Day Cummins is a firm of Chartered Surveyors and Chartered Architects based in Cockermouth and Kendal which has been in business in Cumbria for almost 100 years!
Today, they continue to serve a diverse range of clients across residential and commercial sectors, including education, leisure & tourism, and manufacturing. As a longstanding member of the Cumbria Chamber of Commerce, Day Cummins has seen a great return on its investment through its membership, benefiting the business in several ways.
“There’s a bit of a misconception about what the Chamber can actually do for your business and that it’s not just a networking group.
In terms of what we use most, it’s probably the HR support. As a small business we don’t have a dedicated HR department and over the years employment law has become much more complicated. When you call the Chamber Protect HR helpline, you’ve got someone there to talk to and get expert advice from. It’s been an important part of making sure that we are compliant and doing exactly what we should be doing.”
“When we first heard that the Chamber had launched the discounted rates on merchant service charges, we were very interested to learn more. We were given a clear pricing structure, which was going to save us 50% on our terminal rental and at least 30% on our transaction fees. As a small business we are always looking to make savings, however there is always a fear that changing providers may be complicated, create risk or that the service may not be what you want or expect. We were appointed a direct customer service contact, Steve, and he talked everything through with us. The transfer was seamless. The equipment arrived within two days of placing the order and the connection was immediate.”
“Chamber Health Care is great – we just couldn’t believe the value for money that you get! We started in January of last year, so we’ve completed our first year and everybody is delighted. Our staff have really benefited from the cashback plan, receiving repayments for dental, optical, chiropody and therapy treatments. Westfield Rewards is part of the package, and offers staff discounts on many brands, including holidays, insurances, many high street names, and supermarkets. We get positive feedback from staff all the time and honestly, I just think it’s great! For anyone looking for an entry level healthcare package for staff, I would recommend it.”
“The Directors Forum events are useful because when you run and manage your own business, it can feel quite a lonely place. It is comforting to speak to other business owners/leaders to share experiences and feel part of a wider community.”
“I suppose the first thing is that it’s excellent value for money. All the advice, networking, information, and the website, which is easy to navigate. I made a call to the legal helpline recently and received a call back within the hour, so you’re not sitting waiting to make decisions. The staff at the Chamber are easily contactable – you only have to drop an e-mail, and you receive a prompt reply. The email bulletins are also a great help, particularly after major events such as the Spring Statement and Autumn Budget. They’re always really well written and give you an insight on how the local economy may be affected.”
