Listening, Learning, and Looking Ahead: Member Feedback from the Hastings Area Chamber of Commerce

At our recent Slow Networking meeting in October, we took the opportunity to do something a little different. While our events focus on connecting local businesses, this time we also focused on connecting ideas!

At this meeting, the Hastings Chamber team joined in with the networking, but rather than talking about what we do, we asked our members about what they value most about being part of the Hastings Area Chamber of Commerce, as well as what they’d like to see in the future. The responses were thoughtful, insightful, and full of enthusiasm for our local business community. Here’s what we heard and how we plan to move forward.

What our members value most

Networking that builds real relationships: Our members love the chance to meet a wide range of local business owners and professionals, and even more so, the fact that our meetings go beyond a quick introduction. The relaxed and friendly format of our meetings helps to encourage genuine connections that often grow into long-term collaborations.

Variety and fresh venues: With every meeting hosted at a different local venue, members enjoy the chance to explore other businesses in the area. This not only keeps our events fresh and interesting but also shines a light on the diversity of the spaces, services, and stories which make up our local economy.

A supportive sense of community: One theme came through clearly: the Hastings Chamber is seen as both a welcoming and inclusive space for businesses. Members appreciate the supportive and non-competitive atmosphere, as well as the willingness of others to share advice and encouragement.

Learning and inspiration: Our community values the opportunity to learn from one another, whether it’s hearing a guest speaker, discovering a new industry perspective, or simply gaining a fresh idea to take back to their business.

Suggestions from the future

We were thrilled that the feedback gathered at this meeting was overwhelmingly positive, and even more thrilled that our members shared some thoughtful suggestions to help us keep improving. Here’s what we heard:

Earlier start times – A few members mentioned that they would prefer earlier meetings to better fit with their working day.

Improving member profiles – We will be reviewing our website and member portal to make it easier for everyone to update their profiles and showcase what they do.

Exploring more local businesses – Members want more behind-the-scenes opportunities to visit and learn about local enterprises, something we are keen to build into future events.

New members welcome pack – This is something that is already in the works and will help our new members feel more connected from day one (watch this space!)

Guest speakers and learning variety – Members enjoy our guest speaker sessions, so we’ll continue to bring in experts who can share valuable insights tailored to local business needs.

In our members’ own words

“It’s one of the best networking groups around. A good mix of businesses and people who are actually interested in building relationships, not just selling.”

“I like that the Chamber does different types of events, not just networking, but things that are completely different. Sometimes you don’t even talk about business the whole time, but it’s still a great way to connect.”

“There’s always something useful to take away from each event, whether it’s a new contact or a new idea for the business.”

Looking ahead

The feedback we received at this meeting reinforces what makes the Hastings Chamber special – a welcoming atmosphere, genuine collaborations, and a shared passion for seeing local businesses thrive.

We’re excited to put your ideas into action and continue to shape the Chamber experience. Thank you to everyone who joined us at our Slow Networking event and shared their thoughts – and if you haven’t yet attended one of our events, we’d love to see you soon!

If you weren’t able to attend the meeting but would still like to share your ideas or feedback, we’d love to hear from you – email us at info@hastingschamber.co.uk