Growing links with China
This month we hosted our second Joint chamber networking lunch with Mid and East Lothian Chamber, which proved to be popular with our members and non-members.
Our relationship with other Chambers is vital as it allows us to keep our network developing to ensure it is beneficial to our members and these types of events help build this relationship.
At the lunch we heard about the recent Scottish chambers trip to Beijing regarding international trade from delegate David Valentine, MD of Valentine International and director of Dundee and Angus Chamber.
David discussed how a trading relationship is growing between Scotland and China, highlighting the positive effect this will have within the business community.
As well as discussing the links being created for the future, David highlighted the strong links already in place and the opportunities available for business.
Linda Scott, West Lothian Chamber CEO and director of Scottish Chambers, who was also on the trip to Beijing, discussed her vision for the future of West Lothian Chamber and the addition of an export club.
The next few months are an exciting time for West Lothian Chamber, with some changes underway but still with the core value of being a reliable network for business.
A team of three S3 pupils from Bathgate Academy honed their design, engineering and creative skills by winning this year’s Pump It Up Challenge.
The competition is a joint venture between Mitsubishi Electric Air Conditioning System Europe (MACE) and the West Lothian Chamber of Commerce, where participants research and develop the innovative use of a heat source pump.
Now in its third year, the aim of the initiative is to further integrate industry and schools with the aim to support young people in developing skills beneficial to their future career choice.
After a hugely successful pilot competition with Armadale Academy back in 2014, the joint venture between Mitsubishi Electric and the West Lothian Chamber of Commerce has expanded to 11 schools across the area.
More than 1600 pupils from the schools initially competed for a spot in the final of Pump It Up, held at Howden Park Centre in Livingston. School from Livingston finishing third.
Bathgate Academy focused their design on recycling hot air from a gymnasium and transferring the energy to heat a swimming pool.
The team concluded that sports activities held in a gym created the right environment to capture heat and transfer this energy in an efficient way to heat the pool.
The judges were further was extremely impressed with the ideas generated by all the schools.”
Linda Scott, chief executive of West Lothian Chamber of Commerce, added: “The aim of Pump It Up is to support young people in creating skills required for their future development.
“There are innumerable benefits for a young person taking part in an industry-led competition like this one.
“These are derived from