Living, Working and Supporting the Community in Dorset
At We are Chain, Dorset isn’t just where we’re based, it’s at the heart of everything we do. From running our business in the county to volunteering at local events and supporting young people starting their careers, we’re proud to be part of this wonderful community.
Active members of the Shaftesbury & District Chamber of Commerce
One of our founders, Jim, is also a key figure in the famous Gold Hill Cheese Race, held on the iconic Hovis Hill. It’s one of Dorset’s quirkiest and most entertaining traditions, and this year’s race raised hundreds of pounds for local charities in and around North Dorset.
We’re long-standing members of the Shaftesbury and District Chamber of Commerce, and you’ll often find us involved in board meetings, sharing ideas, and volunteering our time to help promote the area. Events like late-night shopping and the Shaftesbury Christmas lights switch-on are highlights in the calendar, bringing people together and making the town centre buzz.
One of our founders, Jim, is also a key figure in the famous Gold Hill Cheese Race, held on the iconic Hovis Hill. It’s one of Dorset’s quirkiest and most entertaining traditions, and this year’s race raised hundreds of pounds for local charities in and around North Dorset.
Connecting across Dorset’s business community
Our involvement goes beyond Shaftesbury. Last week, we headed over to the Dorchester Chamber of Commerce Summer Sesh at the Dorset Showground. It was brilliant to meet businesses from across the county, including the Dorset County Show organisers, and to feel that sense of connection that agricultural shows bring. Having started our business journey in agriculture, being back at the Dorset Show felt like coming home. From the enormous food hall to the showcase of rural life, it truly sums up what makes Dorset such a special place to live and work.
We’re also regulars at Dorset Chamber events and get stuck in at our home base, the Hinton Workspace. In October, Hinton is hosting Dorset Business Day, and we’ll be actively involved running talks and helping shape the day. We also love running training sessions locally, such as our upcoming LinkedIn for Growth workshop in September, and more sessions on SEO, AI and large language model optimisation coming later this autumn.
Supporting local talent
Community involvement isn’t just about events, it’s about people too. For the past year, we’ve been working with a T-level student from Salisbury College, who has become a fantastic member of our team. He joins us in client meetings, contributes ideas, and teaches us as much as he learns. He’ll be with us for another year, and we’re excited to see how he grows. Supporting students and future talent is something we’re passionate about, it’s all part of investing in the future of Dorset business.
Beyond Dorset—our wider community links
Although Dorset is our home, our work often takes us further afield. We’re also active in Somerset and Wiltshire, working with town councils in places like Langport, Castle Cary, and Hungerford. These partnerships mean we stay closely connected with the needs of communities across the South West, bringing that knowledge back to our Dorset base.
Why community matters to us
For us, being involved in the local community isn’t just good for business, it makes Dorset an even better place to live and work. Whether it’s supporting events, helping students take their first career steps, or simply volunteering time, we believe it all adds up to a stronger, friendlier, and more connected county.
If you’d like to find out more about how we get involved, or if you’re curious about joining your local Chamber of Commerce, we’d love to have a chat. Who knows, you might even find yourself racing a cheese up Gold Hill next year!