Unlimited access to HR business advice line, over 400 free downloadable employment documents and £1m of excess free insurance.

HR Advice Line

Unlimited access* to experienced HR advisors. Available 24/7, 365 days a year.

The advice lines are here to help you… and not just if you have a serious problem or issue. They can help you with any questions that you may have, whether they be positive or negative. 

HR Website

Over 400 free downloadable employment documents.

One of the main features of the website is the comprehensive document library, which includes documents such as:

• Recruitment & Selection
• Induction & probation
• Contracts of Employment
• Employee Handbook
• Plus many more

HR Insurance

Cover for employee disputes including representation costs and awards. Up to £100,000 per claim and £1,000,000 in the annual aggregate.

*unlimited access is subject to a fair use policy.

What our members say...

Unlimited access to legal business advice line, over 175 free downloadable legal documents and £1m of excess free insurance.

Legal Advice Line

Unlimited access* to experienced legal advisors. Available 24/7, 365 days a year.

The advice lines are here to help you… and not just if you have a serious problem or issue. They can help you with any questions that you may have, whether they be positive or negative.

Legal Website

Over 175 free downloadable legal documents for a business.

One of the main features of the website is the comprehensive document library, which includes documents such as:

• Checklists & documents
• Company law
• Debt recovery
• Insurance
• Intellectual property
• Plus more

Legal Insurance

The Chamber Commercial Legal Expenses Insurance policy provides cover for a wide range of legal disputes that may affect members. The policy provides cover for the member’s business in matters including employment disputes, tax investigations and property disputes; and cover for the member’s employees in personal injury claims and motor disputes.

Areas of Cover

• Employment Disputes - Representation costs and awards of compensation incurred in defence of a dispute with an employee.
• Health & Safety Prosecutions - Costs in defending a health and safety criminal prosecution.
• Tax Protection - To deal with a HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) full enquiry.
• Criminal Prosecution Defence - To defend legal proceedings in a Court of criminal jurisdiction.
• Statutory License Protection - For an appeal or representation to the relevant authority.
• Jury Service Allowance - The cost of the insured’s salary or an employee’s salary for any period for which the insured or their employees are obliged to attend Court for jury service.
• Property Disputes - Any dispute or legal proceedings, including those relating to the physical possession of the property.
• Data Protection - To defend civil proceedings for compensation under Section 13 of the Data Protection Act 1998
• Personal Injury - Legal proceedings to recover damages for the death of or bodily injury sustained by a director or employee.
• Motor Disputes - The pursuit or defence of legal proceedings between an insured and a customer/supplier relating to the hire, purchase, lease, service, repair or test of a motor vehicle; or to recover damages for personal injury sustained by a director or employee in a road traffic accident.
• Wrongful Arrest Defence - To defend civil proceedings against the insured in relation to allegations of wrongful arrest or malicious prosecution.

Level of Cover

In the event of a claim, your case will be handled by Qdos Broker & Underwriting Services Ltd with the legal advice and representation being provided, in house, by Qdos Legal Services Ltd. You will be covered up to £100,000 (for any one claim) and £1,000,000 aggregate limit (all claims notified in any one period of insurance). Jury Service is subject to a maximum limit of £100 per day, £1,000 per claim.

There is Nil excess applicable to the policy.

Additional terms and conditions apply. A copy of the full policy wording and key facts document are available from the Chamber.

*unlimited access is subject to a fair use policy.

Unlimited access to health and safety business advice line, over 130 free downloadable health and safety documents and £1m of excess free insurance.

Health and Safety Advice Line

Unlimited access* to experienced health & safety specialist advisors, available during office hours.

The advice lines are here to help you… and not just if you have a serious problem or issue. They can help you with any questions that you may have, whether they be positive or negative. 

Health and Safety Website

Over 130 free downloadable health and safety documents.

One of the main features of the website is the comprehensive document library, which includes documents such as:

• Getting started in H&S
• Developing a H&S policy
• First aid and RIDDOR
• Risk assessments and audits
• Plus more

Health and Safety Insurance

Cover to help you defend health & safety prosecutions. Up to £100,000 per claim and £1,000,000 in the annual aggregate.

*unlimited access is subject to a fair use policy.

What our members say...

Unlimited access to experienced tax and VAT advisors and £1m of excess free insurance.

Tax and VAT Advice Line

Unlimited access* to experienced tax and VAT advisors. Available during office hours.

The advice lines are here to help you… and not just if you have a serious problem or issue. They can help you with any questions that you may have, whether they be positive or negative.

Tax and VAT Insurance

Cover to deal with a full HMRC enquiry, aspect enquiries, PAYE disputes and VAT disputes. Up to £100,000 per claim and £1,000,000 in the annual aggregate.

*unlimited access is subject to a fair use policy.

Access the Member Hub to download several useful documents containing further information. 

Do you pay technical staff to solve technical problems, perhaps developing new or improved processes, products or software?

If so, Sheffield Chamber can help you claim R&D tax credits from HMRC, which give tax savings for innovating. The savings are significant - usually equivalent to around a quarter of the amount you’ve actually spent.

Eligible companies can obtain tax relief on qualifying expenditure either by reducing taxable profits or creating (or increasing) tax losses which can be sacrificed to HMRC in return for a cash repayment.

The relief available is very generous and an SME incurring £100k of qualifying costs could save in the region of £25k in tax. Claims can go back two financial years, so first-time claimants can particularly benefit.

Projects qualifying for R&D relief include those seeking an appreciable improvement in science or technology.

So, if you are paying people to solve technical problems there may be scope to claim if you are:

• Modifying a manufacturing process
• Developing bespoke software
• Creating a new product or improving an existing one

If you think your company might be eligible to make a claim, Sheffield Chamber has partnered with Radius at Shorts Chartered Accountants.

The Radius team make the claims process simple. Their approach focusses on quickly and concisely assessing your potential eligibility before completing the process on your behalf. Radius employ an ex-HMRC Inspector to ensure that all claims are fully compliant before submission. This process is highly successful and has saved clients millions of pounds in tax savings across a wide spectrum of industries.

Shorts’ Radius team apply a simple three stage approach to prepare a robust claim that maximises the tax relief available:

1. Initial Discussion

30-60 minutes, either in person or over the phone to explore whether a claim is possible.

