The Hertfordshire Chamber of Commerce commissioned us in late summer 2021 when it had identified a need to publicise the activities of the organisation and raise its public profile. The Chamber runs a number of initiatives that support businesses throughout the county, and achieving good coverage was important.

Introducing Hertfordshire Chamber of Commerce

Hertfordshire Chamber of Commerce was founded in 1924 as a privately run membership organisation for businesses and organisations. It supports companies in the county by helping them to grow their profile and connect with other businesses. It is accredited to the British Chambers of Commerce.

What we did

As a proud member and ambassador of the organisation, we were delighted to be asked to support the country’s fastest growing Chamber.

We were already familiar with the Chamber and the work it does, so we knew what success would look like for the client. We were commissioned around the time of the Chamber’s annual Inspiring Hertfordshire awards for which we achieved widespread coverage with an estimated reach of 225,000 and an equivalent advertising cost of almost £10,000.

It was the perfect way to start our partnership. Subsequently, we have planned a PR strategy bringing in the launch of various campaigns, the work they do with young entrepreneurs, and regionalising wider business stories coming from the British Chambers of Commerce.

The results

We have secured regular coverage in local publications as well as a broadcast appearance on BBC Look East on a feature about businesses living with Covid.

Briege Leahy, CEO of the Hertfordshire Chamber of Commerce, said: “We hadn’t used an agency and the idea came that we needed to raise our profile. We looked at our membership and we looked wider, and Strand just kept coming to the top.

“We have had £40,000 worth of coverage in the last six months and that is phenomenal for the fee that we’re paying. It’s exceeded all our expectations.”