Strengthening Local Business: Insights from the Frome Chamber Meet your MP Breakfast

Apr 3, 2025

Frome Chamber hosted a highly engaging business breakfast on Friday 21st March at the Cheese and Grain, bringing together 30 local business leaders to discuss pressing regional economic challenges with guest speaker Anna Sabine, MP. The meeting provided a platform for candid discussions on social housing, infrastructure, skills shortages, and national insurance increases, offering businesses an opportunity to voice their concerns and explore collaborative solutions.

Somerset Councillors Dawn Denton and Theo Butt-Philip, along with David Crew from the Somerset Chamber, were also in attendance, further enriching the discussion.

Curtis Bartlett of Bartlett Bid Management

A Warm Welcome and Setting the Stage
The session began with a welcome from the Frome Chamber. Curtis Bartlett from BBM, the event sponsor, provided a brief but insightful introduction to his Bid Management company, outlining its role in supporting businesses in securing contracts and enhancing competitiveness.
Peter Quintana then introduced Anna Sabine, who gave a short introduction to herself, her areas of interest, and where she is focussing her time as our MP, highlighting the importance of constructive engagement between policymakers and the business community.

Key Topics of Discussion

Social Housing and Business Challenges
Concerns were raised about the impact of social housing on the local workforce and economy. The discussion emphasized the need for businesses to work together to develop sustainable solutions that balance housing needs with economic growth.

Infrastructure Development
From broadband accessibility to road networks, infrastructure issues were a major topic of debate. The significance of robust infrastructure to support growing industries such as tech, engineering, and construction was underscored, with calls for greater investment in regional development initiatives.

Apprenticeships, Skills Gaps, and Workforce Shortages
A recurring theme was the shortage of skilled workers, particularly in technical fields. Attendees expressed concerns about large corporations attracting talent away from SMEs, making it difficult for smaller enterprises to compete. The conversation also highlighted the necessity of stronger collaboration between businesses, schools, and enterprise advisers to improve apprenticeship opportunities and career pathways.

National Insurance (NI) Increases and Business Sustainability
The rising cost of NI was another key concern, with Anna Sabine citing Dorothy House as an example of how increased contributions are straining critical care services. The broader implications for SMEs and business sustainability were discussed, with calls for government intervention to mitigate these financial pressures.

Moving Forward: Actionable Steps
To address these challenges, several action points were identified:

• Strengthening Business-School Engagement: Establishing a platform to facilitate better communication and collaboration between businesses and educational institutions.

• Gathering Business Insights: Anna Sabine is actively campaigning and collecting evidence from business owners to support efforts in addressing skills shortages and apprenticeship challenges.

• Enhancing Enterprise Advisory Links: Investigating ways to better connect local chambers with enterprise advisers to streamline school-to-business pathways.

Anna Sabine MP

Support and Advocacy from Anna Sabine MP
Anna Sabine reaffirmed her commitment to supporting businesses by:

• Lobbying ministers on key issues affecting local businesses.
• Hosting regular events to foster discussions and drive policy improvements.
• Advocating for changes in government policy where necessary.
• Offering guidance on funding opportunities and planning applications.
• Establishing the Business MP Club – Better Business Breakfast, a quarterly networking event to maintain momentum in business advocacy and collaboration.

Conclusion
The discussion underscored the power of open dialogue between business leaders and policymakers. With pressing concerns around infrastructure, workforce shortages, and financial burdens, proactive engagement remains critical. Anna Sabine’s commitment to advocating for businesses offers a hopeful path forward, ensuring that local enterprises continue to thrive in a challenging economic landscape.

To keep up to date with chamber news and future events sign up to our mailing list or become a member today!

Celebrations for Somerset Business Awards 2025 winners

Mar 31, 2025

The winners of the 2025 Somerset Business Awards were announced at a gala dinner and presentation evening at the Winter Gardens Pavilion, in Weston-super-Mare, on Friday (March 28).

Nearly 400 business people from across Somerset attended the event, which was organised by Somerset Chamber of Commerce and hosted by Global and Heart FM broadcast journalist, Cormac MacMahon.

This year marked the 20th anniversary of the awards and the 15th year the awards had been supported by main sponsor Albert Goodman.

Somerset Chamber Managing Director, David Crew, said every finalist should feel justifiably proud of their achievements: “Every year the awards recognise and honour the achievements of our vibrant business community.

“The economic situation may be challenging, but Somerset’s business community had again shown resilience and excellence across all sectors.

“Somerset Chamber of Commerce is proud to organise the awards annually. They are the biggest of their kind in the county and I must thank everyone who supports the awards every year – from our entrants to our judges and sponsors.”

The 2025 winners came from Taunton, Wiveliscombe, Barrington, Roadwater, Clutton, Shepton Mallet, Merriott, Wellington, Yeovil, Wells, Bridgwater, Bleadon and Langport.

The Somerset Business Awards 2025 media sponsors were Newsquest and the Somerset County Gazette Series and Global.

For a full list of nominees and winners click here. 

Autumn Business Breakfast

Oct 18, 2024

Our Autumn network breakfast at River House at Black Swan Arts yesterday was buzzing!

A hearty breakfast, and very entertaining talk by Tim Fussell from Fussels Fine Foods about three stage filtration, and an opportunity to meet some fantastic businesses. What better way to start the day!

We have two more events planned for this year: a Mastermind at Still Sisters on November 12th, and our AGM, which this year will be Palmer Street Bottle on December 5th. Members and non-members welcome!

Keep an eye on our Events page for future events and opportunities to engage with us!

Lilley’s Cider Summer Event

Jul 20, 2024

On 11th July we hosted a relaxed early evening networking event at chamber members, Lilley’s Cider. It was fantastic to get local businesses together at the premises on Bunns Lane for a behind the scenes experience.

We extend a huge thank you to Lilley’s Cider and particularly Chris Lilley for hosting our networking evening. The factory tour and cider tastings were excellent. Thank you for your generous hospitality and thank you to those who supported the event.

Frome Kindness Festival 2022

Jan 21, 2022

Frome is hosting its first Kindness Festival later this year, celebrating the kindness that keeps our town going. Taking place from 1st to 6th March the Kindness Festival is coordinated by local non-profit organisation The Good Heart, and will celebrate the power of kindness to improve our relationships, our mental and physical health, and the character and success of Frome.

The festival aims to offer something for everyone, bringing local people together in fun, magical and uplifting ways. If your business would like to get involved, please consider:

• putting up one of our festival posters in your window or workplace, spreading inspiring quotes and facts about kindness
• carrying out some acts of kindness during festival week (there’s a list of suggestions on our website to get you started). Please share them using #fromekindnessfestival.
• becoming a festival sponsor, either via a modest cash donation or in kind. We need to raise around £1000 in total, and have already been offered £200 by one Frome business. We’ll be happy to highlight your generosity on our website and in our publicity materials.