2. Technical Meeting

Radius will meet with you to identify qualifying projects and costs to include in the claim.

3. Produce Claim Documents

Radius will work with you to maximise the claim within the scope of the legislation. We produce the technical report and a summary of qualifying costs that is required to support a claim.

You review it and when you’re happy, we’ll submit the whole claim to HMRC for you.

You'll then receive your tax savings from HMRC - up to a quarter of the amount you've actually spent on innovating.

For more information contact your Account Manager or call 0114 201 8888.

Experian business experts gives you everything you need to determine the credit worthiness of your customers, prospects and suppliers – helping you improve your cash flow and minimise the risk of bad debt.

How a business credit report can help

• Check and monitor any UK companies & directors
• Reduce exposure to potential bad debt
• Qualify prospects and suppliers and set realistic credit limits
• Take action when faced with payment delays
• Check to see if your customers and suppliers have CCJs
• View detailed financial payment trends
• In-depth credit history
• View bankruptcy filings
• And much more

Through Chamber membership receive an exclusive discounted rate on all credit check reports - up to 50% off.

In addition, Experian are offering 10 x free credit check reports to any Sheffield Chamber members. This can enable you to check and monitor any UK companies and reduce exposure to potential bad debt.

Chamber Invest is service for businesses looking to scale and access a range of investment solutions to help them achieve their growth ambitions. Often it’s lack of funding that holds companies back, and the wrap-around support that can go with it.

Chamber Invest seeks to engage with local companies and help with the challenges of scaling by providing access to investment, business support and legal services.

Who is it for?

• Businesses looking to scale
• Businesses at pre-investment stage, wanting to plan for growth
• Businesses needing to become investor ready
• Businesses needing seed or growth investment
• Businesses looking to fund innovation
• Businesses looking for mentoring and Non-Exec support

The service provides access to angel investment through a 380-strong angel network and a number of co-investment partners. Companies are typically pitching for between £50k-£500k although larger amounts are available in conjunction with the co-investment partners. However, this is more than just investment. It’s about finding the right investor/mentor to help and support the business through its journey.

How is it delivered?

• Initial discussion to understand what the business needs
• A proposal as to the best way forward
• Prepare to pitch
• Go live on angel investment platform
• Business pitches to angel investors – these are held monthly
• A range of wrap-around support

Sheffield Chamber will also be running a number of free investor ready workshops, looking at the process and requirements of angel investment.

Sheffield Chamber have teamed up with BTG Advisory to offer a dedicated service to assist Chamber members with obtaining the right finance for their business

BTG Advisory are an independent voice and can help your businesses raise funds for a variety of purposes, such as working capital, expansion and capital equipment

This service is designed especially for Chamber Members to review their current financial situation, examine their future needs and assist them in obtaining the right finance for their business.

There are a variety of reasons why businesses look to raise finance. The funding may be required for businesses looking to grow, seeking to refinance, or requiring cash flow support. BTG Advisory are an independent voice and can assist businesses in the Sheffield City Region to raise funds for a variety of purposes, such as working capital, expansion and capital equipment.

The team has the banking and financial expertise to understand appropriate products and structures to support each situation. This expertise can also be utilised to provide additional support and guidance through the lending process. This includes, if required, forecasting, preparation of management accounts and access to a full range of professional support.

How It Works

• Initial free of charge meeting and assessment by our experienced team, who are extremely well connected across lenders and sector specialisms
• Product, structure and funders will be identified at this stage, with any work commencing subject to formal engagement
• Fee arrangement agreed
• Appropriate introduction and support through lending process

Invoice factoring and discounting offer an alternative to traditional bank lending. This may be a good option if you have a steady customer base, the majority of whom pay on time and in full. Although very similar in nature, the two types of invoice finance have one main difference that may make one more suitable for your business than the other.

By definition, invoice finance based on the total value of your sales ledger is a less risky form of finance than bank lending, which potentially involves providing a personal guarantee.

Invoice factoring for business: The main premise behind this type of funding is the introduction of a cash lump sum on a regular basis throughout the month, offering a dependable inflow of cash that stabilises business finances without great risk to the owner/directors. How much a factoring company is willing to lend will depend on the value of your sales ledger, and how reliable your debtors are in making payments.

Invoice discounting: This differs slightly from factoring in that control of the sales ledger remains in your hands - you continue to collect in customer payments and chase outstanding amounts. In this way, confidentiality is maintained as customers will be unaware that an invoice finance facility is in place, which as we said earlier, is important for some businesses. The system works largely in the same way as factoring – a percentage of each invoice is provided by the lender when the invoice is issued.

Which types of business might benefit from invoice funding?

The make-up of each individual company dictates whether invoice factoring or discounting is the most appropriate invoice finance choice, but the general theme that runs through this type of lending is its flexible nature and low risk for both lender and borrower.

Industries that could benefit from invoice factoring and discounting in general, include manufacturing, engineering, transport, and construction, although the advantages for any business with a relatively stable sales ledger are clear to see.

We have connections with a wide range of invoice finance lenders across the UK, and can put you in touch with the most appropriate for your business. So for those that have been refused commercial refused finance, call today to discuss your financial needs.

We can help you to buy the assets you need or release cash from assets you own – such as vehicles, plant and machinery – helping you keep more cash for your day-to-day business needs.

What is asset finance?

As the name suggests, asset finance is a funding option which sees the loans being secured against an asset owned by the borrower. As this is a type of secured borrowing, the interest rates and terms offered are often more competitive than those offered on unsecured loans. This is because in the event of the borrower defaulting on the repayments, the lender can seize the asset and use the proceeds generated from the sale to repay the outstanding amount.

Asset financing can be a great way for a company to obtain new equipment and machinery in an affordable way. Paying for a substantial asset up front can cause problems when it comes to their cash flow, while for other companies, paying outright is simply not possible. Asset finance allows you to spread the cost while also giving you full use of the item while you are paying for it.

Which types of businesses may benefit from asset finance?

As asset finance comes in many forms and can be used on items which are already owned and those which are to be purchased, this type of funding is suitable for almost any business regardless of their size. As with any lend, it will be dependant on affordability.

Asset finance gives your business access to the resources it needs to grow, while also offering a useful way of releasing the money you have already invested in machinery, vehicles, and other valuable goods.

