Businesses given coronavirus advice via Chamber's Zoom webinars

A SPECIAL online support service has been Zooming ahead to help guide businesses across Hampshire through challenges posed by the coronavirus crisis.

Hampshire Chamber of Commerce has used popular video conferencing site Zoom to host a weekly series of webinars under the banner Chamber of Solutions to offer expert advice on how best to manage the pandemic’s rising impact on teams and operations.

The first three sessions drew an audience of nearly 360 business owners and managers, who have been able to put questions to a panel of professionals from a raft of industry sectors.

Topics covered by the webinars have included personal resilience and how to stay connected to teams working remotely. Updates have also been provided on the government’s furlough and business loan schemes.

Professionals on the panels have included senior representatives from accountancy firm Menzies, IT provider Tekkers, digital marketers LocaliQ; and Mission Performance, a behavioural change specialist based in Lee-on-the-Solent.

Ross McNally, Hampshire Chamber chief executive and executive chairman, said: “The webinar series is all about helping businesses to navigate their way through these challenging times.

“The right strategic decisions now could help you get back on your feet more quickly once the lockdown is over, and be the difference between long-term success and failure.

Ben McDonald, Hampshire Chamber’s events and training coordinator, added: “No one has all the answers but having a panel of experts you can engage with directly means you benefit from a fantastic body of knowledge.”

For more information on the Chamber of Solutions, which is supported by the Enterprise M3 Local Enterprise Partnership, visit https://bit.ly/3faHyAH