About Your Chamber
Test 005
Image by Martin Saban-Smith
Another test
Photo by Martin Saban-Smith
What we do
Our primarily function is to represent the members' interests, be it lobbying or working in partnership. We also have a role in helping to improve and develop the local economy. Alton Chamber of Commerce and Industry was established in 1909 and over that time has concentrated on local issues and local initiatives. In order to achieve our goals, we have a number of activities:
Lobbying & Partnerships
A lot of our time is taken up with attending meetings with all relevant agencies and bodies. Where appropriate, we are keen to work with organisations where our goals are shared. This leads us to work with Alton Town Council (ATC), East Hampshire District Council (EHDC), Hampshire County Council (HCC) and other government agencies. Our policy is to build good working relationships with these organisations so that we can work together to achieve common objectives. We are not afraid to raise issues where needed, underlining our motto saying that we are "The Voice of Alton Business".
A lot of our time is taken up with attending meetings with all relevant agencies and bodies. Where appropriate, we are keen to work with organisations where our goals are shared. This leads us to work with Alton Town Council (ATC), East Hampshire District Council (EHDC), Hampshire County Council (HCC) and other government agencies. Our policy is to build good working relationships with these organisations so that we can work together to achieve common objectives. We are not afraid to raise issues where needed, underlining our motto saying that we are "The Voice of Alton Business".
Alton Chamber Events & Activities
In order to encourage members to network, socialise and build long-term business relations, we run monthly events for members on the 4th Thursday of the month. These are held at various venues, offering a range of interesting subjects including the chance to visit local businesses. You can read about our events on the Events page.
In order to encourage members to network, socialise and build long-term business relations, we run monthly events for members on the 4th Thursday of the month. These are held at various venues, offering a range of interesting subjects including the chance to visit local businesses. You can read about our events on the Events page.
Town Centre Events
We have a trading and events company 'Alton Chamber Enterprises Ltd' (ACE) to run local events and to create products to generate revenue for events. The purpose of running events is to bring people into town from the wider area to encourage them to spend on the day, and to return if they like what they see. We are work closely with Alton Town Council and East Hampshire District Council so that we can continue to develop our now well-established calendar of events. The events we run are currently Alton Spring Festival, Jane Austen Regency Week, Alton Food Festival and Alton Word Fest. We also help with the ever-expanding Alton Yuletide Festival and a number of other town events.
We have a trading and events company 'Alton Chamber Enterprises Ltd' (ACE) to run local events and to create products to generate revenue for events. The purpose of running events is to bring people into town from the wider area to encourage them to spend on the day, and to return if they like what they see. We are work closely with Alton Town Council and East Hampshire District Council so that we can continue to develop our now well-established calendar of events. The events we run are currently Alton Spring Festival, Jane Austen Regency Week, Alton Food Festival and Alton Word Fest. We also help with the ever-expanding Alton Yuletide Festival and a number of other town events.
Promotion
Alton Chamber Enterprises Ltd. produces the Jane Austen Trail leaflet that guides people from Chawton to Alton on foot, showing them buildings that are relevant to Jane Austen's life. The route of the trail will soon be marked-out with wall-mounted plaques to further enhance and promote the walk. We also produce two separate Alton and Chawton Jane Austen postcards. To promote Alton we produce a 'Discover Alton' calendar each year and some Christmas cards. We have produced an Accommodation leaflet to promote our local B&Bs and Hotels. These ranges of goods and leaflets will continue to grow.
Alton Chamber Enterprises Ltd. produces the Jane Austen Trail leaflet that guides people from Chawton to Alton on foot, showing them buildings that are relevant to Jane Austen's life. The route of the trail will soon be marked-out with wall-mounted plaques to further enhance and promote the walk. We also produce two separate Alton and Chawton Jane Austen postcards. To promote Alton we produce a 'Discover Alton' calendar each year and some Christmas cards. We have produced an Accommodation leaflet to promote our local B&Bs and Hotels. These ranges of goods and leaflets will continue to grow.
Communications
Aside from promoting Alton, we are here to keep local businesses informed. We do this through our PDF newsletter which is available on the Newsletter page of this website. This website, produced Working Image, is an important part of our communications, allowing us to address a wide range of people interested in Alton.
Aside from promoting Alton, we are here to keep local businesses informed. We do this through our PDF newsletter which is available on the Newsletter page of this website. This website, produced Working Image, is an important part of our communications, allowing us to address a wide range of people interested in Alton.
ShopWatch and PubWatch Radio
This was an initiative started in cooperation with the Police. This idea is for shops and pubs in Alton to be able to talk directly to the Police station and to each other, allowing for quick response times and for criminals to be tracked as they progress through the town. Alton Chamber Enterprises Ltd. is the licence-holder and we hope to promote the scheme more widely in the future.
This was an initiative started in cooperation with the Police. This idea is for shops and pubs in Alton to be able to talk directly to the Police station and to each other, allowing for quick response times and for criminals to be tracked as they progress through the town. Alton Chamber Enterprises Ltd. is the licence-holder and we hope to promote the scheme more widely in the future.
Awards
In 2005 we started an annual awards ceremony to allow the committee to acknowledge the achievements of local businesses. We have three medals for Innovation, Excellence and Growth which are awarded at the President's Dinner the January after the year to which they apply. The recipients so far have been:
In 2005 we started an annual awards ceremony to allow the committee to acknowledge the achievements of local businesses. We have three medals for Innovation, Excellence and Growth which are awarded at the President's Dinner the January after the year to which they apply. The recipients so far have been:
Year | Innovation | Excellence | Growth |
2009 2008 | Little Green Dragon Ma Cuisine Pour Vous | Pyramid Environmental Services Alton Craft Centre | - - |
2007 | Lifelock Ltd | Alton Community Centre | Image Print 2001 Ltd |
2006 | Interiors by Elizabeth Claire | Alton Grange Hotel | Loadmasters Ltd |
2005 | Alton Sewing Centre | Format Milton Architects Ltd | Triple FFF Brewery Ltd |
How is the Chamber run?
We are run by the members for the members. We are a 'Constituted Association' that is run by a committee made up of four officers and a number of other 'ordinary' members, many of whom have assigned duties. We hold an Annual General Meeting (AGM) each autumn, allowing members to vote for the committee members. This is our current committee:
2010-11 Committee Members
Position Name
OFFICERS
President Pat Lerew
Vice President -
Secretary Stephen Lewis
Treasurer Mike Baker
President Pat Lerew
Vice President -
Secretary Stephen Lewis
Treasurer Mike Baker
MEMBERS
Retail Andy Goodall
John Barber
Sanya Ward (co-opted)
Heather Andrews
Accommodation Joan Mossop
David Levene
Newsletter David Gay
Promotion Dean-Paul Phillips
Webmaster Martin Saban-Smith