Asset finance includes a huge variety of different providers and products, and the choice can sometimes be bewildering; you should therefore make it a priority to seek expert advice before going ahead. You need to ensure that you know exactly what you are signing up for and to be confident that this meets your needs both now, and in the future. The last thing you want to do is to take out asset finance only to find you no longer use the items, and in hindsight you would have been better opting for something with a shorter term or with the option to upgrade.

We have fostered close relationships with a wide range of asset finance providers, and we know exactly who to put you in touch with to secure the most appropriate funding option for you and your business.

Trade finance is a niche area of commercial funding aimed at importers, exporters and domestic traders.

Trade finance allows you to purchase goods and assists with cash flow. It pays your suppliers without you having to wait for payment from your customers.

Interest will be charged on the amount borrowed. Interest rates vary, and the one offered to you will depend on your individual circumstances; the greater the perceived risk of you defaulting on the loan, the higher the interest rate levied will be.

Whether you are looking to upgrade your current premises, open up in a new location, or release some capital from a property you already own, having access to a commercial mortgage could be integral to the growth of your company.

Essentially, a commercial mortgage is a loan secured on a property which is not your primary residential address. A commercial mortgage can be taken out on various types of property, including office buildings, industrial warehouses, or retail premises. Property is often a company’s biggest asset and can, therefore, be an ideal source of funding.

The premise of a commercial mortgage is the same as for a residential property, although interest rates are typically slightly higher. As well as interest on the loan, there will be further costs such as valuation fees, mortgage product fees, and also legal costs.

Commercial mortgages are offered by well-known high street lenders as well as those who specialise solely in commercial property loans, so it’s worth shopping around to ensure you get the best deal for you and your business.

Commercial mortgages come in a variety of types, depending on how the property being purchased will be used. The three main types are as follows:

Owner-occupied: These mortgages can be taken out if the property being purchased is to be used by the company buying it. This may be new premises the company will relocate to, or the company may be purchasing the premises it currently operates from.

Residential buy-to-let: This is for a property which is being purchased by a professional landlord or a buy-to-let limited company in order to be rented out to a residential tenant.

Commercial buy-to-let: If a property is being purchased to be let out to another business, then a commercial buy-to-let mortgage will be needed. While the premise of the loan is similar to a residential buy-to-let, finding tenants for commercial property is seen as more difficult and, therefore, the lender may see this as a greater risk, making obtaining a loan more difficult. You may be required to put down a large deposit and demonstrate that you will be able to maintain the monthly mortgage payments should your property not be tenanted at any point. If you already have a long-standing tenant in place, you find it significantly easier to obtain such a loan.

A bridging loan is a short-term funding option aimed at those who own land or property. As the name suggests, bridging loans are designed to ‘bridge’ the gap between your current circumstances and other funds becoming available, such as payment from a customer, or a more long-term loan agreement elsewhere.

A bridging loan is only suitable as a short-term funding option. Prior to taking a bridging loan you need to be sure that you have a guaranteed sum of money in the pipeline which can clear the loan in full. If you are in any doubt about your ability to do this, you should consider an alternative source of funding.

The loan can be taken on either an ‘open’ or ‘closed’ basis – this refers to the period of time the loan is set to run for. If the borrower has a set repayment date in place, then the loan will be taken on a closed basis. Closed bridging loans usually run for a couple of months, or even weeks in some cases. An open bridging loan is for borrowers who cannot commit to an exact repayment date.

Bridging loans are a secured form of borrowing, so you will need to have a high-value asset, typically land or property, in order to obtain this type of lending. The amount you can borrow will be determined by the value of the asset the loan is secured against. You will have to pay interest on the amount borrowed, and there will also be additional fees and charges imposed by the lender.

There are different types of bridging loans available, so you should ensure you choose one that best meets your requirements. Some require monthly payments to cover the interest – others do not ask for monthly payments, but instead the entire sum you borrowed, plus the interest and fees, to be repaid in one lump sum.

Development finance is aimed at property developers and landowners looking to obtain funding for new build properties or the redevelopment of an existing property, such as conversions and structural renovation projects.

This type of development is completed on a commercial basis and the completed property is generally not for owner occupation. Loans can be obtained for both the purchase of the land, and also for the cost of the build or renovation work itself.

Funding is typically provided on a drawdown basis, with additional monies released following completion of each stage of the building process. Valuations may need to be done prior to each drawdown to check on the progress of the build and to ensure the lender has adequate security for the loan.

Development finance is designed to be a short-term lending option while the build is being completed. The funds will be drawn down in stages as the phases of the development complete. And the lenders may require each stage to be remortgaged, or wait until the whole development is complete and sold, or it can be transferred to a different, long term, mortgage product.

An Introduction to Business Loans

When it comes to securing a business loan, your options are seemingly endless. Not only are there a wide variety of products out there, there are also a huge range of lenders offering these loans, from well-known high street banks, through to specialist independent lenders. However, the good news is that regardless of the size or financial position of your business, chances are there is a loan out there which meets your needs.

Your first step is to decide exactly what it is you are looking for. What may be suitable for a well-established company needing a large amount of money to fund an ambitious growth project, will be completely different to that required by a start-up looking for finance to purchase stock.

With that in mind, you should know how much money you will be looking to borrow, how much you can afford to repay on a monthly basis, and how long you will need the loan to run for. Once you are clear on these factors, you can start narrowing down the field.

The Different Types of Loans

• Secured loans – With a secured loan you put up collateral to underpin the borrowing. Essentially this means that should you default on your repayments; the lender can seize the asset you have put up as security, and use the proceeds of this to cover the balance of the loan. As the lender has this security, you may find it easier to obtain a loan and it is often the case that the interest rate offered is more competitive than you would be able to obtain on an unsecured loan where the risk to the lender is substantially greater. 
• Unsecured loans – With an unsecured loan, you borrow money and sign a contract promising to pay this back through a series of monthly instalments. Should you default on the loan, the lender is not able to sequester your property or assets as recompense for the missed payments. This adds a considerable element of risk to the lender. As already mentioned, the lender often chooses to level a higher rate of interest on the loaned amount as a result.
  Should the lender have genuine concerns that you may struggle to repay the money you have lent, perhaps due to previous bad credit or because your business is a new venture, they could ask you to sign a personal guarantee (PG) to reduce the risk on their side. See the section on PGs below for more information. 
• Short-term loans – It may be the case that you need to borrow money only for the short-term. it could be that you know you will be coming into an amount of money in the near future with which you will be able to pay off the loan, or perhaps you only need to obtain a relatively small amount of funding which you will easily be able to clear in a couple of years. If this is the case there are specialised loans out there designed exactly for this purpose. A short-term loan is usually defined as borrowing with a term of less than two years. 

