By proceeding with the registration process for membership of Business West Membership and/or Chambers of Commerce (“the Chamber”), you agree to be bound by these terms and conditions.
These terms and conditions will apply for the duration of your membership of the Chamber, or to any event you attend, and you should read them carefully. By applying for, renewing or continuing your membership of the Chamber, or by booking on to one of our events, you will be deemed to have accepted these terms.
We reserve the right to amend these terms from time to time.
In this agreement, a Member is defined as a member of one of, or all of, the following: Bristol Chamber of Commerce; Bath Chamber of Commerce; Gloucestershire Chamber of Commerce; Wiltshire Chamber of Commerce; Bristol Initiative; Bath & North East Somerset Initiative; Swindon & Wiltshire Initiative; and Hydrogen South West
1 Parties
1.1These terms and conditions form the basis of the legal relationship between a Member and the Chamber.Use of the expressions “we”, “us” and “our” in these terms refers to the Chamber. References to “you” and “your” refer to members of the Chamber, or to delegates attending our events where applicable.
2 Membership & Application Process
2.1 Membership of the Chamber is open to any of the following, regardless of their size or location: business either public or private; or individuals in a business environment; or educational establishments; or Charities and not-for-profit organisations.
2.2We offer a range of different types of membership packages, details of which are displayed on our website and are updated from time to time.
2.3Applications for membership are made by:
2.3.1 Contacting our membership team at 01275 373 373, or membership@businesswest.co.uk to complete our membership application form
2.3.2 Completing our online membership application
2.3.3 Paying the Membership Fee (clause 3)
2.4 You warrant to us that all information provided in your Application is true & accurate in all material respects
2.5 We will consider your Application and inform you whether your Application is approved as soon as practicable. In the rate instance that we refuse to approve an Application, any Membership Fee paid will be refunded to you.
2.6 It is a condition of membership that, in accordance with Clause 6 of the Memorandum of Association of the Chamber, each member shall contribute no more than £5 to the assets of the Chamber if the Chamber is wound up whilst the member is a member (or within a year afterwards). Such contribution shall be for the payment of (1) the debts and liabilities of the Chamber entered into before the member ceased to be a member and (2) the costs of winding up the Chamber
3 Membership Fees
3.1You agree to pay an annual fee (Annual Subscription) to the Chamber, the sum of which is set by the Chamber. Membership fees are reviewed on a minimum annual basis.
3.2 You agree to make a payment which is equal to the Annual Subscription on the date that you make an application to become a member of the Chamber and annually thereafter.
3.3 Membership fees are set to reflect a level of service provided within a particular package. A standard rate of membership is charged with upgradable or customised packages available. The Chamber reserves the right to amend its membership package and pricing structure.
3.4 We accept payment of the Membership Fee by bank transfer, by card payment or by direct debit.
3.4.1 If you have chosen to pay by bank transfer or card payment, the Membership Fee must be paid to us in full when submitting your Application.
3.4.2If you have chosen to pay by direct debit, you can either pay the Membership Fee in full when submitting your Application, or, you can pay the Membership Fee, monthly in advance, by monthly instalments, thereby spreading the Membership Fee over the course of 12 months. Monthly direct debit payments will be due on or around the 25th of each month
3.5 If the Membership Fee is not paid in accordance with this clause 3, we shall have the right to terminate your membership in accordance with clause 5.
3.6 The Membership Fee is non-refundable & non-transferrable
4 Membership Duration
4.1Chamber membership is for a period of 12 months, commencing on the date on which your application is approved by us (Initial Term), unless terminated sooner in accordance with clause 5.
4.2Your membership will automatically renew for a further period of 12 months unless terminated in accordance with clause 5 (Renewed Term), and you will be liable for the then-current Membership Fee for the Renewed Term. If you pay your Membership Fee by direct debit, your payments will continue in the usual way for the Renewed Term. If you do not pay by direct debit, we will provide you with an invoice in respect of the Renewed Term.
4.3.If you have chosen to pay your Membership Fee by monthly direct debit and you:
4.3.1 miss an instalment; or
4.3.2cancel your direct debit mid-way through the Initial Term or any Renewed Term; or
4.3.3 your membership is terminated mid-way through the Initial Term or any Renewed Term for any reason; the full outstanding balance of the Membership Fee shall become immediately due and payable.