Find out about the festival overview, FAQs and more information about how to get involved here. Alternatively you can email Melanie on , message them on Facebook, or ring Alison on 07866 541954.

Free training and consultancy opportunities on offer from UWE

Dec 2, 2021

The University of West of England has some really interesting offers for local businesses having won funding to create a series of free ‘bootcamps’ and consultancy opportunities. This allows local businesses to tap into new courses and the research skills of MBA students.

Free business consultancy

UWE is also looking for client organisations with a business need that its full time MBA students can investigate for a consultancy dissertation. Students generate an initial proposal, a presentation and an evidence-based report over approximately 450 hours and are guided by a university supervisor. Client organisations offer the student a contact point, student briefing, some regular contact, access to the agreed data sources and then attend the final presentation. Past clients have asked students to investigate product line rationalisations, sources of competitive advantage, revenue growth strategies, and knowledge acquisition approaches. If your organization would benefit from pro bono consultancy by an MBA student on any business issue or opportunity, then the University needs client projects starting in February and finishing in August. To find out more email here.

Free Human Resource consultancy

UWE’s Post Graduate Human Resources Management (HRM) students are also looking for a 10 week research/consultancy project to commence at the end of May. The aim is for the student to investigate a ‘live’ HR issue or perhaps explore a new HR initiative that you’d like to implement but haven’t had the time / resources to launch. At the end of the 10 weeks the student would provide you with a summary of their findings and recommendations for implementation. Any HR related topic would be appropriate e.g. Recruitment & Selection, Learning & Development, Performance Management. To find out more please email here.

Institute of Technology – Certificate in Future Technologies

The new Certificate of Future Technologies is a modular course designed by employers and educational institutions working in partnership to help businesses access high-quality, short, modular, technical training modules to upskill and reskill staff to better address their business needs. The modular offer is ‘pick and mix’ to meet individual and industry need, and the below UWE Bristol delivery forms part of a wider IoT offering:

• Fundamentals of Industry 4.0 (2 days) – This course provides an insight into how new technologies are creating the emergence of industry 4.0. Starts 7th December
• Leadership for Sustainability and Social Value (2 days) – This course is designed to help organisations develop the capability and knowledge needed to create a vision and build sustainability and social value into their strategy. Starts 24 January 2022
• Find out more here.

Skills Bootcamp in Achieving Zero Carbon Buildings

The University is also offering a six month ‘bootcamp’ course to people interested in learnubg more about sustainability and net-zero carbon to get a job within the construction and engineering industries. Find out more here.

Chamber submission to Mayday Saxonvale planning application

Dec 2, 2021

Planning application 2021/2373/OTA

Frome Chamber of Commerce – SUPPORT

Saxonvale is a very long awaited and vital development for Frome which will bring a drastic change to the shape of the town centre. It is therefore imperative that it contributes a lively, thriving, well-used space that works for the people of Frome, fits the ‘personality’ and ethos of the town and is a seamless extension of the current town centre.

Reasons for our support:

1. The Chamber wants to see Saxonvale deliver a thriving commercial space

Frome desperately needs employment land within the town centre which we believe will also support other businesses within the town. There is a need for employment space so that businesses can grow – and create more jobs for the town.  Otherwise those businesses have to move out of the town because they cannot find the right space – and take those jobs with them.

There has been a very unfortunate history of allowing change of use for employment land to become housing in Frome town centre. In recent years Mendip has allowed this on the express understanding that the Saxonvale site would replace that lost employment land.

Within Mendip’s Local Plan there is a commitment to provide employment space for around 500 jobs in Frome town centre by 2028. Realistically Saxonvale is the last available space for that to happen.

We therefore support this vision for Saxonvale which delivers more than double the employment land than we can expect from Acorn’s development plan for the site.

2. The Chamber wants to see Saxonvale deliver a thriving community that offers viable housing solutions

People who work in the town need somewhere to live so this development must play its part in solving the housing crisis the town faces and offer homes that people can live in and employment spaces they can work in. While this application provides less housing than the Acorn application we support the provision of houses, rather than the high density of flats offered by the Acorn plan which we are concerned will prove popular for weekend/AirBnB properties. We need the housing on this development to be lived in, not rented out for the weekend.

3. We should be planning for a bright future for Frome

This is an opportunity for Mendip to leave a long-lasting legacy for the town by delivering a truly fantastic scheme that is not just another profit driven development but one that sets Frome up for a bright and prosperous future for all. We support the Mayday Saxonvale application as the way to do this.

Notice of Annual General Meeting

Oct 2, 2021

NOTICE of ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

Frome & District Chamber of Commerce

The Annual General Meeting will be held at 6pm Thursday 21st October 2021

at the Upstairs Bar, Three Swans Pub, King Street, Frome

AGENDA

1. Apologies for absence
2. To approve the Minutes of the 2019 AGM
3. To approve the Director’s Report
4. To approve the Treasurer’s Report & Approval of Accounts 
5. To elect the President, and Executive Committee members.
6. SPECIAL RESOLUTION to replace the Memorandum and Articles of the company with the new Articles.
7. Any Other Business

Any Member entitled to attend and vote at the meeting is entitled to appoint a proxy to attend and vote in their place.

Find the minutes of the meeting here.

Reg. Office The Old Church School, Butts Hill,  Frome, Somerset BA11 1HR A Company Limited by Guarantee, Registered in England No. 347485

Saxonvale – the next steps

Aug 13, 2021

Outline planning permission was granted by Mendip District Council in February 2021. The application described Saxonvale as ‘5.16 ha of previously developed land and lies within Frome town centre’ so this was the last significant portion of employment land in the town centre where new job creation could be sought.

The planning application passed promises a mixed-use development to provide:
• Up to 300 dwellings to be made up of 266 flats (60 to be retirement flats and 10 live work units) and 34 houses. 67 will be affordable housing – 47 for social rent.
• 4,181sqm (45,000sq ft) is proposed for mixed non-residential uses including office workspace, small scale retail facilities, food and drink, cultural, leisure and community uses, and the potential to accommodate creche, nursery and education/training uses
• a riverside park
• re-provision of a public car park (71 spaces)
• other parking provision (a total of 403 car parking spaces to be provided across the site – 351 to serve the proposed residential uses and 52 to serve the proposed commercial uses)
• access road and pedestrian and cycle routes, including a footbridge across the River Frome (The details show a new highway corridor that runs through from Garsdale and exiting out onto Saxonvale. The access arrangements also include a footbridge across the River to Willow Vale, a pedestrian/cyclist only link from Vicarage Street along with improvements proposed to the Garsdale junction and the pedestrianisation of the upper section of Saxonvale.)

What Frome Chamber wants to see on the Saxonvale site:

A thriving commercial space that is a seamless extension to the existing town centre

This is a very long awaited and vital development for Frome which will bring a drastic change to the shape of the town centre. It is therefore imperative that it contributes a lively, thriving, well-used space that works for the people of Frome, fits the ‘personality’ and ethos of the town and is a seamless extension of the current town centre.

