Here at the Isle of Wight Chamber of Commerce, October has been a busy month, filled with conversations with businesses, community organisations, educators and local leaders all demonstrating the breadth of expertise and ambition we have here on the Island, alongside a real willingness to work together to make things happen.
Of course, there are challenges too.
Rising costs, recruitment, transport, and connectivity remain familiar concerns and for many businesses, the day-to-day pressures of keeping things running leaves little time to think about what comes next.
Last week’s Autumn Budget has brought those pressures, and the wider question of economic growth, into sharper focus.
The government has outlined measures to encourage investment, support entrepreneurs and improve access to finance and these are welcome ambitions, but the real test will be whether businesses, particularly smaller businesses, feel the benefits.
For the Isle of Wight, we need to think about how we position ourselves to benefit from national investment and growth opportunities.
We have talented people, innovative businesses, and considerable potential, but we also face challenges that are distinctive to being an Island.
Attracting investment isn’t just about securing funding, it’s about creating the conditions in which businesses can grow, people can develop their skills, and new opportunities can take root, and that requires collaboration across business, education, local government, and our wider community.
The recent outcome of the Wight BID3 ballot is another important moment for our Island economy.
Businesses have voted in favour of a further five years of collective investment in our visitor economy, although the result also highlighted differing views about how that investment should be delivered.
Tourism supports far more than our attractions and accommodation providers.
Its reach extends into hospitality, retail, transport, and many other businesses so as the next BID period begins, listening to those different perspectives and demonstrating clear value will be essential to building confidence and making the most of the opportunity.
Looking ahead has been at the heart of our recent conversations with Chamber members too.
We have been exploring how we might create new opportunities for Island businesses and how we might attract more mainland buyers, investors, and potential partners to discover what Island businesses have to offer.
From manufacturing and engineering to creative industries, technology and professional services, there is some extraordinary expertise here and we should be ambitious about connecting that expertise with opportunities beyond our shores.
It's an idea I’m keen to develop for 2027, reflecting a wider ambition for the Chamber to help open doors to new opportunities.
As we approach the end of the year, we're also thinking about the skills our businesses will need, opportunities for young people and how we strengthen connections between education and employment.
We won't always agree on the best way forward, and that's healthy.
What matters is creating space for different voices, finding common ground, and working together where we can because the Island's greatest strength is what becomes possible when we connect people together.
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