Aims & Objectives The Constitution Membership form Minutes
History
Mull
and Iona Chamber of Commerce was formed in 1992 after a group of business people
felt there would be merit in trying to gather together to exchange views, lobby,
share ideas and generally “fight for our corner”.
At
that time, there were other sector specific groupings such as local branches of
the National Farmers Union, Scottish Crofters Union, Area Tourist Board,
Fishermen’s Associations and the like, but there was not one cover-all body
representing Mull businesses as a whole. From our first meeting in the old Craignure
hall, the Mull and Iona Chamber of Commerce was formed and we have gone from there.
Our
first President, Olive Brown, led us through the early years, gradually finding
our way and our feet. The highpoint
of our beginnings was most definitely the huge commitment at the 1994 Earls
Court boat show when the theme was Sail Scotland.
We took a section of Tobermory
Main Street and took it in turn to hand out leaflets and chat to people to
convince them on the merits of visiting Mull and Iona.
The waterfront theme was Tobermory and they had a very realistic Cal-Mac
ferry sailing across Earls Court so we were made to feel at home.
Very
early on, we believed that having a web site would be increasingly important,
and with John Porter’s huge commitment of his time and skills, we became the
second Chamber in Britain (after Birmingham!) to have a web site.
The
web site is certainly not the only aspect of our work, and as always, most of
the hard work goes on behind the scenes, by people you don’t see.
Over the years, we have developed strong links with many of the
politicians who we have asked to help us on our members’ behalf. Many letters
and e-mails have been sent and received, and from all political parties and
governments, from the Scottish Parliament thro’ to the European Parliament.
We have also had considerable media profile over the years, from
newspapers and radio, to national television, on a variety of topics.
Aims and Objectives
Our
stated aim is “Mull and Iona
Chamber of Commerce exists to protect and preserve businesses that trade on
Mull, Iona and associated islands”.
This
new web site is a further development of what has become a major part of our
work, and much credit has to go to Alan Parker, who has maintained the site and
driven up hits all the while. This
new site will work alongside the existing information about Mull businesses available, but the board
has felt for some time that there should be more information specifically for
members’ use. We hope that this
site will have minutes, press articles and other issues, and we are aiming to
set up an e-mail newsletter as well.
We
are affiliated to other larger Chamber groupings such as The West of Scotland
Group, Glasgow Chamber of Commerce, Scottish Chambers of Commerce (and through
them – British Chambers of Commerce), and we are, so far, the only UK Chamber
to become a member of EU Chambers on Islands.
Through
these other organisations, we can exchange ideas and information, and add to the
power of our lobby voice. Even more
importantly, we can bring those ideas back to our Islands, and try putting them
into practice here. An example of
this is the newly formed Mull and Iona Ferry Committee, which has been formed
with a wide range of representatives from across the community, which should
make it easier for the Islanders to communicate with Cal-Mac, and them with us.
This group should meet on a regular basis, and the Chamber will have a
representative on that group.
Training
has always featured highly in our discussions, and we are now one of the
partners in the Mull and Iona Training Forum.
This group has been formed, recognising that quality of product must be
the way ahead, to try to increase the provision of relevant training
opportunities available off, but particularly on, the Islands.
The Chamber had previously carried out a Training Needs Survey, and the
results from this are contributing to the Training Forum.
We
also work at bringing business people together on our Islands and our last
example of this was fairly recently when we organised a joint exercise with Mull
and Iona Waste Watchers and Mull and Iona Community Trust where we visited one
our members “revolutionary” wind turbine.
Chris Baigent at Achaban, near Fionnphort, has been working for some
years on this project, and more than thirty of us attended for a talk, guided
tour, then lunch and a further discussion on this fascinating subject.
All who attended felt it opened our eyes to some of the other things that
go on, and when you are so busy trying to make the best of our own business, it
is very easy to miss out on what is going on around, and even miss opportunities
for our own business. “Networking
Opportunities” seems to be the technical term, and we are trying to create
those chances, so that we can strengthen our Island economy, allowing business
people to share good (and bad) ideas, and find out what we all have to offer
each other by way of goods or services.
Mull and Iona Chamber of Commerce is a member organisation and is the same as anything else – the more
we put into it, the more we get out of it.
If you feel strongly about something or have a problem regarding business
issues, then please feel free to get in touch with the President (Sandy Brunton)
or any member of the board, or come along to the next meeting.
We meet on the first Monday of every month usually at Craignure Hall. See you there!!