WHO WE ARE

We are a group of local business owners who volunteer to support businesses in Shaftesbury and the surrounding area.  We are predominantly made up of retail shop owners, but also accountants, a surveyor, lawyers, event organisers, designers ….we have a variety of skills and backgrounds!

As Shaftesbury’s Chamber of Commerce, which is a formal way of saying Shaftesbury’s Business Community, we are associated with Dorset Chamber of Commerce with all their services and networking opportunities.

WHAT WE DO

We support local business by:

  • lobbying our county council and town council on matters that affect business in the town.
  • we do joint initiatives with the Town Council to support the local economy
  • we organise three seasonal Sunday markets a year
  • we organise a Christmas Late Night Shopping event and the Christmas Market
  • we give financial support to new events and festivals in town
  • we advise and help people wanting to open a business in town
  • we liaise with landlords to keep up to date with their plans
  • we respond to calls of help from the business community
  • we support each other!

TOWN CALENDAR

January 23rd – 28th
The Shaftesbury Festival of Baroque, various town centre venues. See shaftesburyartscentre.org.uk

February 10th – 18th
Shaftesbury Snowdrops Festival. Over 25 events around town. See shaftesburysnowdrops.org

February 11th
Snowdrop Artisan Market, 10 – 3
High Street will be closed from The Commons down to Angel Square

MEMBERS’ AREA

You will be asked for your members password to access the following pages.

Latest news and info

Latest news and info

Minutes of the last four meetings

Agenda for next meeting

Forthcoming networking events

Town Information

January 24thThe International Day of Education and Goldman Sachs has launched an initiative called #10,000women, see information below:

Happy International Day of Education from everyone at Goldman Sachs 10,000 Women

Our mission is to provide women with the tools and knowledge they need to succeed in the business world. We offer a comprehensive program of 10 courses covering areas including marketing, finance and leadership, all delivered through the Coursera platform.

Why Education Matters for Women Entrepreneurs
  • Empowerment: Education is a key driver of empowerment. Our courses are designed to equip women with the skills they need to confidently navigate the challenges of entrepreneurship.
  • Global Impact: By joining our community, you contribute to a global movement that believes in the power of educated women to transform economies and societies.
  • Knowledge: Our curated content offers valuable insights and practical tips for women entrepreneurs. Through our community, connect with a diverse community of industry experts and like-minded individuals, share experiences, and support each other’s journey.

1. Explore the 10,000 Women collection: Dive into our free online courses and start your journey with Goldman Sachs 10,000 Women

2. Spread the word: Share the message of Goldman Sachs 10,000 Women with your network. Together, we can amplify the impact of education for women in business.

3. Connect with us: Have questions or want to share your thoughts? We can also share our assets and a message to share with your networks. Reach out to the team at [email protected]

Discover the full course collection
This International Day of Education, let’s unite to champion education for women entrepreneurs. By enrolling in Goldman Sachs 10,000 Women, you’re not just gaining knowledge — you’re joining a global movement of empowered women shaping the future of entrepreneurship.

With very best wishes,
Mary-Beth
Goldman Sachs 10,000 Women online
[email protected]

Expert Tips

  • How does your website fare in searches and how you can boost its chances of being seen?                                                  
  • 1. Any words in your search query need to be on the front page for them to appear.
    2.  If your site hasn’t been updated in a while, think what you could refresh as Google favours sites that have recent updates.
    3.  Searching and scrolling through search results until you find your company and clicking on it regularly helps as Google favours sites that have been visited recently.
    4. Go to more than one page on your site and don’t click on any competitors after your search or you will boost them instead.
    5.  Links from trusted sites to your company’s site are the best way to get to the top but obviously difficult to achieve.
    6.  So, taking a look at the wording on the front page is a quick win.  Putting contact info on the front page also helps boost visibility.

Off The High Street

  • If you have a business on one of our estates or at a nearby commercial centre in one of our surrounding villages and have info you’d like to share with your business community, let us know – we’ll put it up here and start a local network noticeboard.

Business Reports and Surveys

  • British Chambers of Commerce – business poll 25th January

    Red Sea, GDP, cyber attacks, and the interest rate… what is your reaction?  As the UK heads towards a General Election, your business voice has never been more important. The British Chambers of Commerce Network campaigns on behalf of UK businesses on the key issues that matter, but to do this, we need your opinion.

    This short, five-minute survey seeks your reaction to some of the significant topics for 2024, including the current Middle East crisis, the interest rate, UK growth, and taxation.  Click here to take the survey

  • Dorset Police & Crime Commissioner, Bulletin November 2023
  • Dorset Business Festival, Conference Day 10th Oct 2023
Dorset Chamber Logo

We are an Associated Town Chamber of Dorset Chamber, accredited by the British Chambers of Commerce.