Fri 16 / 02 / 24
Ten top tips to make the most of your Chamber membership
Are you new to the Chamber, or wondering if you are making the most of your Chamber membership? Our Member Engagement Executive, Luke Hedley-Dent, has ten top tips to make the most of your membership. From events, to staying in touch, to getting involved with projects and initiatives across the city.
By Luke Hedley-Dent of Brighton Chamber
Are you new to the Chamber? Or maybe you have been a member for a while, and are wondering if there's anything you're missing from your Chamber membership?
As Member Engagement Executive at Brighton Chamber, I help members to connect with each other, grow their networks and get the most out of their membership. So, here are my top ten tips on how to make the most of your membership with Brighton Chamber:
1. Build your business network, be inspired and learn something new at our events
Coming to events is a big benefit of membership, but that doesn’t mean you have to come to everything – we know how busy you are. Start by booking 1-2 events a month for you or your team, and you’ll soon see your network grow and your business relationships develop.
Check out the Chamber events page to see what's coming up. You can filter using the toggles for Networking, Learning and Topical events, to help narrow down your search for the type of events you’re looking for. Or, if you’d like a recommendation from the team, just get in touch and we’ll point you in the right direction.
2. Ask the Chamber team for introductions
We’re here to help you meet the right people - whether you’re looking for collaborators, warm leads, new business friends or suppliers, reach out and let us know who you’d like to meet.
We can do introductions by email or at events. If you’ve joined the Chamber for networking, take a look at this video of top networking tips from Chamber members.
3. Let's chat
Book a call and have a (virtual) coffee with one of the membership team, and we’ll see what help and ideas we can share. The more we know about you, the more we can help, so let’s talk.
4. Boost your online business profile
Check out this short video for a whistle-stop tour of the Chamber website and the ways you can raise your profile on our platform.
Use your profile on our members directory to share information about who you are and what you do, plus show off your business by adding images, video and links to your website and social channels.
It's also great for SEO, with active Chamber profiles having a much higher ranking on search.
The Activity Hub is your members area to share news, events and Member Hours. If you need help using the Activity Hub, or you’re not sure where to get started, you can always ask us for some advice.
5. Get involved or share your expertise
Getting involved in some of the projects we run is a great way to give something back to the city, and to be part of something to support the place we love living and working in. If you’re interested in getting involved either email me, or find out a bit more below.
Join over 900 like-minded businesses across our city who are signed up to the Brighton & Hove Living Wage Campaign - paying employees a real Living Wage (it’s free to sign up!)
Our Net Zero Championsare the people and businesses in our city either working in, or interested in, sustainability, and working towards that Net Zero goal. We bring this group together once a quarter to share ideas, updates and knowledge.
All secondary schools and colleges are members of the Chamber and we’re working with schools both individually, and collectively through West Sussex and Brighton & Hove careers hub with a programme of work around careers, work experience and business engagement.
And, we are using the Chamber's brilliant business network to support those with refugee backgrounds into work and business. We're working with partners across the city to share our members' expertise and connect recent arrivals in Brighton with jobs and training opportunities.
6. Write something for the Chamber blog
Share your knowledge and expertise by writing a blog for our website. As well as being linked to your member profile, we’ll share the blog throughout our network too.
Chat to Hannah, our Marketing & Engagement Manager, about what topics might work, and we can work together on sharing great content from our members, for our members.
7. Access a Member Hour
Through the Activity Hub, offer or receive an hour (or shorter!) with another Chamber member on a variety of different skills and topics.
It’s a great way to expand your network, get advice and help from experts, and meet likeminded businesses. (Just make sure you’re logged in to view Member Hours.)
8. Run a Bite-sized Learning or a Q&A with us
Do you have the skills and expertise to deliver an event with us?
Our Bite-sized Learning sessions are two-hour, practical training sessions – all member-run and providing the opportunity to share your knowledge with other members, whilst raising your profile in the Chamber network.
Or perhaps you’d like to join us for a Q&A – a 45-minute, virtual session, on your expert topic.
If you’re new to the Chamber, we recommend you spend a bit of time getting to know the Chamber community. When you're ready, get in touch with the events team about offering one of these events in the future.
9. Ask the Chamber team
We’re here to help if you need anything from business information, to connecting with in-depth business support and resources. Whether that’s signposting to help finding grants and funding, local business support programmes – or using our network to help your business.
Even if we can’t help directly, we probably know someone who can.
10. Don't be a stranger!
Last and by no means least. If you’re more active and engaged with your membership, you’ll get much more out of it.
Your membership is for you, and your team, to use. Stay in touch with what’s happening at the Chamber by making sure you and your team are on our mailing list. We’ll send you thoughtfully curated content, upcoming events, business support, and exclusive member-only content.
We hope these top ten tips will be useful in your start to getting the most out of your membership with the Chamber. Let us know how you're getting on and we'll hopefully see you soon.
Luke Hedley-Dent is Member Engagement Executive at Brighton Chamber.
Not a member yet? Find out more about joining our business community here.
If you want to contribute to the Chamber blog, contact us on hannah@brightonchamber.co.uk