Unfortunately, Mendip has a history of allowing change of use for employment land to become housing (see Appendix 1). In recent years Mendip has allowed this on the express understanding that the Saxonvale site would replace that lost employment land.

Within Mendip’s Local Plan there is a commitment to provide employment space for around 500 jobs in Frome town centre by 2028. Realistically Saxonvale is the last available space for that to happen. We understand there is interest in building another work hub which might create an additional 350 jobs on the site. That is a highly admirable aim which we support but start-up businesses also need move-on space when they grow and Saxonvale is the last available place within the town centre to provide this.

It also still leaves 150 jobs to be created in Frome Town Centre in seven years. We remain concerned that Mendip has no clear plan on how to create those jobs and we are keen to hear how it will make this happen.

We would also welcome more properties designed for people to both live and work in to meet the new demand for different types of home working, created from the changing work patterns we have faced during 2020. It will also be important to preserve those live/work spaces into the future and even increase the number because we believe demand for those spaces will exceed what is planned.

A thriving community that offers viable housing solutions

People who work in the town need somewhere to live so this development must play its part in solving the housing crisis the town faces and offer homes that people can live in and employment spaces they can work in. The Chamber is concerned about the high density of flats within this development. Frome is becoming an increasingly popular weekend trip destination and flats are often snapped up for AirBnBs or second homes. We need the housing on this development to be lived in, not rented out for the weekend. We want Mendip to be brave and look at ways to incorporate leasehold arrangements into the housing to ensure under-occupancy cannot occur.

We should all be planning for a bright future

Mendip as a district council will not exist within a few years. This is an opportunity for Mendip to leave a long-lasting legacy for the town by delivering a truly fantastic scheme that is not just another profit driven development but one that sets Frome up for a bright and prosperous future for all.

Appendix 1
Employment sites in Frome lost to housing over the past 20 years. Information provided by Frome Civic Society.

1999 Singers 136 houses
2002 Vallis Mills (Redrow) 204 houses
2005 Coloroll 129 houses and flats
2006 Cuprinol 116 houses
2009 Slipps 74 houses and flats
2009 Matbro 187 houses (1 shop)
2014 Police and Magistrates Court 61 houses
2014 T.H.White 58 houses
2017 Western Vinyl 64 houses
2018 Braeside Joinery 10 houses
2019 Transport Depot 9 houses
2019 Selwood Print Works 157 houses, (1 shop)
2021 Saxonvale 300 houses and flats (4,180sqm non residential)

HOMES: 1,500
EMPLOYMENT: 2 shops & 4,180sqm non residential

Social media strategy

Jun 9, 2021

Here’s a link to Gumption Agency’s Social Media Strategy worksheet.

Social media strategy worksheet [2021]

Frome Chamber responds to consultation on Somerset councils reorganisation

Apr 20, 2021

Frome Chamber has filed a response with the Department of Housing, Communities and Local Government (DHCLG) on the proposals for a unitary authority for Somerset. We have reviewed both bids and held meetings with One Somerset and Stronger Somerset.

The Chamber questions whether this is the right time for our local authorities to be distracted by a fundamental reorganisation, which under both bids only promises savings and a real improvement in services in the medium to long-term. In Cornwall it has taken 10 years for the proposals to reach a stage where local communities are seeing any improvement.

Local authorities have worked together cooperatively in the past. We do not understand why they are not able to do so now. If they did, such a fundamental reorganisation would not be necessary.

Frome is not part of Somerset in any coherent way. The East Somerset proposal reproduces the imbalance of the Parliamentary constituency, in which Frome is only a minor part of a larger area with which we have little in common. For jobs, for the housing market, for transport, for education and for health services we have stronger connections with the authorities across the county boundaries to the north and the west. The DHCLG’s own research proves this.

Therefore, we have argued that if there is to be a reorganisation of local government Frome should be part of those authorities with which we have the strongest connections. However, we understand this is not an option.

The Chamber’s position is that we would only support a new unitary authority if there was meaningful devolution of both power and budgets to an area broadly equivalent to the old Frome Urban and Frome Rural district councils. Both One Somerset and Stronger Somerset propose devolving some power locally, while at the same time saving money by centralising. To the Chamber, that appears to be a contradiction, which will require imagination and bravery to overcome. If it does, we will welcome it, but we are not confident that either proposal will deliver it. We fear that under the inevitable budgetary pressure while these proposals are put into practice saving money will trump promises of local democracy.

You can read our full submission to the consultation here.

Chamber position on Commerce Park application to extend

Mar 10, 2021

Frome and District Chamber of Commerce welcomes any new provision of employment land, to meet the excess demand for this in Frome, rebalance the housing developments, and meet the targets in MDC’s Local Plan.

We would welcome it more if it was within or better connected with Frome.

Similar units elsewhere on Commerce Park provide facilities for a wide range of businesses. In many cases, these are not optimal for the businesses, which would prefer to be closer to the town centre, but are the only employment spaces that have been available to them without leaving Frome together. We would expect the industrial units to be taken up rapidly, including as offices and other uses within class BI.

We understand the concerns of local residents about noise or other disruption from this development. We would not expect many of the occupiers the industrial units to create a noise likely to cause any disruption. Any standard commercial lease will include a provision that the tenant must not cause any nuisance or annoyance to other tenants or neighbours. We would expect MDC as the planning authority to impose and enforce appropriate planning conditions.

However, the Travel Plan is inadequate because:

1. Access to Commerce Park from Frome is almost entirely dependent upon the use of private cars, leaving town and accessing Commerce Park from the bypass. There is no bus service.
2. Although a pedestrian/cycling route exists, it is little used, because it is dark, unlit and is perceived not to be safe, either by employees, or in many cases parents of young people who might otherwise be able to work at Commerce Park. That access needs to be improved generally for everyone using Commerce Park, so that it becomes a practical route, not just a theoretical one.

The Travel Plan is also likely to be completely ineffective because:

1. Very few, if any of the small industrial units will be occupied by businesses employing sufficient numbers to meet any thresholds for action. e.g., the threshold of 15 staff to set up a car sharing scheme or 25 staff put up a notice board.Distribution units employ small numbers of staff by reference to their floor area, and even the two larger units may not reach the threshold of 25 staff to trigger the requirement for a travel plan, travel coordinator and survey.
2. Even if any of those thresholds are reached and there is a requirement to report to Somerset County Council that is a pointless activity. There are no targets set in the Travel Plan, so no measure of success. Somerset County Council does not publish the results of individual surveys nor have they ever published any coordinated outcomes from Travel Plans, or surveys, so we have no idea whether or not any of these have ever had any effect. Nor can employers learn from what works and what doesn’t. This should be enforced by a planning condition requiring the publication of surveys and reports of action taken, and whether or not that effective. These observations apply to travel plan conditions generally, not just to this one.

