Welcome from Peter Scott, Chief Executive
Chambers of Commerce come in many shapes and sizes. Large or small, county-wide, regional, urban or rural, they are as varied as their Members. We are a medium-sized Chamber of Commerce, with close to a thousand Members located across the picturesque and economically vibrant county of Dorset, ranging from sole traders to major international corporations. Especially in these difficult economic times, we exist to help you rise to the challenge.
Accredited by the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), Dorset Chamber is a privately-run Membership organisation, funded by its Members and run for its Members. But at the same time we work with the public sector in taking a lead role to help shape local and county-wide economic development initiatives.
At Dorset Chamber of Commerce and Industry we think of ourselves as a coat of many colours: something for everyone. To best serve the needs of our Members, we offer a comprehensive array of services, which represent good-value-for-money while adding value to Members’ businesses and contributing to the attainment of our Members’ commercial goals. In 2009 we are celebrating six decades of providing business support in our county and beyond, and the annual BCC survey of the national network of accredited Chambers of Commerce shows that we were the tenth-fastest-growing Chamber in Britain last year.
In these difficult economic times, we need to stay alert to the changing needs of the local and regional business community, and we are able to respond to (and help shape) national, regional and local Government policy on issues as diverse as transport, land use, the environment, and education training & skills development. So for those of our Members who seek lobbying support, we act on their behalf as “the voice of business in Dorset”. We provide those businesses with a lobbying forum to influence key policy and decision-makers: thanks to the close working relationships we have developed, we have access to regional/national government, Ministers, local MPs, enterprise bodies, and the Local Authorities.
International trade has been championed as a catalyst (if not a panacea) to aid recovery from the recession and sustain economic growth. For our Members with export interests, our International Department offers services including issuing international trade documentation (electronically or by post), and we also organise market development visits, which in the past few years have included France, Australia, Singapore, India and China. These are often run in association with UK Trade & Investment (UKTI); and we were the first chamber in the U.K. to join COBCOE (The Council of British Chambers of Commerce in Europe).
Closer to home, we continue to develop our Events programme, which includes business breakfasts, lunches and dinners held in both urban and rural venues. These range from thematic to social, and from small groups to large-scale such as the annual Dorset Business Awards (see www.dorsetbusinessawards.co.uk ). We are polishing our green credentials too, running environmental-awareness and Corporate Responsibility campaigns and seminars.
To emphasise our commitment to the future and the development of a healthy business community, and to help address the skills needs of business, we run our own training courses, have an on-line Leadership Academy, and engage with employers, Colleges, and Bournemouth’s University and Arts University College. We haven’t overlooked the entrepreneurs of tomorrow, either: since 2007 we have been working with Schools in Dorset and beyond, on the Young Chamber programme, which encourages 14-19 year olds to prepare themselves for the world of business.
We also welcome the opportunity to work closely with other Chambers of Commerce across the U.K., to develop into a model of best practice. Dorset Chamber is currently the only Chamber of Commerce in the South West that meets the BCC accreditation standards, and we are supportive of members of the groupings of Chambers of Commerce known as “South West Chambers” (see www.swchamber.co.uk ) and also the “South East Chambers”.
With so much to do, and with 2012 just round the corner, we will continue to work to help secure the legacy opportunities arising from the Olympics, for which the sailing events will be held at the Weymouth & Portland Sailing Academy -- this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity will be putting Dorset very much on the world map.
Our aspiration is to become our Members’ preferred first port-of-call for specialist business support. So to find out more about Dorset Chamber, do come and join us at one of our Events, and experience our special blend of easy-going networking with a sharp-edged business focus.
Peter Scott,
Chief Executive, Dorset Chamber of Commerce and Industry