5 Termination
5.1Should you wish to cancel your membership; you may do so at the anniversary of your joining date (or agreed expiry date). This can be served, at any time by providing you give us no less than 1 month written notice (such notice to expire at the end of the Initial Term or Renewed Term)
5.2You can send your wish to terminate to us by email at membership@businesswest.co.uk
5.3 Unless such notice of intention is given (and acknowledged by the Chamber), any subscription for the subsequent year of membership is payable in full. You will not be entitled to any refund, either in full or part, of any annual subscription that you have paid.
5.4 The Chamber will be entitled to cancel your membership if:
5.4.1 any fee including but not limited to the annual subscription fees remain unpaid for a period of 1 month from the payment due date;
5.4.2 you suspend, or threaten to suspend, payment of your debts, are unable to pay your debts as they fall due, or admit your inability to pay your debts, or (being a company or limited liability partnership) are deemed unable to pay your debts within the meaning of section 123 of the Insolvency Act 1986 (IA 1986) as if the words “it is proved to the satisfaction of the court” did not appear in sections 123(1)(e) or 123(2) of the IA 1986, or (being an individual sole trader) are deemed either unable to pay your debts or as having no reasonable prospect of so doing, in either case, within the meaning of section 268 of the IA 1986, or (being a partnership) has any partner to whom any of the foregoing apply
5.4.3 the renewal of the membership is refused by the Chamber
5.4.4 you (in the opinion of the Chamber) behave inappropriately towards other members or towards the Chamber
5.4.5 you (in the opinion of the Chamber) bring the Chamber into disrepute
5.4.6the Chamber discover that you made material misrepresentations in your membership application
5.4.7 you breached these terms and conditions
6 Consequences of Termination
Following termination of your membership in accordance with clause 5:
6.1You must immediately cease holding yourself out as a member of the Chamber; and
6.2Any International Documents purchased in bulk from us at a preferential rate, but unused, shall be chargeable at the full rate, and we shall render an invoice in respect of the additional sum due, which shall be payable within 28 days, unless we expressly otherwise agree with you in writing.
7 Business Between Members
7.1. We want to build a supportive and engaging network for our members and encourage them wherever appropriate to conduct business with each other.
7.2. If a member purchases a service or product or takes advice or assistance from another member, or an organisation they have been introduced to by the Chamber, the arrangement is made purely between those entities. In no circumstances will the Chamber be a party to any contract between our members or have any liability for services or products provided.
7.3. The Chamber does not warrant the quality or suitability of, or accept any liability, for the service or product sold or the advice or assistance provided whatsoever. Members should conduct their own due diligence, seeking independent professional advice in accordance with the nature of their situation.
7.4. Members shall not send unsolicited emails or correspondence of any kind (“spam”) to other members. Correspondence may be considered spam if it is not addressed to the intended recipient and/or if the content of the correspondence is not relevant to the intended recipient. Any member who breaches this clause may have their membership terminated in accordance with clause 5.3(b).
8 Events
8.1We run a variety of online & in person events (Events). Members and non-members are welcome to attend our Events, unless expressly stated otherwise. We will publish a calendar of our available Events from time to time on our website, setting out a brief description of the Event along with the cost of attending.
8.2 All events must be booked and – where there is a charge incurred – paid for in advance. We refuse the right to entry to an Event if payment has not been received in accordance with clause
8.3 Bookings for our Events are not refundable
8.4 If you book a place at a free Event and you do not attend, we reserve the right to charge an administration fee of £10.00 + VAT per delegate.
8.5 The Chamber will notify members of the number of tickets entitled to them within their membership package where restrictions are implemented. The Chamber reserves to right to amend this entitlement.
8.6 In some circumstances we may be required to cancel an Event. We shall give all delegates as much notice of any cancellation as we are reasonable able, and shall endeavour where appropriate to rearrange the Event on another date.
8.7 If we cancel an Event, we shall refund you booking fees paid as soon as reasonably practicable following the cancellation.
8.8 We accept no liability for any expenses or losses (including by not limited to pre-booked travel or hotel expenses) you may incur as a result of a cancelled or postponed Event.
8.9 We encourage delegates to review our privacy policy (Member Data Clause) which sets out how we gather and use your personal information when attending our Events, including photography.