Find the planning application here on Mendip District Council’s website.

Frome Chamber position statement on Saxonvale outline planning permission

Feb 12, 2021

The Chamber welcomed Mendip District Council’s (MDC) acquisition of Saxonvale because it gave the opportunity for the site to be developed in the best long-term interests of Frome, the people of Frome and businesses in Frome.

The Chamber has engaged with MDC and with Acorn, the developers, about the current plans. We are pleased that some of the suggestions we made have been adopted, and have improved the scheme. We will continue to engage positively with them to help them deliver a development that meets the needs of Frome. In doing that we recognise that no scheme will be perfect, and that competing interests must be balanced.

However, we will be challenging MDC to be open and transparent about its own commercial interests as landowner, and, as the Saxonvale scheme does not deliver the space for jobs in the town centre in MDC’s Local Plan, which are desperately needed, how MDC will promote and deliver those.

Frome weekly markets

Jan 27, 2021

We joined many in Frome in our disappointment with Mendip District Council’s decision to shorten weekday markets and stop the Saturday market in Frome. Below is the email sent to Cllr Joshua Burr by our President.

Dear Cllr Burr

Chamber position on forthcoming Saxonvale decision

Jan 27, 2021

Below is the text of an email sent by Committee member Neil Howlett on behalf of the Chamber to the planning board ahead of its January 2021 meeting to decide the Saxonvale application.

Frome & District Chamber of Commerce has always supported the development of Saxonvale in accordance with MDC’s planning aspirations for the site.

We have been consulted by MDC and Acorn. We are grateful for that but objected to it being subject to a Non-Disclosure Agreement. They have listened to some of our comments, for which we thank them. There are good things in this proposal, but we cannot support it. We cannot support it because of MDC’s secrecy about its financial aspirations.

The question for MDC is whether it is a commercial developer maximising profit or a local authority acting in the interests of Frome, its businesses and people. This planning board would expect a commercial developer to demonstrate good reasons for not complying with planning policy. This planning board should insist on MDC demonstrating good reasons for not complying with planning policy. Until MDC does that you should not grant this application.

We will leave comments on design to the Civic Society. There are two elements MDC’s scheme which are not compliant with MDC’s policies; –

• Affordable Housing
• Employment Provision

Those are commercial decision – profit versus public benefit. We have repeatedly said that if we saw and could share evidence which justified those we would accept that – we haven’t. There are two partners to this development; Acorn and MDC. Acorn are disclosing their Viability Assessment (VA). MDC are not.

Affordable Housing

It is accepted it does not meet MDC’s requirements for Affordable Housing. There is a VA disclosed by Acorn. There is an executive summary of that by MDC’s consultant. MDC has not disclosed the consultant’s report.

Much is made of the state of the housing market; I can tell you that the housing market in Frome is manic, it is busier than it has been in 30 years and that was before the SLDT giveaway. People want to move to Frome and they especially want to move to the town centre.

Councillors need to be aware of two things:-

• The Acorn VA is a theoretical calculation based on a notional land value. It is not necessarily the amount they will pay MDC.
• That affordable housing provision is a maximum. If Acorn consider that it has become unviable, they can apply to change it. If MC think it has become over generous it cannot.

Employment Provision

As a Chamber we are particularly concerned at the loss of employment land – Saxonvale is employment land. Frome is in danger of becoming a commuter town.

The Planning Officer states (p.22) that because of the Planning Inspector’s decision in 2014/1224/OTS that you cannot insist on employment provision on this site. You can, because that statement contained both a logical and a factual error. You as members of the planning board are entitled to use your knowledge to determine the application, and take into account facts on the ground and changes since that decision was made in 2016.

Here are the facts.

• There is very high demand for employment space of all kinds in Frome, especially in the town centre, and that has not decreased since the coronavirus pandemic because Frome is a place you can live and walk to work, and suits modern ways of working. There is an assessment of this but it isn’t disclosed.
• Since these targets were set MDC has consented more employment land for housing, including Acorn’s site at Caxton Road, so the net difference between demand and supply has widened. I can’t give you figures. MDC used to keep figures on that; unlike housing supply, it doesn’t. We asked.
• Those sites that have been lost have been consented expressly on the basis of two things; I’ve sat in the meetings and you can look this up;-
  • Commerce Park – which is not in the town centre, in fact is not even within Frome, and which is now fully consented
  • Because the required employment land will be provided on Saxonvale – that was the basis on which the now Chair of the Planning Board called in, and supported application 2018/1799/OTS (Braeside Works) which was passed against the recommendation of the planning officer.
• Acorn argue that these jobs don’t have to be provided on Saxonvale. However, if they are to be provided in the town centre the reality is that they do because there is nowhere else – do I need to remind you of the debacle of Boxworks I and Boxworks II?

If this application is granted on the basis that these jobs do not have to be provided on Saxonvale:-

• they will not happen,

• every decision made by this planning board on the basis that they would be will have been wrongly made.

The reason is that houses make more profit. For whom? If MDC as the local authority had the opportunity to spend money to facilitate 900 new jobs on a critical location you as Councillors and we as a Chamber would expect it to do that? If that isn’t why MDC acquired this land why did it acquire it?

So what commercial profit is MDC foregoing to facilitate jobs on this site? We don’t know. Acorn have disclosed their VA. MDC have refused. Whether the history of that will turn out to have been a deliberate strategy of obstruction until after this decision, incompetence leading to the threat of prosecution by the ICO or a stand-up comedy routine only time will tell.

Neil Howlett

Appendix – FOI

Here’s a summary of what MDC have said: –

29 September 2019

Having asked at meetings we asked formally for the VA in accordance with NPPF paragraph 57 and case law . MDC promised several times to reply but didn’t.

13 March 2020

We made an FOI request for it

29 April 2020

MDC said it didn’t have one because it was called something else, and the summary we’ve given you is subject to an NDA, and we won’t do one until after Acorn have planning consent. We asked for a review.

16 June 2020

MDC said it definitely doesn’t have one

22 June 2020

MDC said that was a mistake, we have one but we can’t show it to you because of Acorn’s and MDC’s commercial interests

20 August 2020

We complained to the ICO

21 October 20202

MDC told the ICO it didn’t have a VA – the ICO indicated it would consider prosecuting MDC for giving false information as it couldn’t both have a VA and not have a VA.

23 November 2020

We asked the ICO to hold off while we tried to get a coherent decision as we did not want MDC to be prosecuted. We asked the Chair, and Leader of MDC to clarify its position. We heard nothing.

Acorn disclosed their VA as part of this process so only MDC’s commercial interest remain.

15 January 2020 [sic]

MDC responded saying it has a VA but can’t disclose it because of MDC’s commercial interests – but their reasons for refusing it refer to “the sale and overage agreement” not the VA. MDC has cut and pasted a reply to a completely different request by someone else. We explained in September 2019 why this position is unsustainable.

