Contact:
Website: www.southafricanchamber.co.uk
Email: admin@southafricanchamber.co.uk
Membership categories
Members include individuals, ranging from students to professionals, entrepreneurs and retirees, SME’s and corporates. Historically the majority are South Africans, but the membership demographic is changing as UK companies doing business in SA or with South Africans are realising the value of the network and knowledge and are joining the Chamber.
2017, following the development of the strategic plan, change of Chairman, focus on providing events of a wider interest and value add in the business arena, the membership is showing strong growth which is critical for the Chamber’s sustained future.
New members are adding to the recently injected energy.
The membership categories have been simplified, as shown in the table below. The fundamental benefit from membership is free attendance to events and access to the network.
|
Membership Category |
Details |
Benefits |
£ bef VAT |
|
Key Commercial Sponsor |
|
Platinum Plus Benefits |
TBA |
|
Platinum Member |
Larger Corporates, international presence |
Platinum Benefits |
£4,900 |
|
Corporate Member |
Larger Corporates > 250 people |
Gold Benefits |
£1,900 |
|
SME Member |
Companies 11 to 250 people |
Silver Benefits |
£990 |
|
Entrepreneur Member |
Companies up to 10 people |
Standard Benefits |
£290 |
|
NGO / Charity / NFP Member |
|
Standard Benefits |
£290 |
|
Professional / Individual Member |
|
Standard Benefits |
£190 |
|
Overseas / Associate / Retiree Member |
|
Pay to Attend |
£125 |
Benefits to members:
- business introductions
- continued professional cevelopment
- business support
- thought leadership
- business exposure, tailored introductions
- networking
- political insights
- trade initiatives, import, export business support, exposure to trading partners, introductions
- social and cultural enjoyment
- advocacy for relevant causes
- community, charity and CSR engagement
- learning in a safe and trusted community
Mission
The South African Chamber of Commerce UK, serves South Africa, South Africans abroad and those interested in South Africa. Focus is on bilateral trade, investment, “community” and education; providing support to foster business opportunities and shared learning.
History
The South African Chamber of Commerce UK (SACC) was formed in 2009, bringing together a number of bodies servicing different needs for South Africans in the UK. The Chamber continues to service those needs and is strategically focused on supporting increased bilateral trade and improving opportunities for all South Africans.
The Chamber was ratified by the South African Government, the SA High Commission, the SA Department of Trade and Industry and the UK Department of International Trade. The SA High Commissioner to the UK is the Honorary President of the Chamber.
The Chamber has good relations with its counterpart, the British Chamber of Commerce in SA, also a young Chamber, and the South African Chamber of Commerce and Industry in South Africa.
The Chamber is a not for profit, limited by guarantee, membership organisation.
Today
The Chamber governance structure is composed of a Board of Directors, Executive Committee and five operational Committees. Corporate and Strategic members who wish to be more involved in the Chamber, member engagement and the delivery of the strategy, can choose to take up a seat on the Advisory Council.
The Chamber has one part time administrator and all other roles are voluntary. The strategic plan reflects the appointment of a full time executive and an administrator and further staff as needs demand. Committees are populated from the membership and those leading a committee or a focus area comprise the Executive Committee. The Board is currently totally Non-Executive.
The constitutional objectives of the SA Chamber of Commerce are:
-
to facilitate and encourage bilateral trade between South African and the UK
-
to support community project requests for the betterment of lives of South Africans
-
to facilitate knowledge and information sharing and developing economies of scale
-
to offer business advice to members
-
to provide a united voice when dealing with government bodies and private sector groups
-
to provide training opportunities for members
-
to provide a central body for the administration, research, lobbying and support of members needs
-
to provide a forum to promote business opportunities between members,
-
to create valuable networking opportunities and stimulate business introductions.
The Board is responsible for the strategic direction delegating the management to the Executive Committee, the Advisory Council being the voice of the large corporate members.