Personal Guarantees (PGs)

When lending money, banks and other financial establishments, like to know that their money is safe and will therefore take all the precautions they can to ensure they will not be left out of pocket when lending money. This is why banks prefer secured loans, which give them a tangible asset that they can take control of and sell in the event of non-payment.

However, not every company has unencumbered property or assets that they can put up as collateral. In these instances a lender may ask you to sign what is known as a personal guarantee. In its simplest form, a PG is an agreement which states that should your business fail or be unable to repay the money it has borrowed, you as an individual will then be responsible for paying back this money from your own personal finances.

In the event of a limited company entering into insolvency proceedings, any debt owned by the company will be written off as part of the liquidation. However, if a personal guarantee has been signed for any of the debt, this limited liability does not apply and the loan still needs to be repaid.

Giving a personal guarantee is a huge step to take and you should consider the implications of this thoroughly before signing one. PGs can have disastrous consequences on your own personal financial situation should your business encounter difficulties; you should seek expert advice and guidance before committing.

Consider Your Lender

It may be the case that you are so focused on securing a loan that you don’t give much thought to the lender itself. After all, the money is the same no matter who lends it to you, right? While this may be true, taking the time to ensure you are approaching the right lender could save you considerable time and effort in the long-run.

Your first port of call may be a high street bank. A loan from a mainstream bank is typically the cheapest option due to the relatively low rates of interest they charge, however, depending on your business and its current financial situation you may find it difficult to be accepted. The application process is rigorous, and you should expect to be able to demonstrate solid financials backed up with a strong business plan for the future plus a lengthy and successful trading history. Obviously this is not going to be possible for every business, particularly those which are newly established. Luckily there are alternative providers out there.

Challenger banks are typically more lenient with their lending criteria, although the application process is still tough and the interest rates on offer may be higher than from high street lenders. Another option is to consider a specialist lender who may be able to accommodate your needs better. Depending on the industry you operate in, you may be able to find a lender who specialises in finance options to your sector. These providers will understand the challenges businesses in your industry face and will usually be more sympathetic when analysing your financials. The application process is much swifter with many specialist lenders now in the position to approve your loan and transfer the money within a matter of days.

Next Steps

With the array of loans on the market it is prudent to obtain expert advice before going ahead. BTG has many years of experience when it comes to commercial borrowing, and can help you understand your options and ensure you are making the right decision for you and your business.

As you are probably aware, employers are bound under the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 (Reg 7) to have an adequate number of 'competent persons', who will assist the employer to comply with obligations under all H&S legislation.

This regulation also requires the employer to make arrangements between competent persons to ensure adequate co-operation between them, to provide the facilities they need to carry out their functions, and specified health and safety information.

In the event that you do not have a competent person then we are able to provide you with a Health and Safety Advisor.

Over a minimum of a 12 month period Sheffield Chamber can provide:

• Named competent person
• Health and Safety Advisor Certificate
• Update existing health and safety policy
• E-mail facility for H&S questions
• Telephone helpline
• Two health and safety audits with a full report prepared on each occasion in the 12 month contract period
• Access to additional free chamber health and safety services and documents
• Assistance with sourcing training courses highlighted by the recommendations from the HSAS audit
• Discounted rates on all training from Sheffield Chamber for HSAS contract holders
• Emergency assistance to include onsite visit/s is required (limitations apply)

The new fire safety legislation “The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005” came into force on 1st October 2006. The purpose of the legislation is to rationalise the existing regulations to provide a fully risk-based approach to how organisations discharge their responsibilities for fire safety. The main change as far as the majority of organisations are concerned is that a Fire Certificate is no longer required. The system will now be risk based and be the responsibility of the nominated “responsible person”.

Sheffield Chamber has the competency within its commercial health and safety advisory service to give your company peace of mind that you are covering all aspects of the legislation.

The Members Directory is an easy-to-navigate database for Chamber members to identify fellow members for collaborative business opportunities. It features the ability to privately message other businesses you wish to connect and do business with. You can also see what upcoming events other fellow members are attending, in case you would like to organise a face-to-face meeting.

Each member of Sheffield Chamber has its own dedicated profile. Here you can upload your company logo, contact details and business description, including products and services. This acts as a great tool to showcase who you are and what you do to the other businesses within membership.

Digital and Print Directory

A listing of your company will be included in the City Region Business Directory. This is sent to every member on an annual basis.

Members may also request a copy of our membership database which includes a primary contact name, telephone number, company description and address.

This database is invaluable if you are a business looking to expand your profile in the city.

With all levels of membership comes access to a suite of bespoke services. Via the Member Hub you can see what services are available to you, and most importantly, how to access them.

Whether you need the number for our dedicated HR advice line or a discount code for AA breakdown, all information can be accessed via the hub.

Each member of the Chamber has its own dedicated profile, containing information bespoke to them and their level of membership. You can login to the hub to see what level of membership you are on and the services available to you, how long until your renewal date and who your dedicated Account Manager is (you can even message them directly).

You also have the ability to tailor your bespoke information feed to your personal interests and requirements. Not interested in attending black tie dinners or news about manufacturing? Not a problem, you can customise your content to only show through the information you want to receive. This also goes for your email preferences; via the hub you have the ability to choose what information you would like to receive.

Principle users also have the ability to add more users to your account (who can also set up their own tailored content). For example, this is perfect if you have a dedicated member of staff who manages your business news or a member of staff who attends events. Via the hub, you can set up an additional accounts for staff members who manage different areas of your business.

As a membership organisation representing and working with 1,000 businesses, we have an extremely active website, regularly visited by thousands of business people in and outside the region on a monthly basis.

Subject to your membership level, you can upload your own event, news, offer or opportunity to the Sheffield Chamber website and utilise our digital reach for your own gain. This can all be done online, via the Member Hub.