Enterprise Advisors for local schools needed

Dec 11, 2020

Let’s get Christmas wrapped up in Frome campaign

Nov 24, 2020

Frome Town Council and Frome Chamber of Commerce will be running a Let’s Get Christmas Wrapped Up campaign over December to encourage people to shop local and in Frome when lockdown lifts on 2^nd December.

Frome Town Council has created a number of pages on its Discover Frome website to pull together a comprehensive shopping guide to locals and visitors to the town. There is also a virtual Christmas market place to help artisan makers and crafters who might not have websites and are missing out on the usual Christmas fairs.

If this is relevant to your business then please make sure you check out what’s on offer and how to make sure your business is featured on the Discover Frome pages. https://www.discoverfrome.co.uk/attraction_category/lockdown-shopping/

There is also a Let’s Get Christmas Wrapped up in Frome Facebook group where businesses can raise awareness about what they have to offer. Find the Facebook group here and request to join. https://www.facebook.com/groups/letsgetchristmaswrappedupinfrome

We would also appreciate it if you would take some time to share these to your own networks, family and friends so that people in Frome know how and where they can get some great local Christmas presents, support local traders and makers and keep their pounds in the town!

Free festive parking in Frome

Nov 20, 2020

Mendip District Council has confirmed there will be free parking in the Cattle Market car park (also in other towns in specific car parks) on Saturday 5th December for Small Business Saturday.

There will then be free parking in all Mendip District Council pay and display car parks for a week between 00.00hrs on Thursday 17th December and 23.59hrs on Thursday 24th December.

There will all be free parking between 00:00-23.50 on Friday 1st January 2021.

Chamber writes to Mendip Scrutiny Board about North Parade carpark

Nov 20, 2020

Below is the letter Frome Chamber wrote to Mendip District Council Scrutiny board members about the plans for social housing on North Parade car park.

Dear Members of the Scrutiny Board

Frome & District Chamber of Commerce has always attempted to take a positive attitude towards decision-making by Mendip District Council. Sometimes, that has come as a surprise to councillors, and sometimes it has been appreciated when we have helped MDC make better decisions.

We appreciate that councillors, and council officers, have a difficult task, and must balance conflicting considerations. Those decisions need to be made through coherent processes, openly, and in a way that gives people in Mendip confidence.

We are commenting on this decision because it appears to us that it is not, at least so far as the proposals for the North Parade car park are concerned.

We are particularly surprised that having been asked recently by a councillor to contribute to a review of car parking, that no mention was made of this proposal to reduce car parking capacity. We are unsure of the nature or process proposed for that review, and have again tried to help by referring to guidance on good practice for that process.

MDC is almost a monopoly supplier of off-street parking in Frome; the council controls about 80% of the public off-street parking. Parking capacity has been a significant issue in recent years, and resulted in complaints that when MDC’s car parks are full the excess capacity spills over into on street parking in inappropriate places. That is, of course, SCC’s responsibility, which is why both should always be reviewed together.

Whether or not MDC may legally be entitled to do something without discussing it with anyone else, MDC should always consult with town councils, and with local chambers and business groups, and season-ticket holders, if it is proposing to make any significant change to car parking capacity, charging or other arrangements.

Therefore, we ask you to support the proposal that this decision is referred back to Cabinet.

Yours faithfully

Neil Howlett

For Frome & District Chamber of Commerce

AGM

Nov 9, 2020

Frome Chamber of Commerce has not held an AGM this year, although we have filed accounts as required. With the ongoing Covid-19 situation, the committee felt we should put on hold any plans to get together as part of the AGM until we are able to have a proper networking event, hopefully in 2021.

Chamber to offer annother FREE online social media course

Sep 10, 2020

We’ve got another great free Discuss and Do training opportunity for you! Sign up to our online course where we will look at an Introduction to Facebook & Instagram Advertising.

Get to grips with Facebook Advertising during these three one hour live sessions provided by Gumption Agency, a social media marketing agency whose clients include GoCompare, Facebook and Longleat Safari Park, amongst others.

During these sessions we will cover:

• What you can use ads for and how they are effective
• Different ad types and what they are used for
• Targeting: geographical, interests and demographics
• How to create an ad, including advice on what makes good content
• How to set up your ad and get it live
• Advice on how much to spend
• How to measure success and conversions

Each session will take place on Zoom and will be recorded so you can watch it back.

To secure your place on these three FREE online workshops then email here and you will be sent the links to enable you to join.

The courses will take place on:

• Monday September 21 2pm to 3pm
• Monday September 28 2pm to 3pm
• Monday October 5 2pm to 3pm

Chamber letter to MDC planning board on Saxonvale

Aug 10, 2020

Below is a copy of a letter recently sent to Mendip District Council’s planning board about the Saxonvale application.

Dear Members of the Planning Board,

Why has Frome Chamber complained to the Information Commissioner about Mendip District Council about Saxonvale?

The Chamber wants to see Saxonvale developed. We support a mixed-use development. We have been grateful to be included in the Stakeholders’ Group and to have had the opportunity to comment on the developing plans.

However, the Chamber does not think that MDC should be immune from the planning obligations that MDC should and does impose on others. We also think that MDC’s approach is opaque and undemocratic. We had hoped that under the new administration we would see more openness and better decision-making processes.

Before MDC asks MDC to decide on the outline planning application which will fix both the housing and employment land provision for the Saxonvale site, MDC should justify that mix by publishing the viability assessments which establish that MDC has good grounds for:-

1. Not meeting the needs of the town centre for employment land, and
2. Not meeting MDC’s target for affordable housing.

The Local Plan recognises the imbalance between housing and employment land in Frome. We are in danger of becoming a dormitory town from which people drive elsewhere to work.

We have the ridiculous situation of businesses who want to move to Frome but cannot find premises, and businesses which want to expand but cannot do so because there are no premises for them. We expect that post-coronavirus that will increase as more people want to move out of cities – that is already happening.

The Local Plan requires 750 new jobs in the town centre. Saxonvale is employment land. It is the only substantial site upon which those jobs can be delivered. That has long been recognised by MDC’s planning committee in numerous decisions in which it has given consent to the conversion of employment land in Frome for housing, on the explicit basis these employment needs will be met by Saxonvale. The current outline planning application will not do that.

The Chamber has always opposed the conversion of employment land to housing within the town centre, unless there has been a very clear and compelling justification for it. MDC has a Supplementary Planning Policy on that. We have expected applicants to prove that, and we have expected MDC’s planning committee to investigate that justification.

Similarly, where any planning application for significant housing has not provided affordable housing meeting MDC’s policy, the Chamber has supported MDC’s planning committee requiring that to be justified by a viability assessment, which is made public and subject to examination and tested.

The Outline Application being made by Acorn arises from legal agreements between MDC and Acorn. The Chamber would be extremely surprised if MDC do not have the right to final approval of such applications. On 4^th December 2018 we were told by MDC that “The Council will be undertaking their own commercial viability study to inform aspirations in relation to the extent of the commercial space. The Council must sign off the final masterplan (as the landowner)”. 

