SWINDON Chamber of Commerce is now seeking sponsorship from outside companies to ensure events go with a bang.

Dennis Grant, the chief executive of the 150-year-old chamber, recognises that it is time to move with the times.

So he has taken the bold step of throwing the doors to chamber events wide open to allow other firms to get involved.

Mr Grant said: "Things have come on a long way since the days when a dozen or so local businessmen would get together once a month for a chat.

"Increasingly, we are holding more and more events and we just haven't got the time to organise them properly.

"We would much rather have one really good event a month with good backing than several mediocre ones."

The move is part of Mr Grant's masterplan to make the chamber more open and accessible to all.

"And we are finding the small-medium sized business are suffering most at the moment because they have not got the manpower to allow bosses to go to all these functions," he said.

"With that in mind chamber members have agreed to let companies sponsor us."

The first of these new-look events will take place at Steam museum on Friday. The railway museum, based in Kemble Drive, is the main sponsor.

The topic up for discussion is Women In Business another example, insists Mr Grant that the chamber is moving forward.

He said: "We now have four steering groups called; the Environment, the Young Chamber, Women Today and Business To Business.

"A fifth the Executive Club will be up and running in May.

"I think it's important that we recognise the different needs of business. The chamber is extremely diverse, we have members ranging from window cleaners to Honda clearly their demands are going to be vary considerably and we need to ensure the topic up for discussion is relevant to them."

As a trial, Swindon Chamber held a talk on technology at the De Vere Hotel in Shaw Ridge earlier this month. The main sponsors were Microsoft, Intel, BT and Hewlett Packard.

"I think it made the event more interesting and diverse having big names in the computing world sponsor us," said Mr Grant. "It is about getting the experts in and adopting an outward look."

For details call Steph Trinci on 01793 649575 or visit www. swindonchamber.co.uk

Kevin Shoesmith