Challenging Times Ahead?
Last year was indeed a challenging one for many businesses and most have had to adapt to changing business conditions, finding new markets and amending growth plans in a climate of uncertainty and economic gloom.
None of us are likely to have experienced the levels of turmoil that are evident in world and European markets and if the Eurozone countries do not get their act together then we could see further downward pressures on growth potential. The efforts of our umbrella organisations, British and Scottish Chambers of Commerce have seen the implementation of a number of changes in employment law, trade credit support for exports and other areas of red tape together with impending changes to procurement processes in Scotland - all for the good of businesses. We believe that business needs to be put at the heart of all government policy if the Scottish and UK economies are to show real recovery and we will be pressing government at all levels to do everything possible to support private sector business growth.
As a first step, we will continue to press the Scottish Government to abandon their plans to make significant increases in business rates and to withdraw plans to reduce empty premises rates relief. We will continue to work with the Scottish Government and other public bodies at a local level to ensure that local businesses are given every opportunity to win public contracts. Investment in our infrastructure will be critical to our future economic prospects and we will do what we can to ensure that Fife gets its share of much needed investment in transport projects and high speed broadband.
Being a member of your local Chamber of Commerce is even more important now than it has ever been and you have the opportunity to identify and raise issues which are critical to your business. We need to work together and to use the resources we have at our disposal to maximum effect. That is why The Ultimate Business Network is important to all of our members - if you have an issue and you want us to listen then give me a call - it is your Chamber after all.
Our range of services exist solely to support our members and we hope you will make good use of them. In addition, we hope that the range and nature of our seminars, workshops and networking events have the topics you need to develop and grow your business. If there are topics you would like covered then please let us know.
Let us hope that 2012 will be more prosperous than the media is predicting and on behalf of us all at Fife Chamber we wish you every success.
Alan Russell
Chief Executive
Fife Chamber of Commerce
