Damon Scott, Chief Executive, Dunbartonshire Chamber of Commerce

The Chamber provides a vital role in the local economy to support new and existing businesses and help them thrive.

The more successful businesses we have in the area, the more contribution is made to create jobs and provide career opportunities.

Businesses also contribute to our national and local economies through tax – income and corporation taxes, PAYE and business rates.

It is well documented that the Scottish economy (and, notably, West Dunbartonshire’s) is underperforming in start-ups, survival rates, innovation and productivity compared to other parts of the UK.

Along with international trade, skills development and women in business the Chamber has made these issues part of our strategic focus and plans are under way to provide networking opportunities and expert and peer-to-peer support for Dunbartonshire businesses.

We will continue to inspire, connect and inform Dunbartonshire businesses through our mix of headline events (featuring some of Scotland’s leading business experts), networking events and showcase events.

We recently launched our new Chamber Academy, under which knowledge transfer and skills development events will be presented.

We are also working on additional business mentoring services to provide support and advice and plan to run a series of business surgeries as part of the Academy.

Our new business hub in the Whitecrook Business Centre will provide an important resource for us to host many of our workshops, seminars and surgeries.

We are exploring ways our membership can benefit from this space and ways of developing it as a business incubator.

The Chamber is recognised as integral to West Dunbartonshire Economic Development Strategy 2015-2020 and public sector funding, along with what we receive from the private sector, is key to helping us realise our ambitions.

Events in March: Chamber Academy Time Management Workshop, Wednesday, March 13 (today); Business Breakfast Networking Event, Thursday, March 21; Showcase Event at Glenhead Engineering, Wednesday, March 27.