A BUSINESS organisation representing private sector firms in Ellesmere Port, Chester and Flintshire has received the seal of approval from a national body.

West Cheshire and North Wales Chamber of Commerce had its accreditation to the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) renewed and is one of only 53 chambers in the UK to do so.

General manager Colin Brew said: “The fact we have again achieved full accreditation means our members can be assured we are working to the highest standards on their behalf.

“BCC employs teams of professionals to run a service members of accredited chambers can access free of charge.

“For example, accreditation means our members have access to a 24-hour HR advice line and advice from our in-house expert. They also receive up to £65,000 of legal expenses insurance.”

Based in Chester, West Cheshire and North Wales Chamber of Commerce is a business-led membership body representing 90,000 employees across the region.

Its members range from large corporate firms to SMEs and owner-managed businesses in all sectors. Its aim is to help the region’s businesses grow.

To achieve full BCC accreditation, the chamber had to undergo external verification by independent assessors.

It was tested in a series of core competencies including governance, HR, customer care, finance and quality.