THE Chamber plays a crucial role in connecting business with government, but its effectiveness in doing so is linked directly to the participation of its members.
We live in a time where career politicians dominate the landscape and where the voice of business and enterprise is often absent or misunderstood in the corridors of power.
So it is critically important that all of us in business and enterprise speak up, make our views known, share our knowledge and expertise with the wider world, and play a full role in shaping government policy for change.
This can be where change is proposed or required, or where maintaining the status quo should be the sensible outcome.
The Chamber provides a respected voice for the whole of the economic community in the North-east of Scotland and is listened to by government, consequently I always try to find the time to make a contribution on areas of Chamber policy where I know that my expertise can make a useful and informed contribution.
One particularly challenging aspect of the current property market is housing.
We have a national housing shortage and delivery of more units and more flexible and affordable finance models is long overdue.
Government has a central role to play in the delivery of this – be it Holyrood or Westminster.
According to Savills research, there continues to be a lack of homes in Aberdeen, particularly for key workers.
The Scottish Government has projected there will be around 1,400 additional households created every year in Aberdeen City over the next decade.
However, the total number of new homes built in the city in the twelve month period until June 2015 was just 664, a short fall of 53%.
Some recent changes to property legislation in Scotland saw political parties pursuing societal or economic change while other adjustments have been the consequence of sporadic geo-political forces such as the crude-oil price manipulation by a small number of major producers.
The Chamber’s Manifesto aims to put forward a strategic plan that addresses the housing shortage, along with the other key issues facing the North-east, in a way that secures a sustainable and long term solution.
Savills provides advice across all property types and markets and prides itself in the application of world-class research to defend or promote land and property interests within Scotland, the UK and worldwide.
This is particularly valuable in changing or volatile markets.