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www.glasgowchamberofcommerce.com PRESIDENT
In times of strife, the Chamber is here to help
Jim McHarg, President
president@glasgowchamberofcommerce.com
I
’m sure Chamber members will share my pleasure in hearing about our latest international agreements. The signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between Glasgow Chamber of Commerce and IHK Berlin (Industrie und Handelskammer zu Berlin), the Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Berlin (CCI Berlin), is a feather in the cap for the Chamber. So congratulations to Stuart Patrick, Richard Muir and the team for their excellent work in this regard. It follows on from the Chamber’s MoU with Turin in Italy and Manhattan in New York City. Such openings will hopefully play a significant part in alleviating the uncertainty in the forthcoming post-Brexit era.
I hope Chamber members will see this as a golden opportunity to engage with these markets and I urge you to take part in any appropriate events, trade shows or export programmes that will stem from such agreements. I cannot underplay the importance of Chamber members actively picking up the ball and running with this. Meanwhile, the Sauchiehall Street blaze at
Victoria’s nightclub in March is a salutary reminder to all of us about the fragility of business life. When companies undertake their risk assessments, they often overlook the consequences of such dramatic events that are outwith their direct control. While thankfully there was no loss of life, there has been a detrimental impact on people’s livelihoods and businesses. As a consequence, the fire damage and the demolition also has a longer-term impact on the fabric of our great city centre. As we continue to invest in
upgrading and building new Grade One commercial property,
the last thing we need is empty shops or gap-sites on our high streets. In my own professional life, I work with one of the city’s largest employers in engineering and manufacturing services, but I am fully aware that one of the city centre’s unique selling points is the night-time economy, with Sauchiehall Street very much at the heart of this. What is greatly encouraging is the Council-funded work being undertaken to improve the appearance of this world-famous thoroughfare. The Chamber of Commerce as a member organisation has the privilege of representing all types of companies in Glasgow, and we’ve been able to step in to assist businesses that have been impacted where we can. I’ve been impressed by the resilience of those who run our clubs, restaurants and bars in the city. Glaswegians are great at rallying around when the going gets tough, and that is why People Make Glasgow. In the event of a major incident, there are short-term issues of day-to- day survival of paying the bills and cleaning up and the longer-term ones of business continuity and shaping the future. I know that the Chamber has been working behind the scenes with other organisations to help businesses where they can. I sincerely hope that all the companies impacted by the fire will be able to continue doing business. But I think if one message emerges from this setback, it is that the Chamber exists to help its members in times of strife.
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