FIRMS have gained a louder voice in the corridors of power with the granting of a rare accolade to two chamber of commerce groups.

Medway Chamber and its Kent Thames-side Chamber partner - which are poised to merge - have won the official seal of approval from the British Chambers of Commerce.

Kent Gateway chamber, founded a year ago and representing more than 1,500 firms in Maidstone, Ashford, Shepway and Weald, has gained similar recognition.

The accredited chambers are among a 50-strong elite - out of nearly 900 chambers nationwide - to win the coveted designation.

Medway chamber president Paul Waterhouse said: ” Our fairly short, but highly productive affiliation with Kent Thames-side has resulted in our achieving the highest accolade in our 111 year history.

“Our geographical position along the North Kent corridor gives us an unequalled position not only for the UK but to the rest of the world.”

Chris Capron, chief executive of Kent Gateway, said: “We have made fantastic progress as a group over the past year. We set our sights very high and set out to be the must-belong-to organisation offering our members tangible benefits in the form of free or discounted services.

“We were also determined to be a centre of excellence within Kent for business support and enterprise services. In becoming an accredited chamber, our efforts have been recognised as delivering these aims.”

The accolade is a triumph for Medway chamber chief executive Tracey Manley and her Kent Thames-side counterpart Michael Pead. They put in hours of work to prepare the chambers for a rigorous test of their services and procedures.

Ms Manley said: ”This means our members are now one of the elite UK chambers with substantial benefits in their membership.

“Already considerable discounts are given on products and services and we see that increasing.”

Meanwhile, both chambers have confirmed that they will merge soon but insist it will not mean the loss of their regional identities.

Mrl Pead said:” The whole concept of the two chambers working together will give the business community a strong, local identity.”

“Our joining together adds to the momentum of the Thames Gateway development.”