Dorset Business Partners Standing Together

Dorset’s businesses are standing together and speaking with a united voice for the good of commerce in the county.

That was the main message from Dorset Chamber of Commerce & Industry’s Business Partner Lunch.

Chamber Chief Executive Ian Girling said: “We are really proud of our well-respected Business Partner programme, which is a strong portfolio deliberately formed of both large and smaller successful businesses.

“Dorset is such a dynamic and aspirational place in which to do business and the fact we are able to stand together and speak with a united voice as a Chamber is testament to everyone involved.”

The partnership programme has two premium partners and 27 platinum partners, plus three new businesses now also signed up – HSBC Bank, Purple HR and Travel Counsellors for Business.

The unique programme supports business growth through the exchange of knowledge, expertise and experience.

He also highlighted the chamber’s ninth affiliation with a town business federation – this time Bournemouth Chamber of Trade & Commerce – as a key factor in striving to sustain economic prosperity.

Mr Girling has also joined the board of strategic support group Dorset Local Enterprise Partnership and will use his role to “ensure the voice of business is heard”.

Guests at the Haven Hotel, Sandbanks, lunch also heard about the launch of the chamber’s fresher, more modern and innovative new look website designed to greatly improve the user experience.

Event keynote speaker was the Chamber’s 2017 President Vincent Boni, Managing Director of multi-media publishing company’s Newsquest’s Dorset, Hampshire, Salisbury and Cornwall divisions.

He spoke on the changing face of print media, suggesting that although the digital world was growing exponentially, print wasn’t dead just yet – demonstrated by Newsquest investing millions in refurbishing its print works in Weymouth and Southampton.

DCCI premium partner AFC Bournemouth’s Commercial Director Rob Mitchell presented Mr Girling with an AFCB shirt signed by the Premier League club’s players as a way of cementing the two organisations’ ongoing relationship.