A ROMSEY business group has announced it will freeze members' subscription fees in an effort to help businesses recover from the coronavirus crisis.

The Romsey & District Chamber of Commerce and Industry unveiled the charges will be suspended for its current members for the forthcoming year.

The Chamber believes the move could save larger members, who have more than six employees, up to £110 a year.

To aid new and existing businesses, the group is offering free membership (worth at least £70 a year) for up to 150 new members who join during the new Chamber year; this starts on July 1 2021.

Chamber president, Ieuan Wathen, said: "We know many of our members have suffered through tough times over the past 12 months and may continue to do so for some time.

"The Chamber has decided to do what it can to help by suspending subscriptions and offering membership without charge to a limited number of local organisations.

"At the same time, we have taken the opportunity to look again at what we offer our members, to refine and improve what we do and give local businesses that haven’t previously taken advantage of joining us every reason to do so."

The group has also announced its plans to resume events in the second half of 2021 in line with the Government's roadmap out of lockdown.

The first event will be the Annual General Meeting on Wednesday, June 23 at The White Horse Hotel, located in the Market Place.

In July, the Chamber plans to reintroduce its popular ‘First Friday’ informal networking meetings at La Parisienne, Bell Street, and this year’s President's Reception is planned for November at The White Horse.

The group is aiming to resume its monthly breakfast meetings, previously run at the Town Hall, and reschedule some events that were postponed during lockdown - including a business-themed quiz that should happen in October.

Businesses that are not already Chamber members, and are interested in the free subscription scheme, should register their interest as soon as possible by emailing the Chamber’s secretary, Philippa Luckhurst at info@romseychamber.co.uk.