One of our most popular benefits of membership is access to discounted training and events. When you are logged into the Member Hub, those discounts are automatically applied to the level of membership you are signed into. Simply login and purchase your ticket.

The Member Hub will record your future (and past) bookings and give you the ability to add them to your calendar.

Events and Networking: What our members say...

Our Chamber Hubs are a voice for and of the members and assist in lobbying activity. By joining your will gain the opportunity to debate issues of interest and collaborate with other relevant organisations. Request to join one of our hubs via the Member Hub.

Find new business leads quickly and simply with B2B Prospector. Powered by Experian’s National Business Database, you can build and download targeted business data lists immediately, tailored to your needs and budget.

B2B Prospector will show you who your best business prospects are and help you optimise your marketing spend with a range of bespoke services. Don’t worry if you can’t see exactly what you’re looking for, Experian’s dedicated sales team are on hand and will be happy to help.

B2B Data Lists

• Safe-to-contact
• Filter to find the right leads
• Easily suppress previous orders

Data Validator

• Check the marketing data you have licensed from Experian is still valid to use

Data Enhancement

• Free match and data analysis report
• Enhance your data with variables from the National Business Database
• Check that your data is compliant by identifying telephone numbers on TPS (Telephone Preference Service)
• Free insight into your data and where you should focus your effort

Sheffield Chamber members can receive 30% off UK marketing data lists, with no minimum spend.

According to WYZOWL’s 2020 Report, 87% of video marketeers say video has increased traffic to their website, 80% say that video has directly help increase sales and 95% plan to increase video spend.

Video and Virtual Tours are a highly effective form of content and its popularity has gone hand-in-hand with the rise of social media.

Despite the fact that so many of us consume online videos on a daily basis, many businesses still aren’t using video as part of their digital marketing strategy or aren’t seeing the best results.

We can help with this.

Hallam FM have experience in a large range of video types, including:

• Corporate/Brand – Communicate your brand messaging to educate potential and existing customers.
• Virtual Tours – Immersive 3D walk throughs of your store, venue or property.
• Product – promote the key features of your product to ease decision making and promote sales.
• Explainer – If your product or processes are complicated to explain, a simple tutorial video can add clarity and reduce purchaser concerns.
• Testimonial – share your successes and strong relationships.
• Animation – a simple way to convey intricate service messages.

Within their video packages they will include a 30 second version of your video, for you to promote on your social media platforms.

Also, they can promote your video on YouTube and Social Media platforms, ask us about video amplification.

Sheffield Chamber have teamed up with Hallam FM and Bauer Create to offer an exclusive video production service for Chamber members.

From SME’s to larger brands, Hallam FM have the skills, equipment and passion to showcase your business in an engaging way for your clients. They will work with you to create, develop and deliver your video strategies.

Exclusive and discounted rates are available for Sheffield Chamber members, starting from just £1,000+VAT*

Check out what they can do:

*all rates are subject to your video requirements.

In an ideal world, we’d all be ‘well beings’. Unfortunately, the pressures of work and life mean we’re not always able to achieve this. In the real world, it’s often difficult to determine who is a well being and who isn’t. Someone may look like they’re coping really well, but the reality could be far different.

That’s why Westfield Health have extended their offering from health cash plans and surgery choices to provide a more holistic approach, taking care of employees in both body and mind.

Exclusively available to BCC accredited and affiliated member organisations of all sizes, the Chamber Primary Health Plan starts from just £6.13 per employee, per month and allows staff to claim money back, up to set limits, for things like sight tests and glasses, dental bills, therapy treatments and consultations. The plan also provides access to health and wellbeing services including:

• DoctorLine™ service providing policyholders with confidential telephone access to a practising UK GP or clinical pharmacist, 24 hours a day – every day, from anywhere in the world, with optional webcam consultations
• Best Doctors® - expert second medical opinion service
• Scanning Service - MRI, CT and PET scans
• 24hr Advice and Information Line and up to 6 structured counselling sessions

You can view the full benefit table and pricing here.

Surgery Choices makes private surgery and medical treatment more affordable and accessible so staff can be treated quicker and back in the workplace sooner. Employees will have access to prompt private medical treatment for a whole range of conditions (excluding heart and cancer). With immediate cover for new conditions and fast access to fixed price private treatment packages, cover starts from just £5.83 per employee, per month. There’s one price for all (prices aren’t age related) and premiums won’t increase with claims.

Choose between two ready-made annual wellbeing engagement programmes depending on whether you prefer an online or an offline solution. Both provide targeted promotions to engage your staff in improving their health and wellbeing. Your Chamber membership gives you access to a 25% discount on the standard pricing for the Health Calendar or The Wellbeing Plan online resource centre and prices start from just £412.50 + VAT for businesses with up to 10 employees.

Health Calendar

• With 24 topics to choose from, you choose the 12 topics that best meet the needs of your organisation for your annual health calendar
• Each month you’ll receive a communication pack which includes campaign announcement text and weekly promotional top-tip messages to keep the campaign alive – all you have to do is send out the communications
• Your monthly communication pack will include three fact sheets, a poster and a support leaflet signposting your people to national support agencies associated with the topic

The Wellbeing Plan Online Resource Centre

• Select your programme from the 16 topics available. Each has a video, podcast, factsheets and personal training plan
• Each month we’ll send you text to announce the topic of the month, along with weekly top-tip messages to keep the campaign alive and drive engagement with the website
• You’ll have access to a real-time dashboard providing engagement statistics
• You can use the website as a resource to support the delivery of your other
• health and wellbeing initiatives throughout the year
• Employees have unlimited access to the website, accessible from work or home

• Health and lifestyle screening days
• Wellbeing Workshops
• Dial up seminars (webinars)
• Lifestyle coaching days
• Mental Health First Aid Training Courses….and more.

Running a company with vehicles at its heart means that staying still isn’t an option. The AA’s business breakdown cover will make sure your drivers get back on the road quickly – and with minimum disruption – if the worst happens. All you need to do is choose the right level of cover for you.

Which vehicles can be covered?

Whether you just have a single vehicle or run a whole fleet, the AA can cover your cars, vans, trucks and more – as long as they’re 3.5 tonnes or under. If you’re not sure if your vehicle would be eligible, you can call the AA on 0800 55 11 88 to check.

What does cover include?

