Links with Western Isles Chamber of Commerce

Businesses throughout the Western Isles will get the chance to have their voices heard and boost economic development in the area as a result of new developments at the Western Isles Chamber of Commerce.

WICOC has won support from both Western Isles Enterprise and Comhairle nan Eilean Siar for a £34,540 scheme to develop its work.

Roadshows are due to go out at the end of March throughout the Islands - Ness, Harris, Uist and Barra - to raise awareness of what WICOC can do.

Present Chamber members include enterprises in the retail, aquaculture, airport services, transport and textile sectors but membership has risen fast in recent months among the 1100 Island businesses.

The aim of the new drive is to make the Chamber’s services more widely known and encourage far more businesses to join. This is particularly aimed at the one-person businesses and other small enterprises which play a large role in the Island economy and would benefit from having effective representation in dealings with public agencies.

Chairing the Chamber now is Ann MacCallum, manager of Woolworth¹s in Stornoway, who said: "The main purpose of the Chamber is to drive economic growth in the Islands, to lobby on behalf of the membership and get involvement in strategic decisions."

The first priority must be to widen the geographic spread of membership. "The Chamber must be seen as a driving force to bring about economic change as well as dealing with members problems. Even if it is a problem affecting only one member and the Chamber decides to take it up, it is more likely to be noticed than if one business acts on its own."

Ann is the first women to chair the Chamber. She has been a member of chambers of commerce in other areas although she has never been involved in an executive role before. Backing her up is a new executive board containing six members at present from a range of different industrial and commercial sectors. It is hoped to attract businesspeople from throughout the islands on to the Chamber’s executive.

The Chamber which already has links with Aberdeen Chamber of Commerce is exploring the possibility of further association with chambers in Orkney and Inverness.

Public funding for the Chamber’s expansion amounts to £13,500 from WIE and £13,790 from CnES. along with £7250 from WICOC itself. This is to build on earlier assistance for employment of a development manager. It is hoped that a part-time secretary can also be appointed strengthening the services to members.

As part of the drive for Island-wide membership, the Chamber is considering the use of video links to enable meetings to take place with members in different locations. It is also planned to hold executive meetings in different places.

Ann said it was essential for the successful work of development agencies on the Islands that the existing businesses had a voice and could contribute their views and experience.

Donnie Macaulay, WIE’s chief executive, said it would be a great assistance to the strengthening of prosperity on the Islands if businesspeople had greater representation through the Chamber of Commerce and could therefore take part more easily in a range of policy-making processes.

Cllr. Donald Maclean, Chairman of the Comhairle's Sustainable Development Committee, said: "A vibrant Chamber of Commerce is important for representing business interests in the Western Isles. The private sector is a vital part of the economy of the Western Isles and the Chamber of Commerce should play a lead role in stimulating economic growth. I am pleased that the Comhairle has been able to support the Chamber of Commerce by providing funds to assist in developing its work."

For further information, businesses are asked to contact WICOC development manager Nicola Jarvie on 01851 70055 or by e-mail at WICOC@lineone.net <mailto:WICOC@lineone.net>.