The two organisations have joined up to produce a special guidebook to help smaller firms, plus a series of advice workshops and a newsletter.

The chamber is also creating a special division to represent small businesses and give them a voice.

And it is talking with the Small Business Development Corporation about a mentor programme, in which new firms would get personal advice from established executives.

The moves were announced on Thursday by Chamber president Mr. Louis Mowbray, its executive vice-president Ms Carolyn Mello and senior credit manager at the bank Mr. Micky Smith, who is also a member of the chamber's executive board.

The six workshops will run from April 20 to May 25, covering financing, credit management, valuing a firm, advertising, maximising profits and business development.

Mr. Smith said all the growth in jobs was in small businesses. The sector was the "engine that drives business'', he said.

Since 1990 the bank had offered a special service to small businesses, giving them one-to-one service and helping them get credit and confidential advice.

The bank had been researching what else its small business customers needed, he said. He had realised the chamber was also preparing to meet demand with very similar proposals. A joint approach had been the next step.

The workshops, on Wednesday evenings, were to designed to help business people maximise profits through better cost control, management and promotion.

The price of the workshops would include a special business planning guide -- a workbook designed to show business owners how to draw up a business plan.

The newsletters would provide tips on improved management and could be used as reference material, Mr. Smith said.

Mr. Mowbray said he hoped the workshops would attract people from "all walks of life''.

"Small business is the backbone of this community and the success of our small businesses is as critical to this econony as both international business and tourism.

"Our corner grocers, plumbers, taxi drivers, tour boat operators, carriage operators, carpenters, masons and small shopkeepers help keep Bermuda alive and thriving.

"Small businesses need to be as competitive, as smart and as savvy as the leading businesses on this Island.'' Ms Mello said the chamber planned to form its new small business division by the middle of the year. It would probably provide monthly meetings, she said.

Information on the workshops is available from Mrs. Shirley Mullan at the chamber, 295-4201.