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A positive end to the year for the Chamber


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FRONT COVER Olympic gold medallist James Cracknell launches the Weston-Super-Half See page 8


Amid the ongoing Brexit psychodrama in Westminster and Brussels, I’d like to sign off the final edition of Insight magazine in 2017 with some highly positive news. I’m delighted to write that in September, Business West Chambers of Commerce walked away as World Chambers Competition champions. We won the Best Job Creation and Business Development project, which aims to maximise international trade as a means of benefitting business in South West England, We beat stiff competition from Colombia,


Turkey, Philippines and Iran to eventually lift the prize. If being named one of the best Chambers in


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‘We’ll be doing more and more to help business influence Government’


the world wasn’t enough, we also received parliamentary congratulations from the Prime Minister herself! In the letter Mrs May acknowledged the magnitude of the win, writing: ‘With over 50 applications from 27 countries, the fact that Business West Chambers of Commerce was only one of five Chambers to be honoured at this prestigious event makes your award even more special. Please accept my congratulations on your win and my best wishes for many more years of success.’ High praise from the highest office in the land, capped off last month with yet another


award in recognition of our international trade services from Enterprising Britain. Another successful year for Business West and exporters across the region, and there will be no let-up in 2018. While the year ahead contains a lot of unknowns, we’ll be doing more and more to help business influence Government, enabling them to create an environment in which enterprise can flourish. Business West stands in the space between Government and the business world providing the unique voice that enterprise needs; providing our educators with the information and links with which to create opportunities for people to develop the needed skills; providing government with the channels through which they can implement the programmes that facilitate economic success. As we move into 2018, using our global network of Chambers and private sector partners, we are determined to ensure that, despite all the uncertainty around at the moment, we can still drive business growth and success for our members. We will continue be at the centre of the action; as the voice of business serving all our best interests with information, influence and support for implementation.


PHIL SMITH MANAGING DIRECTOR OF BUSINESS WEST


NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2017 insight 3


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