The team here at Surrey Chambers of Commerce are working hard on the Activity4Charity Health Challenge.  If you haven’t already heard, us Surrey Chambers staff and over 130 off our members are taking up the Challenge of taking 10,000 steps a day over six weeks!

The challenge is designed to help change behaviour of individuals; to become more aware and ensure they are active on a daily basis. The challenge not only helps to improve the fitness and health of those taking part, but also…

Since 2009 we have been able to share our professional conversations on LinkedIn and Twitter - so what we posted on one, would appear on both platforms.



Now Twitter has changed its strategy on the way our Tweets appear in…

Amazed to be reminded that the infamous Torch will be carried from Godstone Fire Station To Godston Green (distance around 400 metres and that it'll take FOUR locals to get it that far!!). This event has run the distance (pardon!) and I for one will not be making the 2 mile journbey to watch it!!

Tuesday 26th June saw Surrey Chambers of Commerce jointly hosting the Festival of Science breakfast event with Festival organisers Surrey SATRO.

This annual event took place at the Brooklands Museum Pavilion, and saw almost 100 school and company exhibits.  Surrey Chambers CEO Louise Punter, who attended the event said; "The energy and enthusiasm was so strong that it drew visitors into the exhibits and it was evident that the learning achieved was well beyond the…

Here's a salutory tale about the super smart networker I came across last week, as my long-suffering partner Angela and I were on our way to our current favourite Greek island of Skopelos (where they filmed Mamma Mia).

We were in transit on Skiathos, where the plane lands, with a couple of hours to kill before catching the Skopelos Ferry. So, we settled outside a…

In an ever more complex world, it is not surprising that we find ourselves yearning for simplicity. Wouldn’t it be nice if we could just pay somebody what we think they are worth, as and when we need them, without worrying about contracts, PAYE, NICs, National Minimum Wage and all the other employment bureaucracy?

Many small businesses baulk at the prospect of taking on employees, thinking it is complicated and onerous, and that it is easier to hire in the services of…

World's first 'professor of networking'

As usual there are lots of events going on at Surrey Chambers this week. 

Tuesday 26th you will see us at Brooklands Museum to support the SATRO Pavilion Breakfast.  This event forms part of the SATRO Festival of Science and Engineering.  This is an excellent opportunity to find out why over 500 companies work with SATRO to engage young people and inspire…

New customer + right product + trusted recommendation = sale

Today with millions of brand conversations happening every day, I would estimate 8 out of every 10 purchases have been influenced by a trusted recommendation, whether from family, friends or a respected person.

Are you helping your brand advocates refer you business? Here are 5 tips on becoming their best…

Whether you're sports mad or all this athletic 'kerfuffle' is driving you crazy, you may like to check out what's happening when, on the Official 2012 site where you'll find this schedule

http://www.london2012.com/schedule-and-results/

 …

As a result of breaking news this morning concerning LinkedIn, we endorse the advice they have broadcast. Please ensure you change your online password without delay.



Erring on the side of caution - password secured internet sites



There is no harm in reviewing all your online passwords. Generally speaking,…

You may have attended one of my Google Places Workshops recently, to discover how you can use this free marketing tool to bring you a steady stream of new customers from the UK's favourite search engine. 

Well, things are hotting up! Google has changed the positioning of Places in order to integrate it with Google+, the search engine giant's answer to Facebook. …

Tighter mortgage criteria has led to an increased number of consumer complaints about mortgage products, according to a report by the Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML).

The trade body, using data from the Financial Ombudsman Service's (FOS) annual review, said that a 'significant proportion' of complaints were caused by providers changing their lending criteria due to difficult market…

Buckingham Palace is estimated to be worth £1bn, up 9000% since the Queen took the throne when it was estimated to have been worth £11m.

Were it ever to be sold, that would equate to £70m in stamp duty.

Windsor Castle’s estimated value was £2m when the Queen began her reign in 1952 and it is now estimated to be worth 9350% more at £189m – so that would be a mere £13.2m…

Let’s chat about how to save money at the supermarkets...

The first and probably most important thing is to make a shopping list and stick to it!  The smell of bread being spread around the shop floor, together with some summer up-beat songs that we know the words to, pervading our ears and making us feel good, can make it very easy for us to spend just a few extra pounds - or more!…

We’ve all seen both good & bad landing or sign up pages on our digital travels.

However how often have you taken the time to consider what makes a good experience v a bad one?

Take a look at this chart;…

Phew! Now it’s too darn hot to work (any old excuse will do...:0) But work we must, alas, and networking is an increasingly important part of that for any business person today.

People often ask me ‘What’s the best business network, Keith? You go to so many networking events, you must know...’

The short answer is: (drum roll) ‘Your own personal network, of…

Interested in a career in Marketing and Communications? Want experience working with a professional creative team to turn your ideas into a national marketing campaign? Then enter ‘Can You Talk Security?’ – a nationwide communications competition launched by BT, Get Safe Online and Cyber Security Challenge UK.

Cyber crime costs UK businesses an estimated £21 billion every year. ‘Can You Talk Security?’ has…

Consumer research is the art of knowing the consumer's habits and preferences; it is not just a one off activity you do when you start up and then forget. You have to maintain your understanding of your customer's behaviours as their moods and tastes change and evolve.

There are many reasons you should carry out consumer research:

• Identifying potential…