BRINGING together different business organisations in the region makes good sense, according to Lancaster Chamber of Commerce chief executive Adrian Wilkinson.

"The whole purpose is to provide a better range of services for businesses in Cumbria and North Lancashire, and to ensure that the business voice and business in general has maximum opportunities to do whatever they want to do," he said.

He believes the timing for the merger could not be better, given the imminent changes to business support organisations taking place at local level.

Next April will see the creation of new Learning and Skills Councils to oversee youth and adult training in both Cumbria and Lancashire, along with the Government's new Small Business Service, which will have franchises in both counties (see stories below).

Mr Wilkinson said the new chamber would be well placed to ensure both new organisations met the needs of businesses.

"Businesses will lose out on these initiatives if they are not represented in the right place at the right time," he told Business Gazette.

A chamber for Cumbria and North Lancashire, representing 1,400-plus members, would also have greater influence at the North West Development Agency, he added.

Mr Wilkinson, who took over as Lancaster chamber's chief executive last year, is no stranger to the issues facing businesses in Kendal.

He lives in the town and previously headed a small business club in the area.

Chamber businesses could take advantage of a generous membership package, including cheaper phone calls through Chamber Telecom, and discounted insurance, travel, energy and legal aid.

Lancaster businesses on average gain benefits worth up to five times of the cost of subscriptions fees by using chamber services.