From the Chief Executive Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce


Focus on support helps member businesses grow at home and abroad


by Ann McGregor, chief executive, Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce


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organisation with a strong policy platform is developing steadily. While much remains to be done to strengthen the Chamber’s role and standing in this community, good progress has been made in many important areas including our interface with existing members and in the marketing of our portfolio of practical services to those companies currently outside our membership. Our focus is on support that will assist our member companies


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to develop business especially in markets outside Northern Ireland. Our services have expanded in areas such as insurance, health cover and business networking, services which are now being marketing professionally and effectively to our members. Achieving Investors in People accreditation was an important


endorsement of the quality of services that we currently provide. We also achieved the British Chambers Excellence Model Accreditation which assesses the Chamber’s performance across 12 business areas including governance, finance, membership, networking, policy, strategy and planning. We will continue to deploy resources to build on this standing. It means that existing and future members can count on the Chamber to provide the very best and most relevant services in line with their requirements. Building our membership remains a priority. Our members are


our strength. We grow and prosper through the quality and range of professional services that we provide. The Chamber is unique in terms of the expert and member-focused services that it provides to business in Northern Ireland. No other business organisation here has such an extensive portfolio and offers the global networking opportunities for both large and small companies. Our objective has been, and will continue to be, to ensure that


the interests and needs of business are fully understood and appreciated in London and at Stormont. The Chamber responded to various policy proposals in key industries here such as tourism and to announcements from Westminster including the Budget. In addition, we have taken steps to ensure that our companies


are fully briefed on developments in the Republic of Ireland particularly the role of NAMA, the National Assets Management Agency, and its likely impact on companies throughout Northern Ireland. Our popular ‘In Camera’ sessions with key figures have included Arlene Foster, Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Investment and Sir Reg Empey, Minister for Employment and


adical changes in the way the Chamber operates and especially the services it offers to members have been implemented over the past year. A new and more vibrant


Learning, has enabled members to raise issues important to them. Among the major policy proposals for business that we have


influenced is the Independent Review of Economic Policy and in particular its recommendations on driving exports forward much faster. We are keen to work alongside DETI and particularly Invest Northern Ireland on initiatives that will encourage and assist companies here, especially smaller businesses to become more internationally focused and competitive. This focus has also led to the development of a new export


mentoring service that will be offered to companies new to exporting and will involve senior managers from many of our leading and most successful exporters. The Chamber is now better informed than ever before about


the requirements of our members through the creation of a new technology database. A key objective for the year ahead will be to strengthen further


our policy platform. A number of sub-committees have already been created that are led by council members and involving other members. They have been tasked to shape progressive policies that will enable us to address economic and business issues facing companies here both now and in the future. The Chamber has recently launched our policy manifesto for


growth and jobs ‘Enabling Economic Excellence’ to position the private sector to play a greater role in efforts to rebalance the local economy and help in repaying the huge debt the nation is now facing. Our proposals which we have forwarded to the Northern Ireland Executive and the Treasury include the setting up of Opportunity Zones which will see a range of incentives designed to encourage private sector expansion in areas with below average private sector employment and where public sector job losses are likely to hit hardest. As well as this, private sector expansion will be facilitated by a reduction in corporation tax and a Northern Ireland-wide export programme. Recovery is certain, and it will be led by the private sector. It is


vital that these proposals are implemented if we are to rebalance the economy. It is through partnership with the public sector and those


working within it that we will deliver success. If government creates the right environment, then we can ensure that growth, wealth creation, and, most importantly, jobs follow.


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