Meet the Membership Team: Jessica Holloway

The membership team play a pivotal role at Business West. They are busy building a community and whether you’re a member or not, they are always available to help. 

Jessica Holloway, Membership Executive, is a fountain of knowledge when it comes to the perks of Chamber of Commerce membership. We caught up with her to find out how businesses who join can get the most from their membership.

What does your role as InLife Membership Executive at Business West involve?

I am the main point of contact for members and my role is to ensure that they are getting the most from their membership. When members join, I offer them welcome calls. My priority is to understand what their goals are with regards to membership. This way I can facilitate connections, help members raise their profile and direct them to other business support services.

What did you do before joining Business West?

I joined Business West almost a year ago when I moved to Wiltshire. Prior to this I was an estate agent for eight years, where I connected people with houses. Now I connect people to businesses. 

What does a typical week look like for you?

If we are holding Business West Chamber events, I’ll be there. I really enjoy being part of that energy and atmosphere. It’s great to see people making connections and I like to meet members in person so that they know who I am. I allocate three days a week where members can book in a call with me. That may be a welcome call or an opportunity for them to ask me any questions about membership. A great way that members can raise their profile is by creating a company profile within our business directory and posting content, such as blog posts, events, news and opportunities, which features in the Members area. Throughout the week, I regularly check and publish this content.

Businesses who join the Chambers get the chance to make new connections and join a buzzing community. Can you tell us what other products and services are available to members? 

There is so much available to members. A popular product we have is Quest. This is a 24 hour helpline and document library where members can get access to HR, health and safety, tax and legal advice. It’s a useful tool for SMEs who may not have these resources to hand. For instance, if an SME doesn’t have an HR department but needs some HR advice, Quest is a great place to get this.

Another product members get is Westfield Health. This is a healthcare cash plan and employee benefits scheme, which provides good health care solutions for employees. Cover includes a 24 hour advice and information line plus access to a GP 24/7.

We run many interesting and varied networking and training events, many of which are free for members or discounted where applicable. Organisations who trade internationally can benefit from up to 50% discount on export documents. And there is a 64% discount on AA fleet recovery services.

As well as the services and discounts included in membership, members can raise their profile by attending events, posting content on our website and through sponsorship and advertising opportunities. There’s also the chance to feature in our publications. 

All organisations are different and have distinct needs. The products and services are available to all members and I’m always on hand to answer any questions that may arise. This is why I think it’s so important that I get to know all members, I can then advise on what is most applicable to them throughout their membership journey. It may be that when a business first joins, not all services are needed but as they grow, they are, and that’s great!

If you were a member, how would you maximise your membership? 

It’s important to use your membership. If I was a member, I’d be active within the community by maximising any business profiling opportunities and getting to know fellow members. I’d attend the networking breakfasts and follow up with any new connections made. Once a month, I would upload a blog to the website. My first post would be an introduction to my company and why I joined Business West Chambers of Commerce. Members who are active in posting information on our website quite often pop up on google searches, with their content appearing on our website. I shout about the profile-raising opportunities as it does raise visibility! Also, depending on the nature of my business, I would look into using Quest and if relevant, take up a sponsorship package. 

What do you enjoy most about your role?

It’s got to be the variety. No day or conversation is the same. I get to meet and speak to an array of businesses and that’s so interesting. Recently, in the same day, I spoke to the manager of a Japanese restaurant, a business coach and a construction company. I’m passionate about getting to know each member and always ask what their membership goals are so that I help them get the most from their membership.

I work in a great team and it’s so rewarding to see such brilliant feedback from members following our events. I enjoy the community buzz, seeing people connect and sharing positive comments via their own channels. 

What do you like doing when you’re away from work?

I’m a huge fan of Grey’s Anatomy and am currently on series 10, with quite a few more seasons to go. I am getting back into my fitness and enjoy going to the gym. I’ve got a puppy so dog walking and training is keeping me busy! 

There are many benefits to becoming part of our community. For any questions about membership products, services and opportunities get in touch.