BUSINESS

National Opportunities

Local chambers may choose to take part in some of the national business competitions that are run each year. For 2008 they include:

• Best Business Plan of the World Competition. This is an international project. The competition is open to all young entrepreneurs under the age of 40. They do not need to be a member of Junior Chamber but they have to complete an Entry Form, Executive Summary and Business Plan for the creation of a new enterprise, endeavour or social activity to create positive change. The competition is held in conjunction with the International Chamber of Commerce

Local Opportunities

Junior Chambers operate in the heart of their local business communities. Whilst members join as individuals, they also represent a broad range of business sectors - they may be employed or self-employed, work in marketing or finance, be a recent graduate or a senior manager. As such, one of the key benefits that membership of Junior Chamber brings with it is the opportunity to network with other business organisations in your area.

The type of business projects being run at a local level vary considerably but might include

• Business Breakfast or Lunch Clubs. Networking favourites where individuals from different businesses come together to promote their trade and find new contacts.
• Business lectures. A chamber might put on a special event for the local business community, inviting key note speakers to address the delegates followed by refreshments. Examples of speakers include Brett Warburton (Warburton's Bakery).
• Business visits. Have you ever wanted to know what happens to your post, how an airport operates, the skills involve in brewing beer ? If so then your local chamber may offer a series of business visits to local companies in order to find out more about how they operate.

Many local chambers have links with their Chambers of Commerce. The key difference between the two is that the Chamber of Commerce provide a range of services for individual businesses, whilst Junior Chamber is an organisation that benefits individual members. The two organisations might work together to run an event, to raise money for local charities or run a recruitment drive.

Links with local businesses may be on a more formal basis whereby the business becomes a "Corporate Partner" or "Patron" of the local chamber.