Message from our President - Brian Horisk

Dear Fife Chamber Member

I want to re-assure you that the Chamber is working harder than ever to support you. Although we can no longer deliver face-to-face events, we are planning how we can deliver our services to you in other ways and you will be hearing more about this soon from the team.

But more importantly at the moment, we have stepped up our efforts to represent your needs to government, to help businesses in Fife get the support they need for themselves, their employees and customers.

As part of Fife Chamber, you are not just part of Fife’s largest business organisation. Through our membership of the Scottish Chambers of Commerce (SCC) and the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) you are part of a national network of businesses which have access to government at the highest levels. In normal times the influence of the Chambers of Commerce in government can seem unimportant – at times like this it is critical.

SCC has been talking directly with the First Minister and the Cabinet Secretary for Finance to provide real examples of how businesses are being affected by COVID-19 and press for the practical help that they need. Every Chamber within the SCC network is lobbying their local MPs and MSPs with the same asks to ensure the message is consistent.

BCC are in the room with the Chancellor as he plans the UK Government’s financial response and the benefits of that influence were clearly seen last week in the new financial support package announced for employers and the self-employed.

We welcome the measures that have been introduced so far, but we all know that they still do not go far enough. The Chamber network will be pushing for more measures targeted at all business that are affected, and ensuring this help is delivered more quickly than it has to date.

If you have specific examples of how the situation is affecting your business that might be helpful to influence policy, please contact the Chamber team. We also welcome your suggestions on how we can offer you practical help over the next few months.

Finally a plea to all Fife businesses to support and help each other as best we can. Share your knowledge and treat your customers, suppliers and employees with respect, empathy and compassion, and we will come out the other side of this as a stronger community.

If you want to speak to a member of the Chamber team for any reason, you’ll find contact numbers on the Chamber website, where you will also find contact details of companies who have already offered help to fellow members

Best wishes,

Brian Horisk, President, Fife Chamber of Commerce