UPDATE NI Chamber Chief’s
As businesses chart the path to economic recovery and growth, NI Chamber is here to help facilitate their efforts. We remain committed to helping members overcome obstacles with practical assistance and advice, whilst working collaboratively to find solutions to issues in need of resolution. Here NI Chamber Chief Executive Ann McGregor provides an overview of what’s coming up and what’s taken place recently.
O
ver the past couple of months, the NI Chamber team has really enjoyed being able to meet more members in person again and we’ve been delighted to welcome you back to some face-to-face events. That has included a sold-out Leadership Live event with political strategist Alastair Campbell, regional networking events in Dungannon and Belfast, an all-island climate action event and a Sector Club for people working in technology. Alongside face-to-face events, we continue to provide the option to join lots of activities online too. For example, our flagship Meet the Buyer event was hosted virtually in early November, and successfully facilitated over 120 new business meetings between local buyers and suppliers. As well as this, our suite of training programmes will continue digitally and there will be other hybridoptions, all designed to ensure that every member can continue to enjoy access to our services in a manner which is best for their circumstances right now. One of the highlights of recent weeks has been ‘Let’s Power Change Together’, an important all-island climate action event, hosted to coincide with preparations for COP26. In partnership with our colleagues in Chambers Ireland and SSE, we welcomed the First and deputy First Ministers and the Taoiseach to discuss what global agreement on climate action means for companies across the island of Ireland and highlighted the ‘green’ opportunities which exist for local firms. The gravity of the climate situation that we face was highlighted by the fact that the leaders of the governments at Stormont and
Dail Eireann came to address business leaders in person. By doing so, they joined us in sending a powerful, cohesive message that climate change matters, that we all have a role in bringing forward climate solutions and that the time for action is now. It’s a theme and action point we’ll continue to prioritise. Following the autumn budget and spending review, we hosted an inperson event with Finance Minister, Conor Murphy MLA, and the Director for Public Spending, Joanne McBurney. The Minister provided NI Chamber members with an update on what the outcome of the Spending Review means for public finances and listened as they shared their business priorities directly. It was also an important opportunity for us, to reiterate the findings of our latest Quarterly Economic Survey. The report indicates that while there are positive signs of recovery in the Northern Ireland economy, inflationary pressures from mounting business costs and labour availability are negatively impacting business confidence. We have shared the detailed findings of the QES with policy makers and all members can access the report on our website. Thank you, as always, to everyone who takes the time to complete that survey and make their voice heard. Looking ahead to what’s coming up before the end of the year, undoubtedly our 2021 President’s Banquet is a highlight. The event sold out in record time and we are really looking forward to welcoming you to ICC Belfast on 25 November. We are all excited to hear from celebrity guest speaker Sir Mo Farah, who will provide inspiration on 28
the evening’s theme of ‘Moving Forward Together.’ It will be a fabulous opportunity for business people to come together after a long time apart and if you’re lucky enough to be joining us on the evening, we really look forward to seeing you there.
NEW GROWTH MEMBERS
NEW ESSENTIAL MEMBERS
* To become a member of NI Chamber join online at www.northernirelandchamber.com or phone the membership team on 02890 244113.
