INTERVIEW And this single voice absolutely means representing the


full spectrum of East Midlands businesses – from established multi-nationals to fledgling start-ups. “It’s incredibly important that the Chamber is


representative of all businesses, all sectors, all geographical areas and businesses of all sizes,” stresses Scott. “As an organisation that covers three counties in the East


Midlands you’ve got a significant majority of SMEs and we know that micro businesses and SMEs are the lifeblood of the East Midlands’ economy. “It’s crucial that those organisations have a voice and


that the Chamber can channel that in terms of addressing their issues locally, regionally, nationally and internationally.” While the Chamber works on behalf of its members, its


responsibility for realising a collective prosperity across the region is also of critical importance. And an approach that sees the region lead with one,


clear voice can help the East Midlands realise its fantastic potential and secure a positive future for the businesses and people who work and live here. “The East Midlands’ identity is an interesting


conundrum,” suggests Scott. “We find ourselves today as an East Midlands


surrounded by areas that have got devolved status, such as Greater Manchester and Birmingham. Historically, we have heard a lot of noise around the Northern Powerhouse and in the past two to three years the concept of a Midlands Engine has continued to gain traction - you’ve got Sir John Peace chairing that organisation which, I believe, will ultimately have a transformative effect on the East Midlands’ economy. “It’s important that the East Midlands is not seen as that


bit of land you traverse to get from London to Birmingham or the Northern Powerhouse. “We make more stuff here than anywhere else in the UK


and it’s about the East Midlands having that identity as the manufacturing spine of the UK and really using its leverage there as a catalyst to ensure we get the appropriate level of investment. This will ensure there is a world class level of infrastructure to be able to get those goods and services out not just to customers in the UK but internationally as well.” As the Chamber continues to evolve in line with the


expectations and demands of business, the area of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and the notion of communities and place is set to become even more prominent. And as Scott explains, it’s an area that has always been a


key focus for the Chamber – but one that is becoming further embedded in its activity. “The communities aspect is really important. It’s about


the Chamber verifying work it has been doing for a long time around supporting communities, whether that’s engaging with schools, trying to bring the worlds of education and employers closer together or whether it’s helping to support individuals that are furthest away from the job market and helping them get back into sustainable employment – we have always done this type of work. “As a Chamber we have this year changed our vision,


which for the past three years has been very straightforward – “To enhance East Midlands businesses”. We’ve changed that to “To enhance East Midlands businesses and communities”. “It’s about taking this area of activity to the next level –


looking at how we create those links between successful businesses and thriving local communities. “The Chamber is here to galvanise the messages it gets


from members around what they want to do to enhance CSR and how they want to be able to support the communities in which they are based. “We’re developing a new work stream to further support


communities. This involves working in partnership with organisations such as the Community Foundations across each county, working with members that are social enterprises and charity organisations and also acting as a conduit for members that have a desire to increase the amount of CSR work and community engagement they undertake themselves.”


46 business network May 2019 Validation of the Chamber’s work came recently in the


form of the coveted Chamber of the Year Award at the British Chambers of Commerce’s prestigious Business Awards. The accolade led the BCC’s President, Francis Martin, to


declare that: “The strategic work and engagement of the Chamber with local stakeholders embodies the mission of Chambers of Commerce everywhere”. The acknowledgement was naturally a proud moment for


Scott who says that the award is a reflection on the hard work and dedication of a large number of people. “It was an incredibly proud moment in my career and


should be for everybody at the Chamber. “This is absolutely not my award, it is an award for the


staff and all those who add value to what we do in a whole host of ways. It is due recognition for the whole organisation from our staff, board of directors, strategic partners and patrons, members and customers - all those who support the Chamber in various forms. “It was very rewarding to get that recognition from peers


in terms of the British Chambers of Commerce recognising that we are a demand-led, service-based business that meets the needs of our members by constantly evolving the product and service offer.” And what of the future? Whatever the landscape looks


like in the months and years to come, Scott believes Chambers in general, and the East Midlands Chamber (Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire) specifically, will be at the forefront of a passionate drive to create communities that are prosperous for all. “Chambers of Commerce is a globally-recognised brand.


There has always been a desire from people in business to collaborate and come together for the greater good – that model will always exist. “We’ve got some interesting times ahead. At some point


the UK will come out of the European Union and that has obviously created significant uncertainty over the past three years and with that new status brings some interesting challenges which nobody has the answer for at the moment. “Whatever the business support landscape looks like,


you’ll always have a demand from businesses for access to services to help them grow. “The next few years for the Chamber is about being


constantly fleet of foot and being agile to ensure the services we offer are demand-led. It isn’t about what I think or what our staff think, it’s about what our members think - they are the ones that tell us the type of support they need. “It is about the Chamber’s portfolio of services evolving to meet that demand at a pace that business dictates.”


‘We have this year changed our vision, which for the past three years has been very straightforward – “To enhance East Midlands businesses”. We’ve changed that to “To enhance East Midlands businesses and communities”


Scott Knowles with a Chamber delegation receive the Chamber of the Year Award in London


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