You can choose from the following options for your company’s vehicles:

Up to 67% off business breakdown cover for CHAMBER MEMBERS†

Cover from just £48.13 per vehicle, no matter how small your fleet! To access this service, please login to the member hub. 

Professional Energy Purchasing is a local independent Energy Management specialist with over 30 years’ experience in the energy market. They work with all major utility companies in the UK to provide competitive gas, electricity and water prices.

Through this dedicated service, you can receive access to independent energy audits to identify potential savings, helping you to reduce energy and plan for Net Zero climate targets.

What's included?

• Efficiency assessments of operational activity, building optimisation and uses of energy.
• Detailed reporting providing energy reduction proposals, renewable energy supply options, better building optimisation, behavioural change advice, investment costs and ROI payback periods.
• Sourcing and project support for the implementation of renewable energy supply.
• Green energy procurement and energy funding advice.

To access your free initial member consultation, or for more information, please log into the member hub.

Did you know businesses waste on average 20% of the energy they use? This free 10 point guide will help you reduce energy and move towards a net-zero future.

What's included:

• Review of any existing contracts and provision of new options based on market prices and individual business requirements.
• Management of gas and electricity installation, downgrading, relocation, or disconnections.

To access your free initial member consultation, or for more information, please log in to the member hub. 

Fitness Unlimited’s award winning membership provides unlimited access to a wide range of facilities at 7 venues across Sheffield including:

• 7 gyms kitted out with top of the range CV, resistance, free weights and functional training equipment
• 6 unique swimming pools offering lane swimming, general swim, leisure swimming sessions and aqua based fitness classes
• Over 500 fitness classes to choose from each week
• Indoor athletics track used by Olympic athletes
• Health suites including saunas, spas & relaxation areas

Fitness Unlimited is far more than just a gym, it is part of SIV and with a Fitness Unlimited membership you will also enjoy:

• 25% off leisure activities including golf, court hire, ice skating and Altitude High Ropes Adventure at iceSheffield
• 15% off food and drink at all foodetc. cafes in venues

And if that’s not enough for you to hit the ground running, or swimming, or spinning…Chamber of Commerce members receive Fitness Unlimited Corporate discount too! You can choose from two membership options:

• Corporate Tier 2 Access all sites 12-month Direct Debit Membership – £30.40 per month
• Corporate Tier 2 Access all sites 12-month Annual Payment – £330.00 (further 10% discount)

All members automatically get the benefit of the Sheffield LifeCard attached to their account. Sheffield lifeCARD gives significant savings on sport and leisure activities across SIV venues as well as access to some fantastic offers with business partners.

Benefit from and access exclusive discounts and offers submitted by Chamber members.

Whether it be discounted tickets to an event or free support sessions, there is a dedicated offers area in our Member Hub that enables you to access, offer and promote exclusive content to our member community.

Whether it is a job opportunity, a business need or a request for services, use our dedicated member opportunities area on the Chamber website to specifically request information from other businesses within membership.

Sheffield Chamber has partnered with UnLTD Business Magazine to offer members an exclusive magazine advertising service.  

What is unLTD Business Magazine? 

unLTD is a vibrant platform for the modern Sheffield City Region business community. At its heart is a monthly magazine distributed to 5,000 organisations and individuals across the region, underpinned and enhanced by a website updated daily and three social media channels. The content is modern, relevant and focused on the issues that matter to business in the 21st Century. 

Sheffield Chamber Membership Offer 

Patron Members  

• 2 x half page adverts, plus 1 x full page advert included free in membership. Renewed on an annual basis. 
• Receive up to 40% discount for any additional bookings. 

Premium Partner Members  

• 2 x half page adverts included free in membership. Renewed on an annual basis. 
• Receive up to 40% discount for any additional bookings. 

Growth Members 

• One off exclusive rate of £99+VAT for 1 x half page advert or 175+VAT for 1 x full page advert. Available once per annum. Renewed on an annual basis. 
• Receive up to 40% discount for any additional bookings. 

Essential and Charity Members  

• Receive up to 25% discount on any magazine advertising.  

For more information, contact your Sheffield Chamber Account Manager. Alternatively, email membership@scci.org.uk or call 0114 201 8888. Terms and conditions apply, please log into the member hub for more information.

For information on technical specifications and standard magazine advertising rates, click here.  

Chamber members have the opportunity to feature their events on our website. This acts as distribution channel for your business to showcase and promote your events and increase subscription rates.

Updated on a daily basis, the news section of the Chambers website showcases the latest goings on in the business community, both in and outside the region.

Sheffield Chamber members have the ability to upload their own business news, giving you an additional avenue to shout about your business activity and success.

The accurate completion of export documentation is vital if charges and delays are to be avoided and shipments are to meet their deadlines. We are authorised to supply export documentation and certify shipments and can help your business through the entire process, from choosing the right documentation to ensuring it is correctly completed.

We act as an issuing body and are authorised by:

• HM government, for the issue of all non-preference UK Certificates of Origin
• HMRC, for preference documents such as UK EUR1’s.
• The Arab-British Chamber of Commerce, to act as agents for the issuing of Arab British Certificates of Origin to the Arab League Nations
• Legalising and Notarising all other Embassy documentation
• Certifying of invoices and other documents requested by customs/customers

UK Certificates of Origin

Exporters are often asked to supply a Certificate of Origin for a variety of reasons; to certify the origin of goods, to support a Letter of Credit, or to satisfy overseas Customs procedures.

Arab-British Certificates of Origin

A customs clearance requirement to evidence the origin of the goods for Arab League States and may also be requested by the importing company.

UK EUR1 Movement Certificate

An UK EUR1 support claims for preferential (usually zero) rates of duty in the country of implementation. To qualify, the goods must ‘originate’ in the UK or EU. The preference system only applies to countries where certain trade agreements exist with the UK.

We can also authenticate signatures on other documents and are able to make arrangements for legal documents to be apostilled or signed by a notary public.

We provide a while-you-wait service on Monday-Friday, 9.00am-11.30am and 2.00pm-4.00pm*.

Chamber members receive up to 50% discount on our trade documentation service.

For more information please contact our team on 0114 201 8888 or email international@scci.org.uk.

