Northamptonshire Chamber of Commerce launched its new exclusive Business Alliance Group today at a lunchtime event attended by Phil Hope MP, Minister for the East Midlands and the Third Sector. The event, at the Chamber offices in Moulton Park, started with a light buffet, giving members of the Business Alliance Group and the Chamber board time to network.

There were welcome speeches from Paul Griffiths, Chief Executive of Northamptonshire Chamber, and the Chamber President, Richard Arnold. Phil Hope then gave a keynote speech and participated in a Q&A session with members of the Business Alliance Group. The members were pleased to get the chance to ask the MP questions that were relevant to them and their businesses.

The inaugural members of the Business Alliance Group were then presented with engraved Waterman pens as a memento of the occasion. At the event, Phil Hope MP said: “As MP for Corby I am keen to support the development and growth of businesses in Northamptonshire. I hope that the new Northamptonshire Chamber Business Alliance Group will play a positive role in shaping the future of business in the county to create more secure and higher value employment opportunities, promote corporate social responsibility and be an effective voice in the county.”

Paul Griffiths added: “It is great news that we have now officially launched the Business Alliance Group which we believe will go from strength to strength over the coming year.

“The Group is designed to be a powerful recognition for an exclusive, influential group of companies, and brings together large and well-established businesses from within the county who receive exclusive benefits via their membership of the group.

“The shared objectives of the group encompass top level senior networking, helping to shape the future of business in Northamptonshire, more effective engagement with the broader business community, corporate social responsibility, influencing policy on key business issues in the county via the Chamber’s lobbying and representation activities, increased profile for group members and forging stronger links with the Chamber, the largest and most influential business networking organisation in the county.”

The Business Alliance Group membership includes the following influential and leading businesses in the county; Barclaycard, Corus Tubes, Carlsberg UK, acs office solutions, Moore Stephens, Howes Percival, Northampton College, Macmillan Cancer Support and the University of Northampton.