MORE THAN 40 new members have joined York and North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce in the last two months.

The chamber, which started a membership drive when it moved to premises at Monks Cross, York, and appointed a new administrative team last year, says that the number of new businesses signing up demonstrates its widening appeal within the county's business community.

Among new members are an interior designer, a rugby league club, a hardware business, aluminium manufacturer, disaster management consultants, an art gallery, photographer and architectural ironmongers.

The announcement of the chamber's growing membership follows news that attendance at its monthly networking lunches has risen from 60 to 120 during the last six months.

Len Cruddas, chief executive of York and North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce, said: "Our new, growing membership is a logical progression from the increasing interest in our networking lunches and other events which are proving a great success.

"We are changing our image and are now more relevant to the county's evolving business community. This is reflected by the growing number of businesses that feel membership is imperative because the benefits are far wider than just valuable networking.

"Particularly pleasing is the way the chamber is broadening its appeal by attracting new businesses, often in new sectors, run by younger people, including a growing band of female entrepreneurs. Some are from the wider county area rather than the City of York, and the trend is for new members to be attracted to the chamber rather than us having to sell hard to them."

The chamber, which serves an area bordered by Settle, Richmond, Scarborough and Selby, hopes to announce additions to its team and exciting new services for members during the coming months.

Updated: 12:09 Tuesday, June 24, 2003