* please note an additional reception fee is applicable between 2.00pm-4.00pm

Useful Downloads 

Standard Rules to be Observed by Applicants

Arab Letter of Indemnity

Egyptian Letter of Indemnity

EUR1 Agent Letter of Authorisation

Formal Undertaking for Paper and Electronic Application

E-Z CERT DELEGATED AUTHORITY FORM

eCERT is a service offering which enables exporters to obtain certain certificates online. It can be used to obtain United Kingdom and Arab British Certificates of Origin, and UK EUR1s.

eCERT is also used to certify other commercial documents such as commercial invoices and packing lists and is approved by the British Chambers of Commerce as being compliant with regulations and data security requirements.

Why Use eCERT?

• No need to leave your office, saving valuable time
• Cost effective
• More accurate completion
• No postage charges
• Professional presentation every time
• Fast service
• No retyping of data for similar content

Our Export Office Hub provides a full documentation service. This enables us to manage the full trade facilitation process for you, from placement of order to payment, covering all customs procedures, declarations, freight, logistics and documentation, including letter of credit management (if required).

Register online at www.ecert.sgs.com to apply for documents electronically.

If you require any assistance during the setting up process please contact our team on 0114 201 8888 or email international@scci.org.uk.

During the compliance audit we will get a thorough understanding of your business.

• We can advise you on the specific areas you need to consider to reduce the effect both to your business and that of your customers in Europe.
• Explain the implications of customs procedures and we can calculate the cost to your balance sheet on a month by month and annual basis. We will go through the list of actions that can be introduced to mitigate compliance risk and cost.
• Help you apply for customs systems and approvals to ensure you are using the most efficient practises that are available to limit cost and exposure.
• Discuss the management of the change, your compliance responsibilities and the consequences of ill preparation.

If your business requires an ‘are you prepared’ compliance audit, please get in touch, call 0114 201 8888, or email international@scci.org.uk.

We can complete trade documentation on your company’s behalf, and liaise with any 3rd party, such as freight forwarders, to ensure your goods are delivered.

Sheffield Chamber fully appreciate that some businesses do not always have the time, expertise or confidence to manage their own export processes. We can do this for you, leaving you to focus on making your products and running your business.

Our Export Office Hub service is a specially designed facility that houses a dedicated team of international trade professionals, who are experts in all areas of export/import administration. We can complete trade documentation on your company’s behalf, and liaise with any 3rd party, such as freight forwarders, to ensure your goods are delivered.

All documents, which are prepared with absolute confidence, accuracy and efficiency, can be completed via email, telephone and post, saving you precious time and money.

This service includes:

Including, but not limited to, UK Certificate of Origin, Arab Certificate of Origin, UK EUR1, Commercial Invoice, Packing List, Inspection Report, Bill of Exchange, Dangerous Goods Notes and Standard Shipping Notes.

For more information please contact our team on 0114 201 8888 or email international@scci.org.uk.

A Letter of Credit is a guarantee from a bank that the seller will receive payment from a buyer and can save you time, reduce risk and accelerate payments.

We offer three tiers of service:

Tier 1 - Feasibility Check

It is not uncommon for Issuing Banks to raise non-feasible Letters of Credit. On receipt of the LC, simply email the Letter of Credit to us and we will check it to ensure the conditions can be met by your company, which supporting documents (plus how many copies) are required, how they must be worded to meet LC conditions and make aware of any time limited rules.

• Members price per check: £60+VAT
• Non-member price per check: £120+VAT

Tier 2 – Pre-presentation Check

Prepare and collate all your documentation as per the LC ready for presentation to the bank. We will check through all documentation to ensure everything is in line with the LC and highlight any possible discrepancies/anomalies.

Price to be confirmed subject to number of documents to check.

Tier 3 – Full Management

Sheffield Chamber will deal with your Letter of Credit from the outset. Including liaising with your freight forwarder to make sure the transport documents are correctly prepared, together with any other 3rd party (such as issuing banks and port authorities), as well as generating the remaining documents and presenting them to the bank on your behalf. Should the bank have any queries, we will address them for you.

For more information please contact our team on 0114 201 8888 or email international@scci.org.uk.

Licences are needed for import and export where the ECO (Export Control Organisation) indicates a need for control.

We offer two tiers of service:

Tier 1 – Pre-submission Check

After you have prepared your licence application as per ECO regulations, we will conduct an independent assessment of it prior to the submission to the ECO. We will then arrange to visit you at your premises to go through your application, cross referencing with the end-user undertaking (EUU) form, sales order detail and any other relevant supporting documentation. Here you will be advised of any areas of concern with your application prior to submitting to the ECO.

Tier 2 – Full Management

Sheffield Chamber will support your business through the entire process of successfully achieving your licence. We will check it to ensure its conditions can be met, liaise with your Freight Forwarder to make sure the transport documents are correctly prepared, together with any other third party. We will fulfil the export licence criteria, gathering all the supporting documentation for you and we will tie in other parameters such as Letters of Credit and Certificates of Origin.

Occasionally good are seized by UK border control, invariably this is because they require an export licence. In these cases we can assist with the release of goods.

For further information on Import/Export Licences, please call 0114 201 8888 or email international@scci.org.uk.

Are you importing, exporting, paying for a service abroad or receiving international funding?

Sheffield Chamber have joined forces with leading specialists moneycorp, to offer a dedicated foreign exchange service that provides peace of mind to know your FX needs are in the hands of experts.

Through this partnership, you can access:

• Preferential exchange rates
• Zero international payment fees*
• Free FX audit
• Multiple currency holding accounts when you open your moneycorp account
• A dedicated account manager for expert market guidance and hedging strategy

Sign up for a corporate FX account today

moneycorp have helped more than 14,000 businesses with international payments, risk management solutions and tools to help businesses compete on the global stage. They will ensure your funds get where they need to be on time and help minimise your currency costs.

Sign up for a corporate international payments account today and discover how your business could reduce currency costs and risk in a global marketplace.

Click here to access

Alternatively, call us on 0114 201 8888 or email international@scci.org.uk for more information.

*certain limits may apply

Although currently not mandatory, businesses accredited with an AEO status, have a commercial advantage when importing and exporting. Those holding the status benefit from streamlined customs processes and fast-tracked shipments through border control. Indirectly, the status strengthens the business’s reputation as a safe and secure trading partner, giving them a competitive advantage.

