The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Chamber appoints new head
THE NEWLY-ELECTED president of Dundee andAngus Chamber of Commerce (DACC) yesterday said difficulties in accessing finance was continuing to hamper growth in the local economy.
Businessman Jim Pickett — who took over the top job from outgoing president Chris Lundie at last night’s DACC general meeting at Piperdam — said problems in getting loans to fund new and existing opportunities was a major headache for companies.
However, he said he believed growth was achievable and said DACC had a key role to play in helping drive the local economy forward.
Mr Pickett — who runs Liftruks, DellburnTransportandGourdieCommercial Properties — said his first priority was to bring new blood into the chamber and especially wanted to recuit larger companies into the fold who could potentially offer support and advice to smaller operators
“We want to increase our membership substantially in the area,” Mr Pickett said.
“My dream is to get more of the medium and bigger companies in the city to join the chamber and have the business people coming together.
“Everybody that is in this city and is running a small or medium-sized business is in the same boat just now.
“It is a hard world out there and sometimes it can be a very lonely thing if you are the sole person running a small company.
“It is very hard out there just now and there is not much money floating about the local economy and we see signs like people trying to cut their costs.
“The bank situation helping anybody.
is definitely not
“I don’t blame the local bank people — this is all the way up to Government level.
“Even the bank loan guarantee scheme — some of the criteria for that is very difficult.”
Mr Pickett said DACC — which was founded in 2007 following the collapse of Dundee’s previous chamber organisation — had a track record of delivering strong growth and the past year had been another successful period for the body.
Among the major political figures that have addressed DACC members over the years are John Swinney, Vince Cable, Danny Alexander and Michael Moore.
“We had a meeting with Scottish Chambers of Commerce chief executive Liz Cameron,” Mr Pickett said.
“We are connected to them but they don’t run DACC, but the most refreshing thing was Liz was really quite impressed by us as we are the most successful chamber in Scotland in terms of growth and we punch above our weight.”
Around 130 DACC members gathered for the body’s annual meeting at Piperdam Leisure Resort in Angus last night where Mr Pickett’s election as president was confirmed.
GSK Montrose site manager Andy Ross was also formally co-opted on to the DACC board.
Outgoing president Chris Lundie — who had completed his maximum term in the role under DACC’s constitution — said it had been an honour to lead DACC over the last two years and he wished his successor the best for the future.
He said: “I would like to personally thank all of the current and past directors and staff for the support they gave me, and for all of their efforts to make the chamber the success story that it is.”