3 minute read
Chamber Chief’s Update
NI Chamber Chief’s
UPDATE
Ann McGregor, Chief Executive, NI Chamber
On behalf of the Board and Executive team, I want to take this opportunity to thank all of our members and partners for supporting NI Chamber’s work throughout this year.
Your membership enables us to create opportunities for NI businesses and drive the growth and prosperity of our economy. It has also allowed us to develop a wide portfolio of services designed to help businesses grow. All of these services, existing and new, form the basis of our new strategic plan for 2022-2025, which we were delighted to launch in September.
As part of this strategic review, we commissioned independent customer research and I am pleased to say that the feedback was extremely positive. It highlighted that members value the fact that we are Northern Ireland wide and have businesses of all sizes and sectors involved. We are proud that you value the influence that we have and trust us to present a balanced and researched view in our wider engagement.
In terms of developments, members expressed a desire for more targeted communications and a stronger lobbying voice. As NI Chamber adopts a more data-driven approach, both of these areas have been developed, including through a new website and email system and the creation of a new Public Affairs department.
Based on this feedback we are now refocusing priority areas including connecting our members to network, share and learn from each other, as well as supporting their local and global growth. We’re committed to providing a strong voice for the business community, promoting Northern Ireland internationally and to making the region a great place to do business.
In support of all these objectives, the team has been as busy as ever in recent weeks, with some really exciting things in the pipeline before the end of the year. Some particular highlights have included our Festival of Business, which saw over 800 people gather in St George’s Market. This was closely followed by our annual Meet the Buyer, which facilitated almost 400 new business meetings in a single morning.
In recent weeks, we’ve also celebrated the achievements of our NI Chamber Award winners, who went on to represent us at the UK-wide British Chamber Awards. I am delighted to say that out of eight categories, NI Chamber had two national winners. Huge congratulations to Viberoptix, winner of the Rapid Riser category and TODD Architects, who won the Workforce Developer award.
On 24 November we are set to host one of the highlights of the business calendar year – our Annual President’s Banquet in ICC Belfast. It is going to be a truly spectacular evening in the company of colleagues and friends in business. Best-selling author and TV presenter Richard Osman will headline the entertainment line-up, as together we celebrate Northern Ireland’s biggest and best ideas; whose they were, what they achieved and why they are so important. We’re looking forward to enjoying the evening with many of you.
Welcome New Members
• Babcock Training • Ballylough Consultancy Solutions • Belfast Product Design • Belmont Strategy • BE Offices • Coface • Craft Northern Ireland • Cranmore Executive Searc • DEITG • Developing Healthy Communities • Dojo • Easy Customs • Fibrus Networks • Gateley Tweed LLP • HireIQ • Hundred Studio • Hydepark Environmental • JMD Training • Kerry Spence Consulting • Linencare Laundries • Muldoon & Co • Nimbus Computer Solutions • Precision Switchgear & Controls • Roxborough P&C • Stevenson Risk Solutions • St. James’s Place • Strategic Power Projects • Sunnyside Nurseries • The Access Group • therehuman • Todds Leap Racking and
Shelving Limited • Versus Arthritis • Vialto Partners • Vital Nutrition • Willows Reach • Workwear Mallusk
