Commentary
Two years in review T
Francis Martin handed over the Presidency of the Chamber last month and here he writes his final President’s Report.
he two years during which I had the privilege to serve as president of the Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce have been among the quickest years of my professional life. It some ways it seems like a mere handful of weeks since I took up the position, and that is a tribute to the staff and members of the Chamber, and reflects the fact that so much has been achieved by the Chamber in the intervening period. To my mind the central function of a successful representative organisation is to harness and reflect the views of the members, in a positive and constructive way. That was achieved over the last two years in a way which ensures the Northern Ireland Chamber is now to the forefront of policy development and engagement with appropriate Government ministers and departments.
In gathering the views of businesses throughout Northern Ireland the programme of events organised by the team within the Chamber was crucial. The Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce now has a well‑ deserved reputation for quality business networking and development events and I was always pleased with how quickly the ʻfull houseʼ signs went up on Chamber gatherings. Throughout the last 12 months more than 5,000 businesses, from across all sectors and every part of Northern Ireland, attended over 50 events ranging from ʻin cameraʼ events with ministers, permanent secretaryʼs and special advisors, to the annual Presidentʼs banquet. Our members willingly embrace the opportunity to engage with policy makers, and to ensure that the voice of the business community is heard, whether at a breakfast with the taoiseach or dinner with the secretary of state.
The membership of the Chamber has increased significantly, not only in the two years just passed, but in each of the preceding two years as well. The result is the emergence, under the stewardship of Ann McGregor and her management team of a bigger, stronger and more dynamic organisation, which is meeting the demands of the business community it represents.
The Chamber is also in the business of providing very direct assistance to local firms. Last year we identified export as a means of business growth. We worked with our partners in the Northern Bank, A&L Goodbody and ASM Chartered Accountants to develop the ʻExport Firstʼ programme which has reached 197 businesses already. That type of direct intervention is welcomed by our members and in fact it is a two way process, whereby Chamber members who have successfully exported their goods and services advise and help those members who want to export. We also provided our members with the Better
Business Finance initiative in partnership with the British Bankers Association to assist SMEʼs with financial planning.
As an organisation we have moved onto the front foot on the major campaigns impacting local businesses. For example we helped to lead a successful campaign on the reduction of the Air Passenger Duty and, in tandem with the other representative bodies, we worked together under the ʻGROW NIʼ banner to push for the reduction of Corporation Tax in Northern Ireland. That campaign continues and I know that my successor will continue to lead on this important issue.
This time last year the Northern Ireland Chamber published what I regard as a seminal economic policy document, ʻEnabling Economic Excellenceʼ, which set a new template for the Chamber, such was the extent of internal consultation and research which the team put into the document. We launched ʻEnabling Economic Excellenceʼ at Stormont with the support and endorsement of the first and deputy first ministers and much of what was in that document has set the agenda for the necessary discussion around how we can all work to restore economic growth to our region. It was that type of partnership approach between the Chamber and the Northern Ireland Executive which underpinned our ʻ5 leaders 5 daysʼ series of interactive lectures between Chamber members and each of the main political parties at Stormont and that is something to which the Chamber will want to return I am sure.
There have been internal milestones too which help demonstrate the professionalism which is brought to the day to day running of the Chamber. Under Ann and her team the organisation was awarded ISO and Investors in People status as well as securing British Chamber of Commerce Accreditation 2010 and 2011. The Chamberʼs work has been acknowledged with recent awards from the Chartered Institute of Marketing and the Irish News. I want to pay tribute especially to Ann who deservedly picked up the Outstanding Leadership award at the Women in Business Awards.
There is no denying the difficult economic circumstances which have prevailed during my time as Presidency. Northern Ireland is not alone in facing the impact of global economic uncertainty but we do have added pressures through our peripheral location and our historic over reliance on the public sector. It is crucial that local businesses are listened to and assisted as they battle for survival and growth. Our economic upturn will come from within and will be led by local business people. I have absolute confidence that the Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce will do what it has done for 230 years, and lead that economic revival.
www.businessfirstonline.co.uk
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