Somerset Chamber Business Partners
Working in partnership with business leaders
Somerset Chamber works closely with a small number of Business Partners who cover a wide range of industries and sectors. Find out more about them below.
Somerset Chamber works closely with a small number of Business Partners who cover a wide range of industries and sectors. Find out more about them below.
Established in 1866, we have over 150 years worth of heritage as accountants in Somerset and Dorset and we are proud to have worked with many of our clients through several generations. This is why small and medium-sized businesses, families and individuals continue to prosper by working with us.
We pride ourselves on being at the forefront of advancing technology, which ensures we are able to help you to make the most of the fast changing trends and new world of online accounting.
Bridgwater & Taunton College operates across main centres in Bridgwater, Taunton and Cannington, catering for 22,000 full and part-time students – including 2,600 apprentices and 950 Higher Education students – and employing 1,200 staff. It has one of the broadest curricula of any school or college in the United Kingdom, offering 993 qualifications at all levels of study, from entry level programmes right through to degree apprenticeships and full Honours Degrees. It is one of only a few colleges outside the private sector to offer the Technical and International Baccalaureate Diplomas, and the only college in the country to have been awarded both a National College (the southern hub of the National College for Nuclear) and an Institute of Technology.
The College has an excellent reputation regionally, nationally and internationally as a highly successful provider of education and training, and is one of the best-resourced colleges in the UK. It has an Office for Standards in Education, Children’s Services and Skills (Ofsted) ‘good’ rating – which, just three years after a pre-emptive merger, is an exemplary achievement.
It has gained numerous national awards – including an unprecedented 15 Association of Colleges Beacon Awards – in recognition of the local, regional and national impact of its partnership work with employers in developing vocational skills training programmes to support one of the biggest surges of economic activity that the South West has ever seen, catalysed by the nuclear new build at Hinkley Point C. It is also set to play a pivotal role in developing skills training for the ‘Gravity’ project, a 600-acre site of major strategic importance for Somerset.
Bristol Airport is Somerset’s international gateway, connecting the county to over 120 destinations. We boost productivity, support businesses, and enable inbound tourism.
We play a critical role in the regional economy, providing some £2bn in GVA and employing over 5,000 people on-site, supporting a further 25,000 jobs.
The Airport was the first in the UK to set a target of achieving net zero operations by 2030. We are working in unique partnerships with the aerospace sector in the South West and beyond to accelerate the decarbonisation of flight.
“Somerset Chamber of Commerce and Bristol Airport share a goal of creating a growing and vibrant Somerset economy. We play a critical role connecting businesses in Somerset with the world and encouraging inbound tourists to visit this fantastic county. We’re proud to be supporting the Chamber as a Business Partner,” said Ian Drury, Head of Corporate Affairs, Media, and Community Relations.
For more details visit the website: https://www.bristolairport.co.uk/corporate/about-us/
Bristol Sport was founded by Steve Lansdown CBE, in 2012, formed with a single-minded goal to use sport for the power of good in Bristol and beyond. Inspired by a visit to Barcelona’s Nou Camp, Steve set about founding a multi-sport model unique in the UK. Comprised of five sports teams across professional football, rugby and basketball, the Lansdown family believe that Bristol Sport should support the city and the city should support sport, investing back into the community providing a pathway from grassroots to elite.
Ashton Gate Stadium it home to Bristol City FC and Bristol Bears Rugby. It is now firmly established as the largest venue in the South-West following a £45m rebuild in 2016 and a capacity of 27,000. With Bristol Bears Men and Bristol City Men’s and Women’s teams using the stadium as their home and Bears Women playing a number of fixtures per year here, the stadium hosts more than 60 matches per season alongside international fixtures such as the Arnold Cup featuring England’s Lionesses and Red Roses Six Nation clash against Wales. It also opened its doors to over 1.2 million non matchday visitors last year through concerts, large annual dinners, charity events and exhibitions.
Permission has been granted to build the new Sporting Quarter, an investment into the local community, driving employment, tourism and housing, comprising of a 4000-seater multi-use indoor arena which will become the home of the Bristol Flyers Basketball team, as well as providing a unique new indoor venue to host a wealth of international sporting events, exhibitions, comedy shows, intimate concerts and large scale events. 500 new homes are also part of the new development, along with office space and a hotel.
We work with many businesses through our events, hospitality offerings, partnership and venue sales, as well as providing a business networking opportunity through our Lansdown Club. We are delighted to become a member of the Somerset Chamber of Commerce and look forward to collaborating with our fellow members.