9 Partnership packages
9.1 We build bespoke corporate partnership packages for those members who wish to deepen their relationship with the Chamber. Our team will work with you to tailor the package based on your strategic goals.
9.2 The details of the corporate partnership packages (including fees) shall be agreed with us prior to commencement, and set out in a separate corporate partnership agreement which should be read in conjunction with these terms and conditions. The benefits for each package shall last for a minimum of 12 months.
9.3 Unless we expressly agree otherwise in writing, the fees for corporate packages are due within 28 days of the date of our invoice in respect of the same.
9.4 If a Corporate Partner’s membership is terminated in accordance with clause 5.3, and at the date of termination we have not provided all of the agreed services under the corporate package, then we may at our sole discretion offer a partial refund of the corporate partnership package fee in respect of those services which have not been provided on the termination date (less any administration expenses we have incurred).
General Provisions
Groups of Companies
Where a company that forms part of a group of companies successfully applies for Membership, this does not entitle any parent or subsidiary of the company, or other subsidiary of any such parent to become a Member. Each company within such a group shall be required to apply separately for Membership or pay an appropriate fee as agreed by the Chamber.
Member Data
We take the privacy of our members and all visitors seriously. Details of how collect, store and use your personal information is set out in our privacy policy. Member details are stored electronically in the chamber’s client management system. You consent to the chamber publishing the generic member details within its publications, both electronic and printed. You also consent to this data (not including e-mail addresses) being shared with other members by electronic means.
Third parties
No rights are conferred on any person who is not a party to these terms and conditions.
Severance
Each provision contained in these terms and conditions shall be severable from any other provisions, and if any part of any provision shall be found to be invalid, illegal or void for any reason, such invalidity, illegality or void shall not affect any other part of such provision or any other provision contained in these terms and conditions which shall continue to have full force and effect.
Entire agreement
These terms and conditions constitute the entire agreement between the parties and supersede all prior agreements, negotiations, representations and proposals, whether written or oral, concerning the subject matter of the Terms.
Assignment
You shall not assign any of your rights or obligations under these terms and conditions without our prior written consent. We shall have the right to assign or otherwise delegate all or any of our rights or obligations under these terms and conditions upon notification to you.
Code of membership
Members are expected to uphold the Chamber ‘Code of Membership’ (available to view at the bottom of this page)
Errors and Omissions Excepted
Every care is taken to ensure that all information within the Chamber publications including the website, electronic communications and social networks, is correct. However, there may still be errors and we apologise for any inconvenience that this may cause. If you find an error or omission, please let us know, and we will correct it as soon as possible after verification.
Other services
From time to time we may offer additional products and services, including consultancy services, details of which shall be set out on our website. All services offered will be subject to these terms and conditions, together with any additional documentation we may agree with you relating to those services. We shall perform all services in good faith.
Force Majeure
Neither we nor you shall be in breach of any obligation under this agreement, nor liable for any delay in performing any obligation, if such delay or failure results from events, circumstances beyond its reasonable control. In such circumstances, the time for performance shall be extended by a period equivalent to the period during which performance of the obligation has been delayed or failed to be performed.
Governing law and jurisdiction
Our contract with you, these terms and any dispute or claim (including non-contractual disputes or claims) arising out of or in connection with it or its subject matter or formation shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the law of England and Wales.
We and you both irrevocably agree that the courts of England and Wales shall have exclusive jurisdiction to settle any dispute or claim arising out of or in connection with these terms, their subject matter or formation.
Disclaimer
The Chamber gives you no warranty or assurance about any recommendations or referrals we make in respect of third parties and the services they supply. You should satisfy yourself as to the suitability of any such third parties and the services they supply for your purposes. All implied warranties and conditions are excluded, to the maximum extent permitted by law. The Chamber only provides you with such recommendations and referrals on the basis that all representations, warranties, conditions and other terms are excluded to the maximum extent permitted by law (including, without limitation, the conditions implied by law of satisfactory quality, fitness for purpose and the use of reasonable care and skill which, but for this legal notice, might have effect in relation to any referral or recommendation).
Complaints
If you are unhappy with any element of the Chamber membership service, please let us know by contacting the chamber by telephone on 01275 373373, by emailing membership@businesswest.co.uk or in writing to Business West, Leigh Court, Abbots Leigh, BS8 3RA
Version No. 2
Review Date: 31 July 2023