Weymouth & Portland Chamber of Commerce

2020 was my first year as Treasurer for the Chamber, and if you’d have told me at our AGM last February that this is how my first year would’ve gone, then I certainly wouldn’t have believed you!

2020 was been a challenging year for everyone, and The Chamber was no exception to that. Covid-19 had a huge impact on the association with no events taking place and only 2 “normal” breakfasts way back in February and March last year.

I’m sure that everyone is sick of hearing this word, but these really were unprecedented times.

Despite being plunged into the unknown, the Chamber quickly realised that they needed to support their members and the wider business community of Weymouth and Portland. They therefore made the decision to extend memberships for existing members until the end of February 2021, and to offer free membership to new members up to the same date. This offer proved hugely popular and meant that our membership numbers as at 31 December 2020 stood at a staggering 188 compared to 2019’s figure of 88.

The Chamber also continued to support the local community through sponsoring various virtual events and initiatives. These include Air FMs Prom in the Air, Virtual Quayside 1 and 2 and they even helped to “Make Portland Sparkle” over the Christmas period.

In addition to these great causes, The Chamber also headed up some of their own including the Open for Business campaign with Wessex FM, Lockdown Stories and the Weymouth and Portland Video Competition with We Are Weymouth.

For 2021 we are aware that we need a source of income coming in so that the Chamber can continue to help our members in the future. We have therefore discounted the usual annual membership subscription fee to only £49 down from £99 last year and we are grateful to see you all here and still supporting the organisation.

I would now like to take this opportunity to thank Alex Goracy, our Independent examiner at Albert Goodman.

For details of the formally approved accounts please click here