Business & Economic Development |  


Greater Manchester Chamber is the largest chamber of commerce in the UK, with over 5,000 members. Representing a broad spectrum of companies, from the smallest enterprises to large multinationals, it works with and supports businesses from all areas of Greater Manchester and further afield. 
T
he ChamberÕs strengths lie in its members and its highly skilled policy team which lobbies hard on membersÕ behalf to ensure that they are represented at local, regional and national levels. 
Ministerial visits, briefings with MPs and consultations with local authorities, the police and fire service all give members the chance to voice their opinion where it really matters. Transport and the regional economy are regular areas of policy work and one recent successful campaign brought about changes to the rate of Capital Gains Tax. 

Networking Opportunities 
Networking is vital for businesses at any stage of their development and there is a full diary of events, from business breakfasts and lunches to early evening meetings. 
For those looking to socialise in a more active way, the Golf Society is another way to make new contacts and members play on some of the NorthwestÕs finest courses. There is even the chance of some friendly competition against other Chambers with matches in Dublin and the Isle of Man. 
The Building and Development Section is another popular group, with some of the leading figures in building and construction getting together at regular lunches, building tours and celebratory dinners. Members use these events to make new business contacts and give themselves a competitive edge by finding out about issues that affect their business. 

Publicity Matters 
Another major benefit is publicity and the ChamberÕs well-respected PR team has built up an impressive profile with local, regional and national media. It handles hundreds of media enquiries every month and helps members raise their profiles through contact with journalists looking for business news and opinions. 
The ChamberÕs magazine, 53 Degrees, is another avenue for companies seeking publicity.  Published monthly, it features membersÕ news and all the latest information from the Chamber team.  Greater Manchester Chamber cares passionately about its membership and works hard to make Greater Manchester a prosperous business location. It has always been an industrial powerhouse but with renewed confidence and some fantastic plans in the pipeline, the future for Greater Manchester business looks even brighter. 
Tel. 0161 245 4800 www.gmchamber.co.uk