Therefore, the Chamber has asked for the viability assessments which justify the non-compliant application. We first made this request to your Deputy Chief Executive Donna Nolan in September 2019. Despite reminders we didn’t get any response so we made requests under FOI/EIR. The responses to our request under FOI/EIR which have been: –

• We don’t have one
• You’ve seen it but you can’t talk about it because you signed an NDA
• We have one but it’s not a viability assessment
• We have one but you can’t see it because of commercial confidentiality.

We asked for disclosure because, as we said in September 2019, it is the right thing for MDC to do for three reasons :-

1. MDC as both landowner and planning authority should be demonstrating full transparency on issues where there may be a perceived conflict between those roles. Not doing so would be unreasonable and will fuel conspiracy theories.
2. MDC will wish to prove that it is not acting simply as a profit-driven developer
3. The law requires publication. NPPF says that any viability assessment should be prepared on the basis that it will be publicly available, other than in exceptional circumstances. Even in those circumstances an executive summary should be made publicly available. (National Planning Policy Framework paragraph 57)

We are writing to you in the hope that MDC will see sense and will do the right thing, and that if as landowner it does not, you as members of the Planning Board will refuse to determine the application until it does.

Yours faithfully
Neil Howlett
Frome and District Chamber of Commerce

Frome Open For Good

Jul 7, 2020

As the third lockdown starts to lift on 12 April we hope it will be the last one! So it’s finally time to Spring back into action and visit the town centre.

So we want to welcome you back – sensibly and cautiously – to Frome as all our retailers finally throw up their doors to customers. We’ve also go hairdressers picking up their scissors, nail bars sorting some vibrant colours and cafes finally putting out their tables and chairs for some welcome refueling stops once you’ve finished your shopping.

And if you still don’t fancy going in person – you can still shop online and still support local traders, makers and artisans. Check out the Frome shopping guide on Discover Frome for details of local shops, many of which have online offerings now and are also happy to take orders over the phone for click and collect or home delivery.

So you can return to the town centre and start supporting local businesses in person safe in the knowledge that they are doing what they can to stay safe so please do all you can to #shoplocal and #shopfrome and let’s keep our pounds in the town!

• Please check and follow each establishment’s social distancing rules, even if that means you have to use hand sanitiser a lot!
• Be respectful as you walk up and down our narrow streets and keep as much to the 2 metre distance rule as you can, and when queuing.
• Enjoy the town again and support our great local businesses!

Chamber asks for free parking extension as shops look to open in town centre

Jun 9, 2020

Frome Chamber has sent the below letter to the Economic Development lead at Mendip District Council to ask for the free parking currently being enjoyed in the town centre to continue for the time being. We think that would show equal support to the shops that plan to reopen from 15 June.

Dear Councillor Goater

I understand that Mendip District Council is considering reinstating car parking charges from 15 June. Frome Chamber of Commerce certainly welcomed the suspension of parking charges during lockdown. It has certainly been seen as a supportive gesture to those essential retailers who remained open for the community during probably the most challenging time of their business life.

While I understand the car parks do generate income for the district council Frome Chamber is asking you to hold off from reinstating the charges to show the same support to those Frome town centre businesses which will also now be reopening.

Our town centres really are the heart of our communities, including the villages and rural communities that market towns serve. It seems likely that those people may now prefer to come by car even if they have a bus service.

Town centres have undoubtedly been one of the hardest hit sectors during this lockdown, especially the hospitality elements which are still operating at minimal levels if at all. They also face the ending of the central government support – and the Chamber thanks Mendip District Council for your hard work administering the support packages so quickly.

People’s habits will have changed over the lockdown period – they have been forced to go online or to supermarkets so they need as much encouragement as we can muster to get them to physically return to town centres and the shops and free parking would certainly be an attractive element of that.

Can I suggest that you offer a short term measure – for example one or two further months of continuing free parking? This can then be monitored to see whether you do lose much money. The Chamber feels it will take much longer than a couple of months to really attract large numbers of people to come back to the shops so I do not feel you will be losing substantial amounts of income but the boost to the town centre businesses will be much more valuable.

And of course free parking will also support the town open air markets which I think will also prove very attractive to shoppers, given the government advice on being outside.

I look forward to hearing your thoughts on my suggestion.

Yours sincerely

Pauline Davey

President, Frome Chamber

Chamber launches free social media sessions to help businesses

Apr 14, 2020

We are working with town-based social media specialists Gumption Agency to run three free Zoom-based workshops to help local businesses/organisations promote what they do during lockdown.

As part of our Discuss and Do programme, we had planned to run a half-day workshop in May but will now be delivering it over three consecutive weeks in one-hour Zoom meetings run by Gumption Agency on Wednesday 22 April, Wednesday 29 April and Wednesday 6 May from 10am to 11am.

The sessions will cover the basics of using the three main social media channels of Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to promote your business or organisation. They will cover what to post, when and how, tips on growing your followers as well as touching on using the advertising/boosting features to further engage with people who might be interested in what you do.

“It’s a very difficult time for small businesses at the moment. Many are only able to operate online so being confident in ways to use social media to reach customers is becoming even more important,” said Chamber President Pauline Davey.

“The Chamber therefore wanted to offer some practical help to businesses and organisations in the town to help them use social media more confidently to keep the profile of their business high during the lockdown.

“We have therefore made these sessions free and we think they will be useful for both beginners and people wanting to learn a few new tips to improve and consolidate what they already do.”

To sign up to the three sessions email president@fromechamber.com and you will be sent login details to the meetings.

We are also reshaping the rest of our Discuss and Do programme, which aims help businesses share ideas and learn new skills, and more details will be available on the Frome Chamber website and Facebook page when these are finalised.

Sponsorship support sought for Frome Half Marathon

Mar 4, 2020

July sees the return of the Frome Half Marathon and the race organisers have issued a shout-out to local companies to support the popular annual event through sponsorship.

This much loved community event has around 1,500 to 1,800 competitors running the local streets over three inclusive distances of Half Marathon, 10k , 5k and a family fun run.  Please have a look at the website for more details. https://fromehalfmarathon.co.uk

“Our aim for the Frome Half is to provide the best race day experience for competitors and spectators whilst keeping the entry price low. A large scale half marathon can bring many things to a town from benefits to the local economy to building communities in general. It also provides a great platform for charity involvement and around 35% of our runners do so to raise money for their own personal charities and good causes,” explained Mike Stunt, Commercial Partnerships and Sponsorships at The Race Organiser.

“None of this would be possible without the involvement and support of sponsors and partners. We are always looking for companies or organisations that would like to offer sponsorship to the Frome Half and in return utilise the promotional opportunities it presents. If this is something you feel would be of interest and you would like to discuss it further then please contact me anytime.”

