Green light for Dorset Chamber’s new breakfast club

DCCI chief executive Ian Girling and John Caithness from Princecroft Willis

Businesses had food for thought at the first meeting of Dorset Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s re-launched Green Breakfast Club.

DCCI has revived the group to help members realise the benefits of eco-friendly initiatives to save money and the environment at the same time.

John Caithness, head of employment tax services at chartered accountants and business advisers Princecroft Willis (PcW), was guest speaker at the first meeting of the club.

He told members about the advantages of environmental taxes, including reliefs and exemptions. He also talked in depth about the Climate Change Levy, company cars and reduced VAT on energy saving products.

DCCI, the voice of business in Dorset, linked up with PcW as one of its Business Partners for the event at the Sandbanks Hotel in Poole.

Ian Girling, DCCI chief executive, said: “We decided to re-launch our Green Breakfast Club as eco-friendly initiatives become increasingly important to our members.

“As well as providing a networking forum for like-minded members, the club will also show how going green can help businesses save money, drive productivity, secure a competitive edge and increase profitability.

“The first meeting went tremendously well and we were pleased that our Business Partner Princecroft Willis was able to join us. John’s informative and interesting presentation gave members plenty of food for thought.”

Future breakfasts will cover such topics as green manufacturing, sustainable travel and effective waste management.

The next meeting is on Tuesday March 1, 2016 at Merley House in Wimborne.

DCCI, which has approximately 800 members representing 37,000 employees, recently bought its own Nissan LEAF electric car to boost its own green credentials.