Chamber Q&A: Down to Business at the Border

InBUSINESS spoke to Toni Forrester, Chief Executive of Letterkenny Chamber, to get her views on Brexit and business sentiment in Donegal.

You have been CEO of Letterkenny Chamber for over eight years now. How is Chamber life?
Letterkenny Chamber celebrated 50 years in business in 2015 and I am proud to have been a part of that. Letterkenny is the commercial centre of Donegal, it has the largest population and provides employment for people from all over the county. Our Chamber has always had a positive and proactive attitude to business and it punches well above its weight in terms of influence.

The Brexit vote has created uncertainty for a lot of businesses in the border counties. What measures do you believe need to be taken to counter any resulting negative impact?
The main consequence of the Brexit vote is the uncertainty it brings to businesses that operate close to the only land border with the UK. We have no clarity about borders or indeed trade tariffs that may be imposed. Businesses thrive on certainty so we need to see our Government and its agencies working to deliver a robust strategy to deal with Brexit. While we are assured that there will not be a hard border, any barriers to trade or increased costs will be detrimental to businesses here. The UK is Ireland’s biggest trading partner and we need to ensure that this trade can continue efficiently and with no extra costs.

In terms of leading the Chamber, where do you draw your inspiration from?
Over the years I have worked with many people who have inspired me. We have a small team here in the Chamber but within our board we have people who are passionate about business and about Letterkenny and the north-west and I will always ask for their advice and guidance. I like people and have always had a passion for small businesses so my leadership style tends to stem from my interest in the members that make up Letterkenny Chamber.

What is the most valuable advice you’ve been given?
I have always stood by the advice that if you give a little you will get it back in return tenfold. I have always been an active networker and get great pleasure out of connecting people – not necessarily just for a business sale. I always tell people that you never know who you need to know until you need them and it is amazing what can come out of making a connection.

Any up-and-coming Letterkenny-based companies to watch out for in the near future?
Over the years I have had great admiration for our larger employers without which Letterkenny may not have developed the way it has. It is, however, the SME sector that underpins the north-west economy. Companies such as 3D Issue, Gartan Technologies, Sendmode, Nvolve are all working in the technology sector and selling their products and services worldwide from their bases in Letterkenny.

What are the key objectives of the Chamber for the latter part of 2016 and into 2017?
Some of our challenges will never change until we have investment and we as a Chamber will continue to lobby for improved infrastructure, primarily in roads, rural broadband and electricity. With the changes in Government and with the economy in recovery we are concerned that the region gets once again overlooked for development so we will keep the pressure on.