pin.

This year, we offered a ‘Golf Clinic’ for aspiring or completely novice golfers which proved extremely popular and great fun! Dave Myers, Macclesfield Golf Club professional, took everyone through their paces on the driving range and putting green.

The day was rounded off with an informal BBQ and networking.

Our thanks to Macclesfield Golf Club and Tom Yam Thai for providing the prizes.

Local gin distillery Forest Gin was the venue for our most recent networking event, when owner Karl Bond welcomed our members to his charming 17^th century stone barn on the edge of Macclesfield Forest.

With a growing following not just in the UK, but as far away as Japan and China, Karl and his wife Lindsey have made a huge success of producing the best gin they can from the finest locally sourced ingredients wherever possible … including water from their own ancient spring!  And it doesn’t stop there, the highly covetable ceramic stone bottle is produced in Staffordshire by Wade Ceramics with the design commissioned by the respected Papercut artist Suzy Taylor and featuring the famous forest weasel.

Steph (multi-tasking Girl Friday at the distillery) gave a fascinating insight into the history of gin, from the 18^th century when gin got its’ reputation as “mother’s ruin” to the cult product it is today, and Karl took us through the family’s journey to getting Forest Gin onto the world stage and his exciting plans for the future … a fantastic local business success.

It was a lovely late Spring evening so we sampled tasters of both the original Forest Gin and Earl Grey Forest Gin in the bar, and then outside in the courtyard we enjoyed fabulous freshly cooked paella from Spanish Caravan who we discovered at the Treacle Market.

Certainly networking with a difference!

Let’s raise our glasses to North Cheshire Chamber

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A healthy and thriving small business sector benefits us all, and we should celebrate its contribution to the UK economy and society as a whole.

By Elizabeth Denham,
Information Commissioner

But people’s legal right to privacy doesn’t have to be the price of doing business and the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) is here to help all organisations prepare for the the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), whatever their size.

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