A CHAMBER of Trade is proving the best way to beat the recession is to work together by signing up its 100th member.

The Full Moon Pub is the 100th member of Wotton Chamber of Trade.

Over 40 businesses have signed up in the last year alone and the chamber’s president, Alex Wilkinson, who has been instrumental in seeing the group grow, thinks it can easily keep on expanding.

"We want more people to get involved, we want to be able to make a real difference in the town," said Mr Wilkinson.

His secret to making the chamber flourish has been to get people involved and make it fun.

Mr Wilkinson, who works part-time as a plumber but devotes much of his time to the Chamber of Trade, said the most successful change had been the introduction of the supper clubs and breakfast meetings.

"The supper clubs have been really popular. The committee used to just sit around a table moaning about the problems in the town and it was just depressing," said Mr Wilkinson. "I had a brainwave and thought 'Why don’t we get people eating and drinking and talking.'"

The chamber has regular skittles evenings and recently held a successful Question Time style event, with a panel of local experts answering questions.

There is also a discount scheme in which certain businesses offer discounts to fellow members of the chamber, which helps the local economy. "Rather than going to the Mall to buy a present, people will try in town first because they want to help out their fellow members. We are trying to look at ways of getting people to shop locally," said Mr Wilkinson.

Landlord of the Full Moon Joe Carley said joining the chamber seemed like a great idea because so many local businesses were working together.

"The Chamber of Trade benefits the whole community," said Mr Carley. "The more we can promote Wotton as a great place to visit the better."

Wotton barely looks like 100 businesses could trade there, but Mr Wilkinson said the key to the success of the chamber has been opening it up to all businesses, not just high street shops.

Members range from cafes, hotels and galleries to solicitors, car dealers, opticians and even a driving school.

Mr Wilkinson said he’s already got a further two companies ready to sign up and has his sights set on the next 100 businesses.