As many of us finish up for Christmas and we head towards the start of a new year this is traditionally a time that businesses can to take stock and plan for the year ahead.

Unfortunately, this is going to continue to be more difficult than usual with the ongoing uncertainties resulting from the spread of the Omicron variant.

Our businesses have been amazingly resilient over the last two years adapting the way they operate and keeping their staff and customers safe. Hospitality has had a particularly tough time and was dealt another body-blow at what is the busiest time of the year for the sector.

All businesses impacted need urgent and immediate financial support to help them ride this latest storm, protect jobs and to bounce back from this latest set-back.

The Chamber will continue to help build business resilience by providing critical support and advice to our members in 2022.

We will continue our range of networking and knowledge-transfer events (whether physical or virtual), communication via all of our digital channels and our members have access to legal, health and safety, HR and tax helplines and portals as part of their membership.

We are delighted that we were successful in our application for additional funding to continue our Loves Local Shop Local Campaign into 2022.

As well as upgrading our six town and village websites we will be building campaigns around a number of themes in the new year to continue to engage and reach out to an ever-widening audience.

We are also excited to be growing and moving forward as an organisation following our strategic development and stakeholder sessions.

We will be introducing a range of new services, undergoing an exciting rebrand and digital transformation including a new website, business directory and a referral scheme for our members that will all be launched in the new year.

So, if there is one new year’s resolution businesses should make it is to join the Chamber.

To find out more or to connect with the Chamber contact 0141 280 0272, admin@dunbartonshirechamber.co.uk or visit dunbartonshirechamber.co.uk.