The role of the Sutherland Shire Business Chamber is primarily to support local businesses via advocacy, networking and education. Prior to COVID-19 we would do this by hosting a monthly Business Breakfast with guest speakers on topics relevant to the business community as well as a monthly After 5 Drinks Networking event held at the Miranda Hotel.
As events are a major focus for us we have had to divert our attention to virtual online events which we have been successfully hosting for a number of weeks now. With self isolation causing a large number of business owners to work from home, it is now more important than ever our business community stay connected. In response to this we have increased the frequency of our events to provide additional support during these difficult times.
The Sutherland Shire Business Chamber host a monthly Expert Speaker Series event with various industry experts sharing their insights on relevant business topics. In addition, we host fortnightly After 5 Drinks which is predominantly a networking event and has become increasingly popular. At this event we have adopted the Break Out rooms feature to split attendees up into smaller focus groups as well as one on one, to promote connection on a deeper level.
The use of Zoom conferencing has allowed us to reach a wider network of businesses and provides an opportunity for the Sutherland Shire Business Chamber to support and maintain connection during this difficult time. The use of this platform is most likely an initiative we will continue with, in addition to our calendar of in person events, after restrictions are lifted and life is back to some normality.
For more stories about how businesses are adapting to the current climate, visit
https://www.sutherlandshire.nsw.gov.au/Business/Business-Support/supporttheshire