Mike Stunt can be contacted on email here.

Frome in 2020: photos wanted

Feb 25, 2020

We have been asked to help support an exciting photographic project which is being planned during the month of April by Frome Wessex Camera Club, Frome FM and Frome Heritage Museum.

Frome Heritage Museum already holds a huge collection of photographs of Frome buildings and streets. Many of these date back to the end of the 19th century. And it wants to build its archive of the changing face of Frome with by taking photos around the town during April which will be archived at the Museum for future use.

Frome Wessex Camera Club will be aiming to take hundreds of photos in and around Frome during the month of April. Similar less ambitious projects were carried out in about 1965 and 1986 and the photographs from those times are fascinating to look at: to see what has changed, what hasn’t changed, how people dressed, what cars they drove, etc, etc.

However, that means they need permission to enter business premises across the town to start snapping. While they will be taking photos of the exteriors they also want to record on film what now goes on in some of the buildings for future generations.

The camera club is asking businesses to kindly allow one of its photographers to come in to take pictures of regular activity going on there or enable them to have access when the building is empty.

Alternatively you can take some photos yourself and send a few jpegs of the interiors (with or without customers present) that you take during 2020. If businesses do that then it’s likely to build up a much more comprehensive bank of photos for the future.

The club has assured us that none of the photos would appear in the press or magazines or online without permission. They would simply be catalogued, both in hard copy and digitally, and stored for the benefit of future researchers. And they also aim to have a Frome Then and Now exhibition at the museum in June which would be the only ‘airing’ that such photos would get.

For more information email the Camera Club or send them your photos.

Frome business survey 2020

Feb 25, 2020

Our tips on entering for business awards

Feb 3, 2020

Entries have opened for the Mendip Business Awards and the Chamber would love to see even more Frome companies put themselves forward for an accolade.

So to help, this year we organised our first Discuss and Do event of 2020 to look at how to apply for business awards. We’ve gathered the top tips shared during the event.

1: You need to be in it to win it! So make sure you enter! It can be time-consuming to enter business awards but it’s an excellent chance to take a step back from your business and have a good think about what you do and why you think you’re good at it. Spending time on an award entry is time well spent because you can usually reuse the content in other award entries, with the minimum of rewriting. So use your entry to Mendip Business Award as a starting point for the Somerset Business Awards (run by Somerset Chamber of Commerce) then check out these other business awards and see if you could enter those as well.

• National business awards
• British small business awards
• Food manufacture excellence awards
• Somerset Life food and drink awards
• Bath Life awards
• South West Fairtrade Business Awards
• The European Business Awards
• CIPR PRide Awards
• First Women Awards
• FSB & World Pay UK Business Awards

2: Read the category descriptions carefully to make sure you fulfil the category requirements. This might mean ensuring you meet the geographical limitations or the size of business. Then make sure you answer all questions asked. And don’t let the judges guess what you do. While it might make sense to you what your business is all about don’t assume judges will know so spell it out.

3: Make sure you can show that you are a viable and profitable business or a start-up with a bright future. Judges want to be sure they are giving an award to a business that will be around in the future so make sure you can show you are on the up.

4: Focus on the positive. This award submission is a celebration of what you do – but don’t lie! What makes you stand out from your competitors? What makes you unique and special? Give a flavour of what you do.

5: Make sure you back up your comments with statistics, case studies and testimonials, particularly if the category description calls for information about what your customers say about you. If you can send brochures or samples of food if you’re going for something food-related!

6: Get someone outside the business to read your submission to see if they understand what you do and why you’re special enough to get an award. If they don’t get what you do then you know you need a bit of a rewrite.

7: Some award schemes offer feedback from past winners so check out if there’s anything you can learn from them to strengthen your submission. This might give you ideas on case studies to include or ways to write your entry.

8: Be imaginative about which category to go for. You may have a voluntary scheme you run with your staff or a project you’re working on that would fit perfectly for another category.

9: Don’t be afraid to contact organisers to see if they offer advice on writing submissions. Some will also give feedback afterwards to show how you can strengthen your submission the following year. If you don’t win one year then this is a good way to strengthen your submission for the following year. Don’t be put off if you don’t win first time. It might be just because you need to showcase what you do in a better way and feedback will help.

10: Some award schemes will visit your business so if you get to this stage make sure you plan carefully for the visit, don’t leave it to chance. Spend some time planning how to demonstrate the evidence you put forward and don’t assume judges will know what you do. Visits will sometimes include businesses which sponsor the category you have entered so do a bit of research on what they do because it could give you an important insight in what they might be interested in hearing more about when they visit your business.

11: Plan what you are going to do to promote the fact you have entered! There is plenty you can do on your website and social media to show that you have entered and in the run-up to the award ceremony. If you get to be a finalist or win then think about what you can do to shout about it. Think logos on website, on emails and invoices. And if you win then start describing yourself as an award-winning business! It’s an important way to show that you stand out from your competitors.

New President & committee members

Dec 13, 2019

Frome Chamber has welcomed Pauline Davey as its new President along with three new committee members.

Beckington’s Springmead School bursar Michael Mori, Andros UK Ltd Site Administration Manager Amanda Brown and online collectibles retailer Rebecca Preston of Legacy Antiques have joined the Chamber committee to help support its work and plan a wide programme of events for 2020.

They join current members Neil Howlett, of Harris and Harris Solicitors, Nigel Harris, of Burton Sweet Accountants, and Frome Town Council representative Cllr Andrew Palmer. Dennis Maps Managing Director Steve Burry has also returned to the committee.

Pauline, who works in PR and joined the committee in 2018, said: “We have a great range of business talent and expertise on the committee and we’re now in the planning phase for our programme of business events for 2020. We will have our monthly free Discuss and Do sessions  which happen on the fourth Tuesday of the month and we are particularly excited about a new all-day event we are planning with Frome Town Council for October.

“Our mission at the Chamber is to contribute to make Frome a better place to live, do business and grow. We try to create connections and provide a voice for business in discussions and actions with other businesses, organisations and local Government.

“Our membership is growing and we’d encourage all businesses in Frome to consider joining us in 2020. We have a great new Discount scheme which they will benefit from and our membership fees, which are between £20 to £90, offer great value for money.”

Pictured left to right are Amanda Brown, Steve Burry, Pauline Davey, Neil Howlett and Rebecca Preston.

Chamber AGM 2019

Sep 15, 2019

Please come to Annual General Meeting of Frome & District Chamber of Commerce at 6.00pm Tuesday 8th October 2019 at The Naval Room, in The Archangel.

We’ll have some formal business to deal with, on the Agenda. We don’t expect that will take long but we need your votes and your approval for the accounts to be filed with Companies House.

More importantly this is our opportunity to report to you on what we’ve been doing and what we plan to do. Please support us, or, if you think we could do a better job come and tell us how.

