Moves to create a pan-Dorset network of chambers of commerce to fight the county’s corner have been boosted by a new member.
Dorset Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) has been leading the drive to unite business groups to give them a stronger voice locally, regionally and nationally.
Now DCCI has welcomed Dorchester Chamber of Commerce as the third town chamber to become affiliated – following hot on the heels of Broadstone and Weymouth and Portland.
DCCI chief executive Ian Girling and Dorchester chamber president Steve Bulley signed the paperwork after a business breakfast at the Gamekeeper in Charminster, near Dorchester.
Ian said: “There is a huge opportunity for the whole chamber network across Dorset to really come together.
“The network of chambers can be far stronger and far more cohesive than it has been. DCCI has the opportunity and the responsibility to start to bring chambers together for the whole of the county.”
He added: “It is fantastic that Dorchester has become affiliated. We are really moving forward towards our vision of speaking up for Dorset with one voice.”
Under the new affiliation initiative town chambers and DCCI both retain their independence and integrity. Town chambers work at a local level on issues of concern and trading conditions. DCCI has a more strategic role with a wider economic overview.
The affiliation movement will also give county chambers a louder voice to represent business locally, regionally and nationally.
Ian said: “There is a very strong place for town chambers and county chambers to co-exist and work together.
“The point of affiliation is about creating a powerful relationship.
“Town chambers fully retain their own identity and continue to work on their own terms but we can come together on certain issues and start to speak as one voice.
“That makes us more powerful in terms of business having more influence locally, regionally and nationally.”
Steve, former Dorchester president Alison Moore and the chamber’s executive committee were instrumental in forging the new relationship with DCCI.
Steve said: “I strongly believe this will benefit all of our members in Dorchester.
“The alliance with other chambers will make sure we are continuing to drive business and have a loud voice for this part of Dorset.”
He added: “It is going to give us access to lobbying in a much better and more structured way to ensure that West Dorset gets its fair share of available funding and investment as we continue to move forward.”
Benefits for Dorchester include access to the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) survey, input to the new DCCI Business Pulse survey and a quarterly forum, annual policy meetings and events, subscription to the DCCI e-newsletter, attendance at some events at DCCI member prices and access to DCCI training at member rates.
DCCI, the voice of business in Dorset with more than 760 members representing 37,000 employees, is the only county chamber accredited by the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC).
