With the New Year on the horizon, the Bridgwater Mercury has asked local influential figures to reflect on 2018 and look ahead to 2019.

The second entry in the New Years Reflections series is from Steve Leahy, chairman of the Bridgwater Chamber of Commerce...

The year started with the ongoing construction of the biggest engineering project in Europe; Hinkley Point C.

One of the key questions locally was how do we ensure that the local business community gain extra business from the project? And how do we ensure it is not just contractors descending on Bridgwater from all over the UK to take the cream from the opportunity.

To try to ensure that local business get engagement the Bridgwater Chamber has lobbied and engaged with our partner the Somerset Chamber to make sure as many local companies are registered for work packages for HPC.

Over the year it became apparent that contracting for HPC is not for everyone; and indeed is not the only prospective large venture coming to this area.

This year also saw the plans for six new large hotels, two more innovation centres, the huge Bridgwater Gateway project and more recently the Gravity project (formerly called Huntspill Low Carbon energy park).

These non -nuclear build projects will create massive opportunities if we engage with and agree local labour principles early enough to be able to make a difference.

January 2018 marked the intention to create a separate supplier list to obtain as many SMEs and Micro businesses which we could issue to all of the other large project owners.

This means managers at early stages of projects would be able to truly ensure they get a qualified list to engage with from the start.

Throughout the year the Bridgwater Chamber has held a series of events to make sure we get this list engaging with as many Sedgemoor businesses as possible.

This is now building well but needs continued enlistment from local companies. Please register your business now by going to the Supply the Supplier page of the Bridgwater Chamber website, or alternatively call the Project team on 01278 228004.

Brexit has been a contentious issue all year, and whether staying in or leaving, the business market needs stability, and with two elections and leadership changes, stability has been absent for four years now.

In some ways the Hinkley project has helped the area buck the negativity trend in business and this is reflected within local house prices and employment.

The end of the year saw the opening of the first really large chain hotel in the Mecure in Eastover, again a project employing mainly local labour. December also saw the go ahead for the Gravity Project on on the old ROF site which will see an Innovative eco-business park built over the next five years, ultimately expected to offer full time employment for more than 4,000 people.

And again this should offer great opportunities for local contractors to complete this project.

The Chamber has grown this year and continues to grow but needs local engagement with its business community to help this growth and help give all local businesses a voice. We wish you all a prosperous Xmas and New Year.