COMMENT
THE LAST WORD
KEVIN HARRIS, Chamber President, on the issues that are worth talking about
While the festive period can provide much- needed downtime, it feels like an awful lot has happened since my last notes for the December/January publication.
acknowledgement of the fundamental work it undertakes within the business community here in the East Midlands and beyond.
BREXIT I mentioned at the start of this piece that a lot has happened since my previous notes – and nothing quite optimises this point more than Brexit. As we rapidly approach 29 March, the
proposed date for the UK’s exit of the European Union, the noise surrounding Brexit will undoubtedly crank up still further and, as I sit here now, there is still no definitive answer as to what will happen in the months to come. Yet, in some respects, the Chamber – which
has remained strictly neutral throughout – maintains the same asks of Government and key decision-makers as it has throughout this process. And that’s that business is placed front- and-centre when considering the challenges and opportunities associated with Brexit. For too long now businesses in our region, and
up and down the country, have had to deal with the uncertainties surrounding Brexit. Businesses are the creators of wealth and prosperity and must be given the right conditions to be successful and grow. I would urge key decision-makers in the process to bear this in mind, not just in the coming weeks and months but in the years to follow.
CHAMBER OF THE YEAR Firstly, I would like to take the opportunity here in Business Network to congratulate Scott and the whole of the team at the Chamber for being named national Chamber of the Year at the recent British Chambers of Commerce Business Awards. Such recognition is certainly no mean feat.
There are 53 accredited Chambers of Commerce in the BCC’s network which span from the tip of Scotland to Cornwall, and so for our Chamber to be named Chamber of the Year is a magnificent achievement. The Chamber works tirelessly on behalf of you –
its members – and lives by its mission to enhance East Midlands businesses and communities. While the Chamber will naturally strive to
continue to build on its efforts and success and enhance still further its services and products to members, this is a richly-deserved
70 business network February 2019
ENTERPRISING WOMEN The Chamber’s eagerly-anticipated Enterprising Women Awards take place on 8 March – coinciding with International Women’s Day – and I would like to congratulate all the finalists, as announced in the Chamber News section of this edition. I know that, as ever, the standard of entries were
high and it will be a great occasion at Derbyshire County Cricket Club’s County Ground next month as we rightly acknowledge and celebrate the talented and dedicated business women that we are fortunate to have here in the East Midlands.
CHAMBER ANNUAL DINNER I am really looking forward to the Chamber’s Annual Dinner at Colwick Hall on 21 March. It will be great to be able to address and speak with so many esteemed guests and member businesses. The Annual Dinner is rightly considered one of the flagship events in the Chamber’s calendar
The Chamber's Annual Dinner is always eagerly anticipated
and from a personal perspective I expect it to be a highlight of my time as President. While the Annual Dinner is ultimately a
celebration of the strength of the business community here in our region, it is also a not-to- be-missed opportunity to network and hopefully lay the foundations for long-lasting and fruitful business relationships. I look forward to seeing as many of you as
possible for a night of great food, great entertainment and a true celebration of the business community across Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire and Leicestershire.
EMPLOYMENT FIGURES The most recent employment figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) make encouraging reading from a regional perspective and once again demonstrate the robustness, tenacity and general health of the East Midlands business community. However, positive regional performance – not
just in terms of employment figures but the wider business performance as a whole – is being achieved despite many political and economic challenges and such results should not be taken for granted or viewed complacently by key influencers. As mentioned above in reference to Brexit, it
is absolutely essential that businesses are given the tools and the environment to be successful. While good figures such as those announced by the ONS are welcomed, that doesn’t detract from the fact that businesses need support to enable them to grow.
All the best. Kevin
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