Belfast Chamber and Belfast Met launch ‘Let’s Do Business’ webinars

Adapting Customer Service during the Covid Crisis, Going Digital and Personalising the Customer Experience Online will make-up the first three sessions in the six-part series.

Apprenticeships will also be discussed over two seminars, including the ‘Help Us, Help You understand what ‘The DfE stimulus package could mean for your business’ and ‘Now is the Time to Invest’ sessions. The final week will discuss The Importance of Social Inclusion Projects During Covid-19.

Kickstarting on Tuesday, November 17 and running through to 16th February 2021, the online programme will be led by lecturers from Belfast Met and will be accessible to both Belfast Chamber members and non-members.

Speaking about the initiative which aims to give local businesses the skills to help through the current crisis, Simon Hamilton, Chief Executive at Belfast Chamber said: “Today marks the start of a positive partnership between Belfast Chamber and Belfast Met, which is aimed at giving businesses extra skills to work through what is a very challenging trading environment.

“Belfast Met and their brilliant staff will seek to help business owners, managers and staff find ways to improve their offering, brush up on their digital skills and strengthen their team using apprentices.

Simon concluded: “We encourage all businesses to register their interest as soon as possible and work with Belfast Chamber and Belfast Met to help them to grow.”

Siobhan Lyons Head of Economic Development at Belfast Met praised the partnership especially during such a ‘turbulent trading environment’.

She continued: “We are absolutely delighted to partner with Belfast Chamber to help businesses who are facing the most turbulent trading environment in recent history.

“Our range of topics will seek to address some of the current issues they are facing and give them implementable solutions.

“We can help to sign-post any business that is struggling with issues such as online presence, customer service issues and to advise them on the many merits of using apprentices.”

Highlighting the importance of apprenticeships and their benefits to the local economy, Aidan Sloane Head of Skills & Apprenticeships at Belfast Met continued: “Apprenticeships offer so many benefits to both the employer and the employee.

“It is such a rewarding partnership and an excellent way to strengthen and grow your team, motivate your staff to up-skill, increase productivity and improve competitiveness.

“Belfast Met’s Centre for Skills and Apprenticeships provides a tailored responsive approach for employers, identifying and responding to individual employer needs.

“We support our employer partners across a range of industries to support economic recovery and development, and to ensure we maintain and grow the supply of apprenticeship opportunities in Northern Ireland.

Urging all local business to take part in the event, Aidan concluded: “We look forward to helping business owners and to advise on the many merits of apprenticeships and also to support with next steps to engage with apprenticeships in partnership with our dedicated employer engagement team.”

Belfast Chamber represents over 500 members from a full range of commercial enterprises from retailers to hoteliers, solicitors to estate agents, property developers to media, tech companies to transport providers and aims to deal with a wide range of issues affecting trade and commerce in Belfast.

For more information visit www.belfastchamber.com to sign up to the Lets do Business Seminar Series.

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