THE manager of Bridgwater Chamber of Commerce has stepped down from his role.

Diogo Rodrigues, former Mayor of Bridgwater, and current town and Somerset Councillor, will be moving on from his position at the head of the Chamber of Commerce due to family business commitments.

Taunton restaurants Skewer House and Corner Club are both ran by the Rodrigues family.

Mr Rodrigues first joined the Bridgwater Chamber in July 2022, overseeing the continued success of the annual Sedgemoor Business Awards, as well as Bridgwater’s first Business Expo in 2023 and the launch of a printed newsletter.

Gavin Roberts, current Chair of Bridgwater Chamber, said: “It’s never great to see someone so valued leaving, but Diogo does so with our blessings, we understand, as business owners ourselves, that sometimes you must make hard decisions, but we fully support Diogo and his partner’s new business venue here in Bridgwater.

"All of the board and I would like to take this opportunity to thank Diogo for the huge amount of effort put in and the positive impact he has made for the chamber and businesses of Bridgwater.”

Mr Rodrigues said: “It’s not a decision that I took lightly, as I have loved being part of the chamber team.

"Together we have achieved so many positive things for the businesses of Bridgwater and I am glad to be able to still have an input as a board member going forward”.

The chamber is now actively recruiting for a new Relationship Manager to help the chamber move forward, with events including the Sedgemoor Business Awards, The Bridgwater Business Expo, and much more.

For a full job description, or to apply for the role, visit www.bridgwaterchamber.org.uk/were-hiring.

The Bridgwater Chamber of Commerce, recently received a £3,000 donation from a housebuilder to go towards helping local businesses.

Persimmon Homes Severn Valley presented the cheque to the Bridgwater Chamber of Commerce's manager, Diogo Rodrigues, following a successful application to the housebuilder's Community Champions scheme.

Persimmon's grant is to fund free workshops and business support to help local small business owners elevate their venture to the next level.

Speaking on the donation, Mr Rodrigues said: “Our goal is to elevate their businesses to the next level by fostering a supportive network where they can learn from one another and through training."