City of York Council has provided £20,000 of funding to the West and North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce to undertake a programme of York business support activity.
The funding comes from a £40,000 allocation made by the council as part of its 2021 to 2022 Budget to promote the benefits of business membership organisations working in York, and aid businesses’ recovery from the pandemic.
West and North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce will provide subsidised membership to York businesses, with the council’s funding covering 75% of the costs of the Chamber’s membership subscription for new members with less than 50 employees. This offer is only open to businesses who have not been a Chamber member within the previous 12 months. Businesses interested in accessing the subsidised membership offer can get in touch with the Chamber via info@wnychamber.co.uk.
In addition, the Chamber will undertake research and engagement with a number of important sectors in York to improve the council’s understanding of:
- businesses’ workforce development and recruitment needs
- office space requirements
- the impact of technological change on the economy
- new international trade opportunities following the UK’s withdrawal from the European Union
A series of bespoke and dedicated reports will be produced for the council which will be used to inform future strategies and activities to support businesses across the city as York recovers from COVID-19.
Laurence Beardmore, president, West and North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce, said: “One of the key learnings to come from the COVID-19 crisis has been the importance of collaboration which has developed between City of York Council and the Chamber and the important role we both play in supporting local businesses.
“We are therefore delighted to be able to help the wider York business community by providing subsidised membership to enable small firms to access the range of services to help them recover from the impact of the last 2 years.
“Chamber services include debt recovery, free legal and HR support, access to networking opportunities and to connect with the wider membership across West and North Yorkshire along with a range of other services. We will also be working with the council to provide vital business intelligence which will help inform and shape policy interventions to the benefit of all across the city.”
Councillor Andrew Waller, the council’s Executive member for Economy and Strategic Planning, said: “We are very excited for our forthcoming partnership with West and North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce.
“We’re aware of the various benefits businesses can have by being a part of a business membership organisation. The programme of activity proposed by the Chamber will support York businesses directly by allowing them to access the Chamber’s valuable membership offer and wide range of resources at a subsidised rate.
“Not only this, the Chamber’s proposed programme of research and engagement will help us understand and identify future market trends as well as develop effective support solutions. It will aid us to comprehend the needs and expectations of York’s business community as we recover from the pandemic.
“We look forward to a very fruitful collaboration with the West and North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce, providing new opportunities for York’s businesses and enables the city’s economy to thrive.”
