What will you do to grow and promote your business across Wales?
Andrew Walker from the website www.businesseventsinwales.co.uk examines some of the main organisations in Wales that host business-focused events to do just that.
The Confederation of British Industry (CBI Wales) is the Welsh arm of the CBI and its director is David Rosser. The CBI is a business organisation for companies (not individuals) that exists to lobby national government on issues that affect its members. Membership includes all sectors of business and the cost depends on turnover & number of employees, but starts at around £600 for the smallest companies. The CBI represents some 200,000 businesses in the UK; it speaks for all sizes of business from multi-national organisations to start-up firms. Approximately 80% of the FTSE 100 companies are CBI members and nearly half of the FTSE 350. www.cbiwales.org.uk
The Institute of Directors (IOD Wales) is administered by Roger Young, Executive Director for the Wales Division. The IOD is an organisation for business leaders and its purpose is to help and support members in senior business roles. Unlike the CBI where membership is at company level, the IODs membership is at the individual level. Nationally there are some 60,000 individual members; in Wales close to 1000. Benefits include training & development, business advice, lobbying, networking and events. IOD Wales is shortly to have its own “hub” at the Parkhouse Club where members can work, entertain, hold meetings and attend events. Membership costs £295.00 per year but there is a one-off joining fee of £205. www.iod.com
The Chambers of Commerce There are three “accredited” chambers in Wales (Newport, West Wales, North Wales) that affiliate to the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC). Accredited Chambers are required to use the Combined Code principles of good corporate governance, be an Investor in People and work with a business improvement tool such as the Business Excellence Model. They are the perfect vehicle for small businesses to promote themselves. In Wales, Newport is the largest with around 500 members, West Wales and North Wales with slightly less. The Chambers provide services, information and guidance to their members. Membership costs vary but start at around £200 and rise with the size of business. Benefits include business advice, promotion, skills development & training, lobbying and networking. A new South Wales Chamber of Commerce is being launched soon following the demise of Cardiff Chamber of Commerce in 2007. www.wwcc.co.uk, www.northwaleschamber.org.uk, www.ngb2b.org.uk
Business in the Community (BITC) is a membership of companies with the leadership to translate corporate values and commitments into mainstream management practice. These companies measure and report on progress and illustrate the action being taken to improve the impact of its operations, products and services on society and the environment. In Wales, BITC is headed by Owen Evans and it operates throughout Wales with offices in Cardiff, Denbigh and Llandarcy. It works in partnership with over 90 companies providing advice and support on responsible business practice. Membership is for companies, not individuals, and starts at £3,300 rising for organisations with greater turnover. www.bitc.org.uk
Institute of Welsh Affairs (IWA) was founded in 1987 as an independent think-tank, which acts as a bridge between public policy makers, the academic community, business and non-profit organisation. Its central aim is to develop practical proposals for policy innovation and improvement. It is a membership-based organisation that has over 1,100 individual members and 150 corporate members. The IWA is based in Cardiff but has branches in north, and west Wales, Swansea Bay, Gwent and London. Membership costs £35 for individuals and from £200 for small organisations; benefits include a journal three times a year and invitations to regular events. www.iwa.org.uk
Cardiff Business Club was founded in 1912 and with HRH The Prince of Wales as it Patron, the Club holds dinners with speakers of international standing to address the members. These events are held in The St David’s Hotel and Spa in Cardiff Bay ten times between October and March. Membership is £60 per year; the Chairman is Gerald Davies, CBE. www.cardiffbusinessclub.org
Swansea Business Club was founded in 1949 and aims to promote business within the City and County of Swansea and to enhance the profile of the city both nationally and internationally. The programme runs from September to May with a high calibre of speakers. Membership is £25 per year; the President is John Collins. www.swanseabusinessclub.com
North Wales Business Club is around 20 years old and membership is drawn from across North Wales, Mid Wales, Merseyside, Cheshire and South Wales. It varies from representatives of large multi-national companies to sole proprietors or partners of small businesses. It usually meets at the St George's Hotel, Llandudno on a less regular basis than Cardiff or Swansea but with a high calibre of speaker. Membership costs £20 per year; the Chairman is David Williams. www.nwbc.org.uk
Wales in London is an organisation, mainly comprised of people of Welsh extraction based outside Wales, whose aim is to provide a forum in which members can contribute to the debate on issues that affect Wales. They are based in London where most of their activities take place. They charge no fee for membership but members who attend the monthly Supper Evenings are expected to pay for their dinner. Wales in London also seek to promote Wales and provide a focus for Welsh exiles in London and the South East and to act as a bridgehead between London and Wales for individuals and organisations that are seeking advice, opportunities and access to contacts. The Chairman of Wales in London is Robert John. www.walesinlondon.com
Arts & Business acts as a catalyst where businesses and arts organisations come together to create partnerships to benefit themselves and the community at large. Each A&B region runs A&B programmes and services, to bring together the arts and business communities locally. In Wales, working from offices in Cardiff and Llandudno, Arts & Business Cymru is directed by Rachel Jones. They have around sixty companies in membership and a similar number of arts organisations. The benefits include profile, employee development and an easy way to become socially responsible. www.aandb.org.uk
Other organizations: There are many more business organizations that are all relevant to the business activities of Wales PLC. These include the Chartered Institute of Marketing, The Chartered Institute of Management, the Law society, Professions Group Wales and many more. If you want details on specific organizations, please email Andrew at Business Events in Wales with your question.