How have we made a difference this year?

One of the advantages of running a commercial business is that it is simple to measure the one fundamental reason for being – to make a profit. 

 

On the other hand not-for-profit organisations such as the Chamber of Commerce have a more difficult task in judging their performance. Yes, we have the normal financial measures, but our profit/surplus is not the reason for our being.  Our role is to deliver a myriad of activities - the intention of which is to enrich the participants’ lives in some way.

 

One way to think of it is that commercial businesses start with a minimum range of activities in order to end with a maximum financial amount, while not-for-profits start with minimum financial amount in order to end with a maximum range of activities.

 

But the big question is – have our activities and services made a difference?

 

Some of the numbers from our Annual Report provide some indication. 

 

4,215 people attended over 60 networking events which would indicate there was a reasonable level of satisfaction and value gained. These events range from Business After Five networking evenings, to keynote speaker luncheons and breakfasts. 

 

Our Business Women’s, and Rocket! young professionals networks go from strength to strength which indicate they add value for the participants.

 

Training workshops and seminars are a core function of the Chamber and we know we make a difference in the development of attendees capabilities, from the feedback forms completed, and 671 people attended our courses.

 

Other areas that we measure closely are our various business advice and mentoring services. 465 people were given free business advice and 135 were helped by our mentors. The impact of enterprise and capability development interventions are notoriously difficult to measure, and we need to focus on that in the year ahead, but the more than 80% satisfaction ratings are a good indication of quality. 

 

One of my great pleasures is reading the client feedback forms after the one week training programmes we run for clients registered with WINZ who are keen to return to the workforce. To see people start the programme who lack confidence, emerge a week later bursting with energy and motivation, is truly to know that we make a difference.

 

Do we make a difference through our advocacy? I hope the district, city and regional councillors read and consider our various public submissions. Judging from the number of questions asked by councillors at the hearings, they do value our contribution.  

 

Did we make a difference to businesses worst affected by the Rena grounding? Judging by the verbal appreciation at industry meetings, and the emails received – yes. We also received positive comment from the other 31 Chambers, that our response reinforced our brand as an organisation that is prepared to drop everything and go in to bat for their business community.

 

We have an extensive communications reach and our 32-page Enterprise Magazine is distributed to 5,000 local businesses, and judging by the frequent refills needed at the Tauranga Airport dispenser is well read. The number of people subscribing to our regular emails is consistently rising which is positive. 

 

We have excellent, long term relationships with all our sponsors who we value greatly. Similarly we work hard to collaborate effectively with our Smart Economy, and Bay of Connections partners, as well as the government departments who we deliver contracts and services for. 

 

Category winners at the 500 attendee Westpac Business Awards gain considerable value from the public recognition, and all entrants gain from the judge’s rigorous evaluation process. 

 

This year we have a record number of applications for the Chamber Waikato University Postgraduate Diploma in Business and the winner will only pay half their fees for two years, which will definitely make a difference to them.  

 

Is all this enough? Definitely not. We can improve in many areas. 

 

I appeal to the readers of this column to take a few minutes to email or call me to suggest what else the Chamber can do to make a difference.  That’s our role, and we are asking for your help in achieving it. Thank you, and have a great holiday.