We also need new Committee Members – any organisation needs new ideas from time to time. You won’t be ambushed at the AGM, but talk to us if you might be interested

Come and give us your ideas. Or just come and enjoy a free drink on us

Your Committee

Neil Howlett, Nigel Harris, Pauline Davey, Ian O’Connor

Chamber position on 5G

Jul 16, 2019

Frome Town Council is considering the following proposal on Wednesday 17th July; –

Frome Town Council has a moral responsibility to protect public health and the local environment. Until there is a consensus that 5G wireless radiation is harmless to humans and the environment, FTC adopts the precautionary principle and opposes the roll out 5G in the town.

We are aware of concerns expressed about 5G.  New technology is often met with concern and opposition.

Good communications are essential for businesses in Frome.  Neither the town nor the surrounding areas are well served with good broadband availability although we have been promised that for many years.

It isn’t likely that 5G is going to be arriving in Frome any time soon, but it would be wrong for it to be prevented unless and until there is good and reliable evidence of harm, outweighing the benefits.

We therefore opposed the proposed resolution to be put to Frome Town Council on 17^th July 2018, on the grounds that it is premature and that there should be wider consultation with the business community and better evidence before the Town Council adopts such a strong position on this subject.

Chamber statement on Saxonvale planning application

Jun 25, 2019

Here is the Chamber’s statement on the latest Saxonvale planning application which has been circulated to Mendip District and Frome Town Councillors.

19.06.23 Frome Chamber Statement on Saxonvale

New town centre manifesto

Jun 25, 2019

Frome Chamber of Commerce has revised and reissued its town centre manifesto which we have circulated to the new Somerset County, Mendip District and Frome Town Councillors.

It sets out the Chamber’s position on a range of issues from car parking to Saxonvale and the Market Place.

You can download and read it here.

Frome Chamber Town Centre Manifesto 2019

Selling and marketing online – notes from Discuss and Do

Apr 9, 2019

Here are a few bullet points from the Discuss and Do event at Rye Bakery, held on Tuesday March 26.  Thanks to Rye Bakery and to Laura from Likeys and Pauline Davey for starting the discussions and everyone else for joining in.

There was demand for a hands-on session, which was very successful when we did it a couple of years ago with facilitators. If you would be interested in that let us know and we will organise something.

• Selling through social media is about creating a community.
• A ratio of 4 to 1 for news/straight sales postings is about right.
• Facebook is good for this, both creating a community and for selling. It’s worth using paid marketing so long as you understand your market and their algorithms.  Lookalike is a good way of acquiring people who aren’t already aware of you but might well like you if they found you.
• Instagram is great for creating a community, generally younger users than Facebook, but not so good for direct sales. It can be used to direct people to your website for sales.
• See Sue Zimmerman’s YouTube videos for advice on using Instagram.
• Instagram Stories now allows 15 second videos, which can be linked together. Live streams can get better engagement and you can then leave them up.
• Email can be used for broadcasting and engagement. Mailchimp is good, because it links into other programmes and can track sales.
• Google is good for acquiring new customers, Googleshop and Adwords can work if you know what you are doing.
• Shopify is a good online sales platform which is relatively easy to set up; Vend provides better analytics. You can use its plugins to link to your social media channels to get a good idea of how your marketing is turning into direct sales.
• Generally, look at what your competitors or other people in your sector are doing, or be more imaginative and look at people in parallel sectors.
• Consistency of presentation is very important for developing your brand and engagement with people. You need to get that right.
• Canva is a good app for producing design templates for social media platforms, a cheap “photoshop” for social media. These designs can also be printed.
• Prixlr is a good free app for editing photos for online social media, but not as powerful as Canva for combining text and images.
• WordPress is simple to use and you can combine a website for your business, with blog elements, with other social media and Shopify.
• A target of 10% of the sale price spent on social media to obtain a sale is about right. If you have got some old stock, or something that isn’t moving, give it a story and shift it!
• Adobe Spark is a great free tool to help you build online marketing materials, from ‘mini’ website links to videos. Great for presenting case studies or showing how you make products or showcasing events.

For more tips visit our Discuss and Do page here for notes from other events.

Frome Chamber Statement

Mar 13, 2019

13 March 2019

Frome Chamber has accepted the decisions of the current President Simon Williams and fellow committee member Hannah Morden to step down as directors of the Chamber.

Both Simon and Hannah have brought considerable business and professional acumen to the Chamber and made valuable contributions to strengthen our work on behalf of the local business community. Simon had already informed the other directors that he did not intend to stand for re-election at the end of his second year as President (which is the normal tenure for President). However, he has decided to stand down with immediate effect from the committee, along with Hannah, in order that the Chamber is not dragged into the current adverse press reporting. The remaining directors will miss their contribution to the work of the Chamber both at events, working with local authorities and other Chambers and in the boring work of administration behind the scenes.

The Chamber represents a wide range of businesses and Frome is well known for its diverse community. The Chamber committee believes people should be judged by what they do. They are entitled to hold whatever beliefs they may privately. It would be a dangerous course for the Chamber or any other organisations to judge or sanction people on the basis of their private religious, spiritual or philosophical beliefs.

The Chamber was not contacted by the BBC before their programme was broadcast. The Directors of Frome Chamber are aware of the publicity regarding Universal Medicine and that events relating to Universal Medicine are held at Tytherington’s The Lighthouse, which is owned and run by Simon.

We have seen the judgement in the Benhayon case in Australia. The Chamber has no knowledge of the allegations made, and has never had any dealings with Mr Benhayon. For the avoidance of doubt the Chamber strongly disapproves of the activities and beliefs attributed to Mr Benhayon in that case. During their association with the Chamber both Simon and Hannah had never expressed any such beliefs, or raised Universal Medicine, nor is the Chamber aware that they have ever attempted to promote it or recruit people through any events organised by the Chamber.

Frome Chamber, in partnership with other organisations, organises approximately 30 events every year. They are open to anyone who wishes to attend, not just members. We have held two events in Tytherington, for both of which it was the most suitable venue. One was a joint event for businesses which might be interested the Hinkley Point Supply Chain and the other presentations by the Economic Development Portfolio Holders from the three tiers of local government, which included a tour of business premises in Frome. We have also held a successful Business Breakfast and a Discuss & Do event at the premises of DNA Worldwide at Commerce Park which were attended by a wide range of businesses. The only meetings held by the Chamber which are not open to the public are Committee (Directors) meetings which, as with most similar organizations, include discussion of internal administration and are usually fairly unexciting.

As there are rumours that the Chamber has been infiltrated by Universal Medicine so the remaining Directors wish to state that they have never attended any Universal Medicine courses, and do not share the doctrines attributed to it. They do not go to bed at 9pm and get up at 3am, they eat carrots and they drink coffee.

The Chamber is concerned that recent publicity may have an adverse effect on local businesses, including the many alternative practitioners in and around Frome. We continue to believe Frome is one of the best places to live and work in the UK and we will continue to try to make it better, and communicate that message.