Businesses in Dorset are being urged to set their sights beyond the general election as the results of a new economic survey are released.
The latest quarterly study from the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) showed the economy shrugging off signs of a slowdown with improvements in manufacturing, exports and services.
Dorset Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) chief executive Ian Girling said that there was no room for complacency as he welcomed the findings.
Some 7,000 businesses nationwide take part in the quarterly gauge of the economy’s health, including many DCCI members.
Ian said: “The results of this survey are another reason for businesses in Dorset to be optimistic although we must not take the economic recovery for granted.
“Businesses are well placed for 2015, and need support in place to ensure they can capitalise on opportunities to secure long term, sustainable growth.
“They will also need to rise above the uncertainty of the upcoming general election, while political parties of every colour must do their utmost to ensure their campaigning does not jeopardise progress achieved so far.
“Parties also need to clearly outline their policies to support long term business growth and investment.”
Ian added: ” It is important that firms have access to finance to achieve their aspirations.
“Continued low interest rates, reduced regulation and measures to rebalance the economy towards net exports and investment long term will also help create an environment that helps business to succeed.”
DCCI, the voice of business in Dorset with more than 720 members representing 37,000 employees, is the only county chamber accredited with the BCC.
Weymouth and Portland Chamber of Commerce and Industry has also recently affiliated to DCCI, resulting in a network of more than 1,000 businesses.
Manufacturing and services firms reported strong growth to end 2014, according to the BCC’S Quarterly Economic Survey (QES).
Manufacturing recorded increases in balances for domestic sales from +23% in the third quarter to +36% in the fourth quarter.
Export sales rose from +16% to +26%, while recruitment intentions rose to +85% from +73% and turnover confidence was up from +60 to +62%.
The results are presented as a balance figure of the percentage of firms that reported an increase minus the percentage that reported a decrease.
If the figure is a plus it indicates the economy has expanded and if the figure is a minus it indicates the economy has contracted.
For example, if 50% of firms said that their sales grew and 18% said that they decreased the balance for the quarter is +32%, representing an expansion.