Due to the changing face of international trade and World Customs Organisation (WCO) objectives, the requirement for businesses to hold an AEO status may significantly increase, as those holding it will, by default, receive priority clearance. Those not accredited will be subject to detrimental impacts on their customs related activity, both operationally and financially.

The benefits of AEO

• Reduced administration
• Movement of goods
• Improved security & safety
• Improved supply chain predictability and consistency
• Simplified Customs declarations and EIDR (Entry in Declarant’s Records)
• Transit simplifications
• Priority treatment of consignments if selected for control
• The option of a centralised clearance self-assessment
• Easier admittance to special procedures such as CSFP (Customs Freight Simplified Procedures), temporary storage and customs warehousing
• Duty deferment guarantee reduction and SIVA (Simplified Import VAT Accounting)
• Guarantee reductions or waivers
• Removal of previous sales provisions relating to valuations

How we can help

Successfully achieving an AEO status for a business can be a time consuming, challenging and daunting exercise. As the only Chamber of Commerce to be AEO accredited, we can help your business through every step of the process, from preparing and assessing if your business is ready to submit a formal application, to successfully achieving and maintaining the status.

We offer two tiers of service:

Working with your finance and operations departments, and any staff involved in international trade administration we will conduct a full audit and risk assessment of your current international operations and customs procedures against the required standard. You will be provided with a detailed corrections report of the actions your business needs to take, and any enhancements and changes that need to be made to achieve a successful application for AEO status.

Subject to the complexity of your company’s structure and the number of sites to cover, this process typically takes two days. At this stage, subject to our recommendations, if required we can continue to full AEO approval (see tier 2).

For more information on any aspect of AEO, please contact our team on 0114 201 8888 or email international@scci.org.uk.

This level includes working with your business through the entire compliance and application process for AEO status.

In this case your business will achieve the level of compliance required to become accredited with Approved Exporter Status (AES) and Authorised Economic Operator (AEO). Your business will also meet the standard for ISO 28000 approval.

The first stage of this tier will involve conducting an initial control assessment of your business against the required standard (see tier 1). We will then support your business in implementing any new procedures required and ensure that your documentation for ongoing WCO is upheld.

As part of the application process HMRC will visit your business to conduct its own audit, evaluating your finances, shipping procedures, site security and customs compliance. As such we will conduct a trial application prior to submitting your application, to ensure nothing is amiss.

Finally, we will assist you in completing every section of the final application and be present through the HRMC audit.

For more information on any aspect of AEO, please contact our team on 0114 201 8888 or email international@scci.org.uk.

ChamberCustoms delivers a customs declaration service for UK importers and exporters, of all sizes, in every region of the United Kingdom.

With our extensive knowledge, reputation and first-class service in facilitating international trade, we can take the hassle out of your hands when it comes to exporting and importing goods.

The service is offered direct to businesses and through UK freight forwarders, ensuring that customs clearance is accurate, timely and avoids additional costs through delays or errors.

With direct links to the HMRC Customs handling system and all inventory linked ports, we can ensure that your goods, no matter where they enter or leave the UK, will be cleared for onward transportation smoothly. We can help you keep your time sensitive supply chains, moving efficiently and economically.

We offer:

• A high level of compliance and assurance for customers - We are an AEO registered compliance based business
• Confidence on tariff and data entry to remove fiscal risk; backed by the technical expertise of the market leader in this sector
• The Chamber of Commerce network across the UK share a wealth of international trade experience and knowledge 

We know that navigating trade documentation can be complicated. Please get in touch if you have any queries about trading internationally or want to find out more about customs declarations services.

For more information please contact the Sheffield International Trade Centre on 0114 201 8888 or email international@scci.org.uk.

What our members say...

Driven by World Trade Organisation (WTO) and World Customs Organisation (WCO) rules, customs and excise legislation is subject to significant and frequent change and complexity. An internationally trading business must keep up to date with these changes and routinely audit its procedures to ensure compliance.

Sheffield Chamber can support businesses on all technical customs matters and changes as they happen. To avoid any adverse impacts to your business operations in the event of compliance failure, we can assist you to implement procedures to control and manage areas of customs compliance and look at best practice procedures to reduce operating costs.

Whatever the question, query or issue you have, Sheffield Chamber can provide a highly experienced professional industry expert, that will be able to identify and support the implementation of any necessary changes required.

We offer expert consultancy and advice in the following areas:

• Customs Compliance
• Customs Planning and Management
• Customs and Excise Duties
• Excise Planning and Management
• VAT
• Import and Export Customs Procedures
• Customs Duty Reliefs
• Rules of Origin
• Electronic Declaration Procedures
• Simplified Customs Procedures
• Training in Customs and Excise and Import / Export Procedures
• European and North American Customs Issues
• Import and Export Licencing Applications

If required we can also offer in-house tailored audits for your company in customs/VAT procedural compliance, logistics, documentary and procedure compliance.

For more information on any aspect of Customs and Excise, please contact our team on 0114 201 8888 or email international@scci.org.uk.

Our Global Business Network acts as an agile and reliable ecosystem for businesses wishing to widen their international horizons. If you want to start doing business internationally, or looking to explore new markets, this service can assist by connecting you with individuals, organisations and stakeholders in 80 major growth markets across the world.

Sheffield Chambers dedicated team can provide you with support services and solutions, practical advice about the local business environment and potential market opportunities. Whether it’s navigating the legal challenges in a new market, finding a local partner or getting frank advice on how to best position a product or service overseas – our Global Business Network can help.

For more information, please contact our team on 0114 201 8888 or email international@scci.org.uk.

Whether you are looking to set up card payments for the first time or would like to review your existing set up to ensure that you are getting the best rates, service and settlement times, the Gala Technology team will provide simple and straight-talking advice for free.

Areas of expertise include:

• Taking Card Payments - How does it all work?
• Face to Face – Chip and Pin Machines
• Telephone Payments – Virtual Terminal or Pay By Link
• E-Commerce Payment Gateway – For website transactions
• Open Banking - The future of payments
• PCI DSS Compliance Support - Cutting through the jargon
• Understanding the risks of Fraud and Chargebacks

For more information or to book your Free Payments Review, contact your Sheffield Chamber Account Manager, email membership@scci.org.uk or call 0114 201 8888.