Partnerships and collaboration
The cumulative value of working with aligned bodies is powerful. Whether with other SA Chambers, another country’s Chamber, not for profit organisations focusing on CSR, bodies of like-minded people and bodies focused on business or people. Benefit can be shared wherever we have common interests, objectives, routes to market and desired outcomes. As the 10th province of South Africa, coined by Geoff Johnson in discussion with Nelson Mandela, global South African’s fly the flag and are passionate about, preserving the culture and heritage of a unique country. Global South African’s have a common interest of giving back to the country and to its people, making a difference from offshore.
The responsibility for this engagement will rest with the Communications Committee to ensure varied and regular engagement with all relevant stakeholders, supporting the Chamber to be innovative, credible and relevant.
This focus will influence the work on bilateral trade and investment into SA, benefiting members, stakeholders and the people of South Africa.
Government and economic influence
This is a two-way channel, managed by the Government Relations Committee:
- understanding the goals, activities and voice of government and related departments and the impact thereof on the economy
- working with the DTI (SA) and DIT (UK) to provide the thought leadership, education, introductions and information to support importing and exporting companies in both countries
- working with local trade focused bodies in SA and UK, providing events, network introductions and thought leadership
- working with Brand SA, British Chamber in SA and any other similar bodies in both countries
- working with the High Commissioners in both countries
Events
The events are the place where the Chamber members meet regularly, grow their networks, learn and socialise. The event calendar is varied including events at different times of the day and month through the year, aiming to provide a wide variety of content to meet the varied needs of the membership. The style of events include:
- Monthly Chamber Connects where we have a speaker of business, economic, political, sport, community or cultural interest
- Debates to highlight key issues
- Round tables to develop ideas and create thought leadership
- Private group meetings based on a given speaker or topic
- Gala dinner
- Seasonal networking drinks
Most events are open to the membership but round tables and private meetings are invariably only open to corporate, platinum and strategic members.
Non-members are welcome to open meetings at a nominal fee.
The Chamber supports many other South African or African linked organisations to make their events a success and opens attendance to Chamber members to such events, widening the network of contacts for members.
Governance
The Governance structure is made up of a Non-Executive Board, an Advisory Council and an Executive Committee. The Executive Committee comprises the following Committee and Business leads and the two executives.
The Committees and Business areas, will be led by Members working very closely with the Executives and the Board.
The Executives will drive the finance, governance and risk management of the Chamber, with independent reporting by the Committee to the Board.
The other Committees work closely with the Executives for the delivery of their remit, providing the Executive with additional resource to ensure tasks are completed effectively. At least one Executive will be a member of each Committee and Business focus area.
Meetings will be held as needed by the remit of the role, project and deliverable timeline.
Case studies
Business is being secured regularly between members, as is shared learning, investment and creation of new projects. Many members present their relevant knowledge, giving members a stage for their business development.
Professional
A professional market specialist, recently in a new role, now requiring profile and marketing to gain business, presented to the members on a topical subject of major interest. Present were other members who were specialists in the subject matter but in different verticals. Members saw the value in connecting with the specialist for their own business benefit, the professional gaining the market exposure and introductions required. Within a week, three follow up engagements for the benefit of members had been secured.
Business
Two relatively new members, through events and connecting with another member have successfully pioneered an international business as a result of providing direct skills, time and engagement with another member business providing highly technical skills to support the successful delivery of the bilateral trade projects.
Another example is one member, working with a second member providing business solutions to a third member, delivering business solutions cost effectively to the customer. The result benefiting the delivery members in their businesses at the same time.
Not for profit / charity
One not for profit member has secured investment in a project from members, another has sourced a quality NED from the membership and a third has secured follow-on business connections in South Africa aligned directly to their needs.
Consultancy
One member has secured associate consultancy arrangements from other members to deliver solutions to a specialised industry, thus providing a range of services from a wider number of trusted and aligned organisations.
Customers
Many members have secured other members as customers. This has occurred in the SME, professional, trade and retail member businesses.
Education and thought leadership
Many members have called on specialist colleagues for trusted advice for problems or needs that they have. Many members happily provide the initial consultation for free and from there develop longer term business relationships. Government has turned to the Chamber for input, advice and delivery of solutions.
CSR
CSR projects have approached the Chamber for advice and connections for funding, ideas on best ways to address solutions and links to investors, relevant charities or businesses to support their cause.
