Sponsors

The Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS Group) and the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) are delighted to announce a long-term strategic partnership to support the small business sector. Together we will be able to deliver a range of financial services and business development activities both at a national and regional level.

As part of RBS Group’s commitment, we are proud to be this year’s headline sponsor of the British Chamber of Commerce national conference – Business is Good for Britain.

RBS Group, which includes both NatWest and RBS, offers tailored business finance to SME customers. We have invested time and effort to understand the issues that matter to small firms and use this knowledge to develop products and services that meet their needs. We believe in providing a full banking package for our customers, offering a wide range of practical benefits to support small businesses from start up to mergers and acquisition activity.

NatWest and RBS are committed to providing business expertise to help start, develop and grow your business, available through local managers across our network of branches and business centres. With the British Chambers of Commerce working with the team at RBS & NatWest, we can help realise the ambitions of British businesses.

For more information on how RBS Group can help businesses visit www.rbs.co.uk/business or www.natwest.com/business

Security may be required. Product fees may apply. Over 18s only

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DHL Express is the leading international express operator in the UK, specialising in time and day critical shipments to all corners of the globe. With the global marketplace growing ever more connected, the success of the exporting industry is vital to the UK’s future economic growth. As international specialists, DHL Express provides expert advice for UK businesses looking to expand into global markets and acts as a key facilitator for UK exports. We guide businesses around factors such as customs and tax which can seem daunting when starting to trade internationally, and ensure that shipments get to where they need to be, on time, every time. With presence in more countries around the world than any other operator, businesses can rely on DHL Express to provide “excellence, simply delivered”.

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AXA PPP healthcare offers a diverse range of healthcare and wellbeing services to large organisations and SMEs.

As a trusted partner, we work with our clients to deliver effective healthcare solutions and a range of choice around their employees’ needs. We provide healthcare expertise; a wide range of medical insurance solutions; health and wellbeing support and effective intervention to enable them to take the earliest action possible to manage their ever increasing employee health risk. Combining the benefits of medical insurance and health and wellbeing programmes, we are focused on achieving better health outcomes for businesses. For more information please visit http://www.axappphealthcare.co.uk/business-health-insurance

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Funding Circle is an innovative finance provider, allowing businesses to borrow directly from people in the UK. Launched in 2010 in response to the recession and subsequent credit squeeze, it has rapidly become a popular source of finance. To date, businesses have received over £20 million in finance.

Funding Circle works like an online marketplace, much like ebay – creditworthy, established businesses have their loan requests listed on the site, and individuals or other businesses with money to invest then offer funds at a rate of interest. A notable feature is the bidding process, which is a live competition between lenders. The more attractive the business and loan request, the more lenders will bid to fund part of the loan, which drives the interest rate down. Business loans are completed very quickly and at highly competitive rates, with the interest being paid directly back into the hands of UK consumers.

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We've been making the journey better for over 90 years.

Operating in more than 120 locations across the UK, with over 20,000 cars, vans and trucks available for hire, we're one of the world's most respected car rental companies. And because we have 8,000 locations across 145 countries, you can be sure we'll always give you a worry-free rental, wherever you are in the world.

At Hertz, we understand every journey is different, and because we have the widest range of products and services of any car rental company, we can always make yours the best it can be. Let the worry free driving begin.

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NEST is a simple and low-cost pension scheme designed for people who are largely new to pension saving. It will give its members an easy way of building up their retirement pot.

NEST also makes it easy for employers to meet their new workplace pension duties that start to be introduced from October 2012. NEST has a public service obligation to accept any employer who wants to use the scheme, large or small, as a sole scheme or alongside other provision.

Employers can use NEST in a number of ways. For example, it could be the only pension scheme an employer offers to all its workers where there isn’t an existing scheme. Alternatively, it could be used alongside an existing scheme for a particular category of workers or as an entry-level scheme.

From 2012 employers will need to provide some or all of their workers with access to a qualifying pension scheme.

NEST gives members one retirement pot for life – it can be used by different employers and for additional contributions by the member.

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Developing Minds for Developing Business

Young Chamber is dedicated to working with all young people of all levels of ability and from all backgrounds to equip them with the employability skills needed to fulfil their personal career aspirations and helping them make a positive contribution to the community in which they live.

Young Chamber does this by working with local businesses in support of a young person’s education so that they gain a greater understanding of the world of work and the fantastic opportunities that exist for them post education.

Local employers provide information and support for a range of enterprise activities that are organised and carried out by the young people and which provide them with an insight into how business works and the skills and attitudes that employers look for from their future employees.

Young people, schools and business all benefit from this proactive engagement which ultimately supports business and economic growth locally, regionally and nationally.

This is all further supported by Young Chambers 5th Matrix – an online careers platform, and The Skills Factor – a national business skills competition, through which both local and national businesses have the opportunity to communicate directly with young people, develop brand awareness, promote career options, and develop the workforce of the future.

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