Chamber helps to guide firms through troubled waters...

Businesses in Oldham are undergoing mixed fortunes at the moment. For many, operations are continuing as normal, some are just about managing to stay afloat, then there are those who are struggling to keep their heads above the water.

The decision of the coalition Government to halt the Building Schools for the Future programme has been a worrying time for many in the construction industry.

Now, as a result of the go-ahead for the academies project in Oldham, the Chamber’s construction sector event for companies in Oldham has been postponed until we have a clearer picture.

We are hoping to re-arrange the event next month and provide a full update for those involved in the industry, plus offer some advice on how to move forward.

The next quarterly economic survey will be launched by the Chamber on August 18 and it is a good way of measuring how businesses in the area are coping.

The theme for this quarter is the coalition Government, so to register your views on how your business has been affected by the change visit: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/qes  

The survey closes on September 15 and the views of the respondents will be used to shape our lobbying focus over the next few months, so they really do count.

Results from the last quarter showed that 52.9 per cent of businesses in the manufacturing and construction sectors in the borough believed that turnover in the next 12 months was likely to improve.

When asked about their workforce, 75 per cent of businesses expected numbers of employees to remain constant over the next three months and almost 80 per cent of respondents believe the price of their goods/services will remain the same.

A mixed but useful snapshot of how businesses in Oldham are coping.

The town’s infrastructure continues to be one of the key topics for discussion in the borough and we will be joined at the Chamber’s next networking event by a team from GMPTE who will be talking about the Metrolink extensions.

The event will take place at the Talking Point in Scouthead on Wednesday, September 22 from noon and will give attendees the opportunity to put their questions to Metrolink’s representatives.

If you would like to contribute, please e-mail our local policy manager michelle.geoghegan@gmchamber.co.uk

Visit: www.gmchamber.co.uk/events to book your place. Meanwhile, tickets are now on sale for the Chamber’s Oldham gala dinner sponsored by Web Applications UK at Clough Manor, Denshaw, on Friday October 15.

There are still places left, so visit www.gmchamber.co.uk/events for more information and to book your place.

If there are any members within the Oldham borough who are finding that their business operations are being impacted by issues, feel free to contact me at paul.roberts@arundelconsulting.com