TRUDY MORRIS: Resilience shines through for business community in far north
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Caithness Chamber of Commerce chief executive Trudy Morris reflects on the past year at the organisation’s annual general meeting
Looking back over what was a tumultuous period due to intermittent Covid restrictions, promising signs of recovery in the business community and various bumps in the road caused by emerging from an unprecedented global pandemic, I didn’t expect to be reflecting on our past financial year against a backdrop of an economic crisis.
On the back of an extremely challenging three years for business, the energy crisis resulting from the invasion of Ukraine is the last thing anyone needed.
Rising fuel costs and distribution problems have made for a difficult landscape to do business in – especially if you are based in a geographically remote area such as the north Highlands.
Resilience is a word that springs to mind when we look at how our members have coped with these problems in the past year. Businesses have been through hard times before and as a community we do face these challenges head on. We deal with the obstacles put in our way as best we can and try to be innovative to find solutions.
Even though we are all facing very challenging times, it will be no different to other challenges we have surmounted. We learned that we are stronger together when we help each other and that’s particularly important for a business membership that is reporting a mixed picture.
Everyone is affected by rising costs – especially in a community like ours that may be relatively remote but very much has an international outlook and engages with a global market as well as a wider UK market.
Throughout the year we have continued to deliver our core services and projects. Membership has remained consistent with some loses but also new members secured, meaning we represent and support over 220 businesses across the north Highlands and beyond, offering a range of benefits. It is always a great privilege for me to work on behalf of our diverse range of members.
Our mission continues to be to nurture a successful, sustainable and diverse north Highland economy. Key to achieving that goal is supporting the next generation of businesses.2
The chamber provides bespoke business advice and guidance through a business mentoring programme to a range of new and existing businesses to help them launch, grow and venture into new markets.
This programme was extremely busy throughout the reported year, working with existing members, new enterprises and those looking to start their own businesses. Advice and support ranged from reviewing business plans, finance, tendering, funding applications, marketing, international trade and employment.
Looking ahead to 2023, our priority as always will be to support our members and provide advice and lobby on their behalf on key issues facing them.
One of our key roles is to also highlight business opportunities in the region, and we were delighted our AGM on October 6 was sponsored by our diamond premier partner West of Orkney Windfarm, who along with Pentland Floating Offshore Wind and RES, provided presentations on their proposed developments and opportunities for local businesses.
As well as getting an update from the chamber and hearing about forthcoming opportunities, members were also able to view and experience the new venue space at Puldagon Farm, as well as enjoy a splendid array of local cuisine from Greg, Terri and their team.
