November 2017 breakfast: Events to look forward to and important information
Don’t forget the Chamber, as last year, will be running a reverse advent calendar in aid of the Stowmarket & Area Foodbank. We ask people to kindly put an item a day into a box to make up hampers to bring to the Christmas lunch to be distributed by the Foodbank. We will also be collecting additional food and other donated items at the Christmas lunch.
Gipping Press is holding its annual coffee and calendar pre-Christmas drop-in on Thursday, December 14, 2pm to 4pm. There will also be a collection of food items for the Food Bank.
Everything you ever wanted to know about GDPR
Albert Peters, of Pegasus HR, with a little “help” from Chamber Secretary Keely, updated us all on the various things we will need to do to comply with the new General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR) due to come into force on May 25, 2018.
Having reached an agreement in 2016 with the USA about privacy, the EU has also spent four years drafting improved regulations (GDPR) which will drastically tighten the rules on what information businesses and other organisations hold about individuals.
Some of the regulations will not be finalised until April 2018, which, he said, is causing some confusion. The ICO (Information Commissioner’s Office) has a helpline people can ring.
Essentially, businesses will have to carry out an audit of the information they hold on people, map that information and specify the basis for processing personal data and give people the opportunity to consent to their holding it.
The intention is to give individuals more control of the information stored and to better protect their privacy.
As an example, anyone who does e-mail marketing or sends out sales emails or asks people to sign up to their website will now have to ask people for their consent to be on the mailing lists. It will not only cover online but also print communications.
Essentially, people will have to be told what information is held, where it is held (and this must be demonstrably secure), and where the information will be used.
The ICO has produced a 12-step process to help organisations to comply in time for May. You can find it here.
Tell us what you want
Allan is happy to receive any suggestions for what members want to see the Chamber doing in the future. Please send your ideas (and your want lists) to [email protected].
Dates for your diary:
December coffee and Christmas shopping | Christmas Lunch |
Needham Market Community Centre | Stonham Barns |
Thursday, December 7 | Friday, 15 December |
10am-noon | Starting at 12noon |
Book early for Christmas!!!
We’ll be holding a coffee morning/Christmas Bazaar at Needham Market Community Centre on Thursday, December 7. Please get in touch with Keely Taylor to book a stall.
Christmas lunch is at Stonham Barns on Friday, December 15.
For more information contact Keely Taylor
phone: 01449 770965
e-mail: [email protected]
Anyone who has a story to publicise should contact marketing officer Alison Withers: