Message from the President
In these challenging tines, let’s not be complacent: minimal growth in the UK economy is anticipated in 2012. The Government has committed to massive infrastructural development over the next decade, has introduced lots of new legislation, and has committed to reducing the burden of Red Tape on businesses, and here in Dorset there is already a lot of regeneration underway.
Our Board is fully committed to the delivery of its Strategic Vision. Our goal is to enable our Members to capitalise on the range of business support services we offer, and the opportunities we provide, both nationally and internationally, and we are focusing on providing a good value-for-money proposition for our Members.
Despite the continuing difficult economy, we regularly attract over 70 participants to our monthly Networking events, and we had over 510 participants at the 2011 Dorset Business Awards Gala Dinner -- it is great to see such inspirational businesses from across Dorset being recognised for their achievements. We will continue to work with neighbouring Chambers (Somerset, and Salisbury), and in 2012 we will be introducing joint events with Hampshire Chamber.
And as UKPLC “exports its way out of recession”, a highlight remains our International Documentation service. There are good opportunities for exporters in Dorset to step up to the plate, and our Export Training courses remain very popular. There has also been good take-up of our other training services including the online Health & Safety course we are running in conjunction with Essex Chamber.
At the Dorset Chamber, we deliver our services thorough the staff team, our Committees, and through Members themselves. As well as supporting our existing loyal Members, we are currently recruiting many new Members, and we are keen to attract larger business into Membership of the Chamber, to help with the “critical mass” of the business community in Dorset which the Chamber represents. Together, we can build on past achievements, and we are confident that in 2012 we will continue to play a significant part in our Members’ success.
