Chamber Offices Return to Visitor Centre
For those of you who might have missed our member release last week, your Chamber of Commerce office is once again located on the 2nd floor of the Wine Country Visitor Centre at 553 Railway Street.
The American Express Business Monitor for June 2012 reports that 82% of small business owners see ongoing training and development as key to the success of their business, however, 61% say the average member of today's workforce doesn't have enough of the skills or knowledge their company needs to succeed. Thirty-six per cent (36%) report their primary motivation for investing in training and development opportunities is to make their company more competitive. Twenty-nine per cent (29%) report that training and development takes budgetary priority over most strategic and operative initiatives.
Interesting statistics, and as Chamber members you and your company employees can take advantage of the great practical training provided through our Business Excellence Seminar Series. The next seminar we have coming up is Branding for Small Business facilitated by Jennifer Taylor of Taylormade Ideas being held Thursday, Oct 18th from 9am to 12 Noon at the Chamber Boardroom. Details will be in our updated Events Calendar coming out Monday.
WorkSafeBC (WSBC) has released its "preliminary" rates for 2013, and it's fair to say the news isn't good for most employers. The average base premium rate charged to BC employers is poised to increase by 5% in 2013, reaching $1.62 per $100 of assessable payroll. Note that this marks the first average base rate increase in nine years. Read the full article at http://www.bcchamber.org/news/files/Worksafe_BC_Premiums.pdf
Recent BC Chamber of Commerce News
News Release: Sept 20, 2012 - BC Agenda for Shared Prosperity The BC Chamber of Commerce and the Business Council of British Columbia just launched a new policy initiative designed to take a fresh look at the economic and social development issues affecting the prosperity of British Columbians called the BC Agenda for Shared Prosperity. Read more at http://www.bcchamber.org/news/editorials/bc_agenda_for_shared_prosperity
News Release: Sept 13, 2012 - Province Must Return to Balanced Budget The BC Chamber announced its support for the responsible approach taken by the provincial government in the face of disappointing resource revenue figures. Read more at http://www.bcchamber.org/news/releases/natural_gas_revenue.html
Recent Canadian Chamber of Commerce News
What's Ahead for 2013: Will Next Year Be Replay of 2012? Read Perrin Beatty's speaking notes from his talk at the Walmart Canada Suppliers 2012 Conference held September 13, 2012 in Mississauga, ON. Read more at
http://www.chamber.ca/images/uploads/Media/op-eds-and-speeches/2012/120913_Walmart_Canada_suppliers_conference.pdf
