Dorset Chamber and Dorset Council have joined forces to help boost business in the county.

The chamber has strengthened its ranks by welcoming the local authority as its latest Platinum Business Partner.

Dorset Council is the local authority for the unitary area of Dorset, providing around 450 different services to 380,000 residents.

Dorset Chamber, with nearly 700 members representing more than 37,000 employees, is the county’s leading business support organisation.

Its business partner programme is for members that wish to make a greater contribution to the organisation and the business community.

Ian Girling, Dorset Chamber chief executive, said: “We are very pleased to welcome Dorset Council as a platinum business partner.

“It is important for business and the local economy that there is a strong public-private relationship based on transparency, respect and open lines of communication. This strengthens our strategic relationship and our ability to work together to support business across Dorset.

“Dorset Council will be a valuable addition to our dedicated group of business partners who play a key role in helping the chamber drive the local economy and support its vision for a vibrant and prosperous Dorset business community that enhances the quality of life for all.”

Dorset Chamber, founded in 1949, works closely with its business partners on campaigns, events and support for the business community,

Dorset Council is the top tier of local government and recently appointed a new chief executive, Dr Catherine Howe, who will take up her post in the summer.

It is a major local employer with about 4,800 staff and has 82 elected councillors representing 52 wards.

The council supports economic development in Dorset through a number of initiatives and as an organisation spends more than 50% of its annual budget on buying external goods, services and works from more than 6,000 suppliers locally – of which, 51% of which are based in Dorset.

Cllr Nick Ireland, Dorset Council’s leader, said: "It’s great that Dorset Council can build on its traditional partnership with Dorset’s Chamber of Commerce.

“We already collaborate on a range of projects, so I hope that becoming a business partner will present new opportunities for local businesses and will help us meet our key priority to grow Dorset’s economy.

“We are committed to creating a vibrant and thriving community where businesses can excel, and residents can benefit from increased job opportunities.

“We look forward to seeing the positive impact this partnership will bring to Dorset."

Dorset Chamber is the county’s ‘voice of business’ and the only chamber in the county accredited to the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), which gives it a top seat for lobbying government.



It is ranked as the leading chamber nationally with 120 five-star reviews on Google.

Dorset Council has two Premier Business Partners in the top tier of its membership: AFC Bournemouth and Lester Aldridge.

Members of its Platinum Business Partners group are A-One Insurance Group, Blue Sky Financial Planning, Bournemouth Airport, Bournemouth & Poole College, Bournemouth University, CrowdComms, Deep South Media, Digital Storm, The Dolphin, Dorset Council, Enhanced, Field International, Greendale Construction Ltd, Image Republic, ITCS, JP Morgan, LocaliQ, Forvis Mazars, More Excelsior, Ocean Automotive, REIDsteel, Runway, Savills and SWRAC Independent Specialist College.

Visit https://dorsetchamber.co.uk/ and Economic development - Dorset Council for more information.