Clarke Willmott is a leading law firm that takes pride in being different. Our strong reputation is built on genuine client relationships and our exceptional people – each chosen for their industry knowledge and passion for their field, as well as their first-class legal credentials.
From seven offices across the country, our talented teams offer expert advice and support on a broad range of legal services to individuals and businesses, with focus on the most involved and complex matters. With Clarke Willmott you can be confident of working with the highest calibre of legal team, without the big city price tag.
Our commercial lawyers work closely with a wide variety of private sector businesses, public sector bodies and charitable organisations, providing expert guidance on almost every aspect of the law.
What sets Clarke Willmott apart is that we recognise not only the importance of providing legally watertight advice but also the need to support our clients’ corporate objectives and long term goals.
Newsquest Somerset, publisher of the County Gazette, Bridgwater Mercury, Chard and Ilminster News and the Burnham and Highbridge Weekly News, is a media company with a difference.
We are committed to bringing a voice to your region, investing in a passionate team of journalists proudly serving their communities with authoritative news our readers trust.
Our experienced media sales people help local businesses promote their products and services to local audiences.
EDF is committed to investing in an energy mix that balances the needs of low-carbon emissions, security of supply, and affordability.
Nuclear power is the most affordable large-scale low-carbon energy source currently available to the UK.
The new nuclear power station proposed for Hinkley Point C, will provide energy to around five million homes; EDF has appointed the Somerset Chamber to manage the Somerset Supply Chain for Hinkley.
Higos Insurance Services
Founded in Somerset, with their Head Office located in Somerton, Higos have been providing insurance solutions for over 30 years.
Higos provide a wide variety of covers/services for both personal and commercial customers of all sizes.
Higos have offices located across the South-West from Somerset, Wiltshire, Dorset, Devon to Cornwall. Being local is a key reason for their continued growth and success.
Higos is a trading hub of Brown & Brown in the UK, and we employ over 250 staff across 14 offices whose roles are to support our clients by offering bespoke risk transfer programmes. As a broker, we are part of the sixth largest insurance broker worldwide, but our main trading principal remains to focus on delivering empowered trading relationships.
We have a team of Commercial Executives who are able to visit businesses, understand what exposures businesses have and provide a personalised broking service with the to build long term relationships with customers.
Why Higos
For all your insurance needs, it has to be Higos.
Leonardo, formerly AgustaWestland, designs, develops, manufactures and supports helicopters for military and commercial markets around the world. Their Somerset operations are based in Yeovil.
National Highways is a Government company which plans, designs, builds, operates and maintains England’s motorways and major A roads, known as the strategic road network.
The team manages and improves the strategic road network to make journeys safer, smoother and more reliable.
National Highways exists to ensure that England’s major roads are dependable, durable and – most importantly – safe, is actively working across Somerset, to both keep the county’s main roads moving and to deliver several major planned improvements.
Since 2015 it has invested billions of Pounds to improve road safety and increase capacity on the road network.
If you are looking for the highest level of business and tech apprenticeship training and support, you are in the right place. We are all about personal growth, because personal growth leads to business growth! We were founded by former apprentices, and our relationship-focused approach to building apprenticeship programmes is changing the game across the UK.
Pro Apprenticeships (Professional Apprenticeships Ltd) has been known for the high level of training and support it offers apprentices and businesses and have been rated Outstanding by Ofsted.
We offer hands-on training with learning, practical experience and education. For applicants, it is a pathway to a career with earnings from day one. For employers, it is a strategic investment to cultivate a skilled, loyal workforce.
Outstanding accomplishments for Pro Apprenticeships:
Apprenticeships we deliver
Using apprenticeship training for your existing team through Pro Apprenticeships is an excellent way to fill skills gaps, increase productivity and promote staff retention. An apprenticeship is a structured training programme designed to equip individuals with the skills and knowledge needed to excel in various roles, such as business, marketing, software development, data analysis, and IT support.
These apprenticeships provide a clear pathway for development and becoming an expert in business and tech, combining practical, hands-on experience with specialised, industry-aligned education.
Why an Apprentice?
Apprenticeships focus on key skills and are provided only by approved providers. They can be used for both existing staff and new hires, ensuring high-quality, structured training.
Pro Apprenticeships takes time to understand the needs of all the companies we work with to identify professional development for your new and existing employees. We offer a complimentary consultation to help you discover the most productive way to use your Apprenticeship Levy.
