Partnership Provides Further Business Opportunities to Members

ABDN has joined forces with Leeds, York & North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce in a new partnership aimed at providing a more comprehensive package to their members jointly, forging new connections, joint events and giving wider support to the business community in this tough economic climate where there is lack of public sector funds available.

Leeds, York & North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce represents businesses in all the core policy and decision making groups across the region, to provide both a voice and a channel of information about what’s going.

They also  provide business managers and staff at all levels with an opportunity to increase their contact base and their knowledge base, by facilitating networking events, management coaching and training programmes as well as providing marketing and money-saving opportunities for businesses.

Under the partnership deal, ABDN members will be able to take advantage of preferential rates to Chamber membership, receive invites to joint events and in turn Chamber members will be able to take part in training programmes delivered by ABDN.  The Chamber will also promote the work of ABDN, its new membership package and its members with both organisations now also actively looking at future joint bids for business support funding.

Gary Williamson, Chief Executive of Leeds, York & North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce, said: “I’m pleased to be joining forces with ABDN at this time. We are always looking for ways to enhance business connections for members and this partnership will hopefully provide easier access for them to build relationships and do more business with each other.”

Arshad Chaudhry, Chairman of ABDN, hailed the move as “significant” and believes it will help to develop business support to members of both ABDN and Leeds Chamber in these touch times.

He says: “In these tough economic times where there is no access to public sector funding for business support, it is vital for organisations like ABDN and Leeds Chamber to work together for our respective members. I am delighted that an agreement has been reached for our networks to work jointly on a series of activities, events and training for the wider business community in West Yorkshire.

“With ABDN South Yorkshire also linking up with Sheffield Chamber of Commerce, I am very excited about what the future holds now for business support across the whole of Yorkshire.”

The new ABDN membership package will be live by the end of June when full details of all benefits to ABDN members will be announced.