Chamber staff on short-time working

Around 25 staff will see their working hours change, although the chamber said staff at the Sheffield Enterprise Agency would be unaffected.

Nigel Tomlinson, the chief executive, said in a statement: "Like many other organisations the Chamber has had to put in place plans to best address the current difficult financial and trading climate.

"This process includes the introduction of a period of short time working which is being operated in a way to ensure that our members continue to receive effective cover and service at all times.

"The chamber finds itself in a very difficult and changing trading environment where the face of the Sheffield Chamber and probably all chambers is changing.

"However, our focus firmly remains in delivering the highest standards in keeping with one of the best chambers in the UK."

The chamber revealed last September that it had posted its first deficit in eight years, despite the fact that its membership had reached record levels.

The chamber's annual report showed a deficit for the year ending March 31, 2009, of 827,839, with net assets of 2.04m.

It has 2,643 members.