Prime Highlights
- Mayor Craig Blaney brings Ards and North Down Chambers of Commerce together to strengthen support for local businesses.
- Blaney pledges to promote the Borough as the best place in Northern Ireland to start and grow a business.
Key Facts
- Discussions focused on Chamber collaboration, town centre support and encouraging youth entrepreneurship.
- The Mayor plans ongoing meetings with Chambers, employers and economic development groups throughout the year.
Background
The Mayor of Ards and North Down, Councillor Craig Blaney, has brought together representatives from Chambers of Commerce across the Borough as part of his pledge to champion local business, enterprise and entrepreneurship during his year in office.
The meeting gave Chamber leaders a chance to discuss the challenges facing local businesses, identify areas for greater collaboration and explore closer working ties between the Mayor, the Council and the business community.
Councillor Blaney made entrepreneurship and business growth a key theme of his inaugural speech, pledging to promote Ards and North Down as the best Borough in Northern Ireland to start, grow and scale a business.
He said local businesses formed the backbone of the economy, creating jobs, supporting families and strengthening town centres. He described the meeting as an early step toward turning his commitment into real action, adding that bringing Chamber leaders together would help identify shared challenges and give business a clearer voice.
Discussions covered stronger communication between Chambers, support for independent businesses and town centres, ways to encourage youth entrepreneurship, and the need to promote the Borough confidently as a place to invest.
Blaney said he intends to keep meeting local businesses throughout the year and use his office to highlight success stories across the region.
Frank Shivers, responding after the meeting, welcomed the Mayor’s early focus on business and said maintaining open dialogue between Chambers and the Council would help ensure local businesses get the support and representation they need.
The Mayor plans further meetings with Chambers, employers, entrepreneurs and economic development organisations throughout his term.