Dorset Chamber

20/10/2026

What happens when classroom learning meets real-world experience? For Bournemouth and Poole College students, it’s an opportunity to put their skills into practice, discover their potential and take their first steps towards a career. For employers, it’s a chance to connect with the talent of tomorrow.

T Levels help make that connection happen. By combining technical education with industry experience, they give students valuable insight into their chosen profession while giving employers a role in developing the next generation of skilled professionals.

At Bournemouth and Poole College, T Level pathways span a broad range of industries, including Business, Digital, Engineering, Health, Education and Early Years, Media, Science, and Sales and Marketing.

Read the full article here: https://ow.ly/6EMF50ZZlSG

20/10/2026

A warm welcome to our newest Dorset Chamber members!

Yesterday, we hosted our October New Member Coffee Morning at Chamber House, bringing together some of our newest members for a relaxed morning of networking, introductions and making new connections.

Hosted by our very own Emma Inkster, it was a great opportunity for everyone to get to know each other, learn more about the Chamber and discover how to make the most of their membership.

A big thank you to everyone who joined us!

Were looking forward to supporting you on your membership journey and seeing those new connections grow.

20/10/2026

Coastland College's Kingston Maurward Campus is developing its farm with new livestock and breeding plans, creating exciting opportunities for agriculture students to gain practical experience and build their skills in animal husbandry, breeding and farm management.

The farm is now managed in-house by Coastland College staff, following the end of its partnership with Velcourt. This marks a new chapter for the farm, building on Kingston Maurward’s agricultural heritage with a continued focus on practical teaching, animal welfare and the development of high-quality breeding stock.

Read the full article here: https://ow.ly/ShhO50ZYUcT

20/10/2026

Join us in welcoming MELP Group to the Dorset Chamber business community!

At MELP, their mission is simple: to help people develop the mental resilience, confidence and coping skills needed to navigate life's challenges before they reach crisis point.

MELP believes that if society invests more in teaching mental resilience, emotional wellbeing and positive coping strategies, they can help reduce the number of people who ever reach a point of crisis. Just as we teach academic knowledge and physical health, we should be teaching mental fitness and resilience as a core life skill.

Find out more about MELP here: https://ow.ly/85m750ZYV1q

19/10/2026

Procurement standards and regulations are changing quickly. More and more customers, supply chains and public sector buyers now expect businesses to show their carbon and ESG credentials, and that expectation is reaching smaller businesses fast.

Take a look at the key compliance dates using the link. They’re coming round sooner than many businesses realise. Join tomorrow’s Business Toolkit session with Natashia Lee from ESG Pro to find out what proportionate, procurement-focused ESG looks like for SMEs.

No jargon, no overwhelm, just practical steps that make commercial sense. There’s still time to book here: https://ow.ly/FZvt50ZYU4x

19/10/2026

Join Phil Griffin for a practical and interactive Dorset Chamber Business Toolkit session designed to help SME leaders sharpen their vision, uncover hidden opportunities, and build a clear, focused roadmap for sustainable growth.

You’ll gain simple, actionable tools, real-world examples, and practical strategies you can implement immediately.

What can you expect?
• Greater clarity on your business direction and priorities
• Proven techniques to identify growth opportunities already within your customers, team and processes
• A simple framework for focus and alignment
• Practical steps to strengthen people, processes and culture as your business scales

Find out more and book here: https://ow.ly/YINq50ZY4Fo

Please note, this session is available to Dorset Chamber members only.

19/10/2026

This September, the Forvis Mazars Poole office has welcomed six new trainees to the team.

The new joiners have joined across a range of departments, including Audit, Tax, Outsourcing and Financial Planning. Since joining, they have been getting involved in client work, attending training programmes and beginning their professional studies as they work towards their qualifications.

Everyone at Forvis Mazars Poole is looking forward to supporting their development in the future.

If you are interested in joining Forvis Mazars next September, please visit their website to see the school leaver and graduate roles which are now live - https://ow.ly/A1mT50ZXZbq.

16/10/2026

Residents from across Dorset are invited to attend a special screening of the People’s Emergency Briefing for the whole community at The Pavilion, Bournemouth, on Tuesday 20 October at 6pm. Admission is free and all are welcome.

The People’s Emergency Briefing is a new film which brings together leading UK experts to explain, in clear and accessible terms, what the latest science says about the climate and nature crisis, how it is already affecting people’s lives, and what can still be done.

Rather than focusing on politics or campaigning, the film offers an evidence-based overview from specialists in areas including climate science, food systems, health, economics, national security, and extreme weather.

The film features such famous names as TV presenter and environmentalist Chris Packham, business woman Deborah Meaden from the Dragons’ Den, actress and comedian Jennifer Saunders and presenter Konnie Huq.

Sponsored by LUSH UK and hosted by Dorset Chamber, Dorset Wildlife Trust, BCP Council and Transition Town Poole, the screening in Bournemouth will be followed by an open discussion led by a panel of representatives from the hosts and other local experts who will explore the film’s key themes before taking questions from the audience.

Find out more here: https://ow.ly/Nvjw50ZYryM

16/10/2026

What better way to start the day than getting outdoors, enjoying some fresh air and making new connections?

We had a fantastic turnout for our Connecting in Nature walk at Wild Woodbury, joined by Dorset Wildlife Trust and a few four-legged friends too! It was a lovely way to start the day, getting outdoors, enjoying some fresh air and making valuable connections along the way.

Events like these are a great reminder that networking doesn't always have to take place in a meeting room. Sometimes, a relaxed walk in nature is the perfect setting for conversations and new connections to happen naturally.

A big thank you to Dorset Wildlife Trust for joining us and to everyone who came along!

16/10/2026

Dorset Chamber Premier Business Partner, Lester Aldridge Solicitors, has achieved strong results in the latest Chambers UK 2027 Guide, securing rankings across 11 practice areas and 25 individual lawyer rankings and recognitions.

The firm retained all of its existing departmental rankings, achieved four new individual rankings or recognitions and four individual promotions, demonstrating the breadth and strength of expertise across the business.

Read the full article here: https://dorsetchamber.co.uk/lester-aldridge-celebrates-strong-results-in-chambers-uk-2027/

Lester Aldridge has achieved strong results in the latest Chambers UK 2027 Guide, securing rankings across 11 practice areas and 25 individual lawyer rankings and recognitions. The firm retained all of its existing departmental rankings, achieved four new individual rankings or recognitions and four...