Feature
Policy Forums update T
The five Chamber of Commerce Policy Forums, set up in early 2019, are now firmly in their stride
his year is potentially a truly momentous year for Glasgow. With Brexit now a reality, and the city hosting the COP26
conference in November as well as the European Championships during the summer, there are a range of opportunities and challenges for the Chamber and its membership. Each forum is already making a significant contribution to the strategic direction of the Chamber, giving the Executive Team and the Council of Directors confidence that they have the evidence base to better represent the views of members. Alan Thomson of Scottish Water, who chairs the Place Forum, explains: “The various forums enable the Chamber to review and input to a number of consultations and policy matters that directly impact on its members. It is important that the voice of business is considered carefully as the city continues to grow and meet new challenges around climate change and transport strategies, to name but two. We work closely with Glasgow City Council and other key stakeholders to continue to build relationships for mutual benefit.” The Policy Forums have been
reviewing key policy areas and developing position statements that were presented and approved at the most recent Council of Directors meeting. The approved position statements agree Glasgow
Chamber’s activity, positioning and supporting narrative and evidence. Jim McIntyre of Royal Bank of
Scotland, chair of the Business and Innovation Forum, proposed that the Chamber continues to engage in COP26 preparations, including the Get Ready Glasgow initiative which will prepare the city for the largest ever gathering of heads of state in the UK. A new website, asking ‘Why Glasgow?’ (see below right picture), is at
www.ukcop26.org The conference should also be an opportunity to interact with decision- makers, access new investment opportunities and build trade relationships. This policy statement was also discussed and agreed at the Place Forum and International Trade and Tourism Forum. A second policy statement is around the Chamber’s long-standing support and leadership for the circular economy. “The Chamber recognises that COP26 provides an immediate driver for action for the city, and the Chamber will seek to maximise opportunities around the circular economy to
address the impact of climate change with our members and the wider business community.” In this capacity, the forum
requested approval to scale up Circular Glasgow activities, continue to work with partners, such as Glasgow City Council and Zero Waste Scotland, and help support businesses with advice and collateral. These actions were approved by the Council of Directors in January. The International Trade and
Tourism Forum, chaired by Stuart Cruickshank of Lochend Finance, has been working on its positioning to support Glasgow City Council’s development of a new City Exporting Strategy. “We welcome proactive engagement by the city to support international trade, particularly given business sentiment and concerns arising from Brexit,” said its statement. The Chamber’s foundations are built on exporting and international trade, and in recent years, the Chamber has been highly successful with international relations through its trade missions and
It is our aim to take a balanced view from our members and look to influence the best possible outcome”
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www.glasgowchamberofcommerce.com
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