Talk With Us Today:
Email: info@pro-app.co.uk
Phone: +44 (0)333 444 0036
Huish is one of the best Sixth Form Colleges in the country for exam results and consistently ranks highly when compared to all other educational institutions for its students’ added value. This means that, whatever your level of achievement at GCSE or background, if you really want to succeed, we can help you achieve your choice of career development.
We have built up strong links with local organisations and employers to become a leading provider of Apprenticeships in Taunton and Somerset.
Somerset Council came into being on April 1 2023. The new unitary council brings together the services previously provided by the four district councils in Somerset (Mendip, Sedgemoor, Somerset West and Taunton, and South Somerset) alongside the services provided by Somerset County Council.
Somerset Council combines the strengths of the five authorities and provides a single clear voice for Somerset nationally and internationally. It gives clearer public accountability for services in the county and simpler access to them.
The council’s duties and services are managed by the elected councillors (known within the council as ‘members’) through its democratic structure.
In accordance with Government legislation, the unitary council has:
The Unitary Council of 110 elected members is responsible for deciding the democratic arrangements for the council, agreeing our policy framework and each year’s budget.
Somerset County Cricket Club was formed in 1875 and has played a pivotal role within the region ever since. As well as achieving success on the field we are also thriving off it. Our outstanding conferencing and events facilities make The County Ground the perfect choice all year round.
Strode College in Street, Somerset, is one of the very best performing colleges in the country.
The College’s reputation for quality and excellence is well documented; it has the highest possible ratings from Ofsted and the QAA for its 16-18 year old provision – including Apprenticeships, A Levels and Vocational courses; for its university level courses; and its nursery care.
The College’s recently renamed Employer Engagement and Apprenticeship team aims to make Strode the Centre of Excellence for Apprenticeships in Somerset.
The College’s reputation for quality, combined with its’ patronage of the Somerset Chamber and recent work to support employers with the Apprenticeship Levy, shows that Strode is well on its way to achieving this aim.
Turnbull are leaders in lifecycle construction and operations. From design and build to facility management and maintenance, we provide sustainable, end-to-end services for civil, mechanical and electrical engineering projects.
Today, our name is known for this innovative lifecycle approach, developed and refined on one of Europe’s largest construction sites. But we take our inspiration from the clarity, precision and reliability of traditional plans and drawings – in their distinctive colour of Turnbull blue.
Our vision is a world in which the design, build, operation and maintenance of engineering projects is managed as an integrated lifecycle process that saves money, reduces waste and adds long-term value to local communities and the wider economy.
Our mission is to do things right. That means developing the skills of our people, improving the quality of our services and understanding the needs of our customers to deliver efficient and sustainable projects on time and on budget. We’re committed to being a trusted partner and the leading name in lifecycle construction and operations, and to protecting the environment, our people and the clients we serve.
We have a common set of traits and beliefs that underpin everything we do as a company. In a nutshell, we’re professional, trusted, safe and expert.
Weston College is an Ofsted outstanding college of further and higher education in Weston-super-Mare. It provides education and vocational training to nearly 30,000 learners across the country. The College is regarded as one of the top FE colleges in the UK and won both “College of the Year” and “Overall Further Education Provider of the Year” at the 2015 Times Educational Supplement Further Education Awards. It teaches a range of higher education courses through University Centre Weston, as well as 70 different apprenticeships from intermediate to degree-level.
Weston College’s mission is “creating brighter futures”, which means that we put our students at the heart of everything that we do.
Our values:
Our corporate aims include:
We provide access to the sort of healthcare that we want for ourselves and our families. We’ve been helping our members as a not-for-profit organisation since 1901. That’s quite a while now and, because we’re good at it, that’s all we do. Just health insurance. No distractions.
By partnering with like-minded individuals and companies, we offer groundbreaking personal and business health insurance policies that have truly revolutionised healthcare in the UK. From funding cancer drugs not readily available on the NHS, the first benefit of its kind, to being recognised by the World Health Organisation as leading in the development of new policies that reduce costs for our members.
Yeovil is a tertiary college serving its community in South Somerset and North and West Dorset. Our clear role is to support the development of social and economic prosperity for the whole community. As a tertiary college we will provide education and training pathways at all levels from entry to HE.
Join Somerset Chamber of Commerce to give your business a stronger voice both locally, regionally and nationally. Combined with local town chambers, we represent over 2,000 businesses across Somerset with a direct line to policy-makers at all levels.
