Developing your business is future-proofing
2020 has been a challenging year for most businesses on Bornholm, but fortunately the fighting spirit is still intact.
By Louise Skøtt Gadeberg
14 December 2020
2020 has been a challenging year for most businesses on Bornholm, but fortunately the fighting spirit remains intact. Many are now looking forward to a 2021 where we, as a world, country and island community, hopefully step out of the shadow of the corona virus and once again focus on creating growth and jobs through the development of our businesses, says Karen Bladt, chair of Business Center Bornholm and the Bornholm Business Council.
Whether 2020 has been a busy or frustrating year for you as a business leader, it has never been more important to develop and strengthen your business than it is right now. No one knows what the future holds, but everyone agrees that the world will be different after the pandemic, and some trends are already clear, says Karen Bladt, Chairman of Business Center Bornholm and the Bornholm Business Council.
”Digitalisation of workflows, processes and communication in businesses has, for obvious reasons, accelerated this year, and that development won't stop when the world becomes ’normal’ – perhaps it will even accelerate”, she starts by saying, and adds:
”The green transition is also a clear trend of the times – just think of Bornholm's future as an energy island and as a shipment location for the offshore wind farms. The green agenda is highly topical and will find further momentum when society is fully reopened. Bornholm businesses must understand how to become part of those trends, says Karen Bladt.
BCB can give you the help you need
However, it can be quite challenging to get an overview of initiating new development in the middle of a busy everyday life and to address questions such as: What untapped potentials do we have? Which development task is the right one? How do we start moving towards where we want to be in terms of competencies or procedures?
And when you finally get started, the process can be overwhelming, the learning curve steep, and the development work take time away from daily operations, notes Karen Bladt. She adds that the good news is that there is support, sparring, knowledge, and tools to be found with the consultants at BCB and Erhvervshuset.
”We have a strong business promotion system on Bornholm, and we offer help for every challenge and type of business. Regardless of whether you are a newly started entrepreneur or a long-standing, experienced business leader, BCB and Erhvervshuset can stand by your side throughout the entire process. Everything from locating development potential and helping to apply for participation in relevant initiatives, as well as applications regarding loan options – to ongoing one-to-one sparring through the process and help with getting the right competencies on board along the way, says the chairman of the board.
Have been through a development process myself
In Karen Bladt’s own business, HASLE Refractories, she and her husband, Michael Bladt, have, for instance, embarked on a development journey via the BCB project ”Sustainable Bottom Line Bornholm” and Business Hub Greater Copenhagen's ”SDG Business Booster” programme. In other words, she has tried getting help for a development process within the business promotion system herself - and it has been a positive and rewarding experience.
”The projects have given us inspiration and tools to become a greener business, and not least have we opened our eyes to how our products can help our customers with their green transition. A new angle on our ”well-known” products. This exciting journey we could not have taken without great help from BCB and Erhvervshuset, says Karen Bladt.
Therefore, she is urging all businesses on Bornholm to seize the opportunities for development through the business promotion system. For although neither she nor the consultants at BCB or Erhvervshuset can conjure more hours into the business leaders' busy daily schedules, the consultants can help create an overview of development potentials and the palette of relevant initiatives through ongoing sparring regarding the process.
”My wish is that we collectively on Bornholm can help one another to ensure a continued high level of development in our businesses, so that we are ready to meet the new challenges that will come when we are out of the shadow of the corona pandemic. Therefore, dear business leaders: Reach out to us, and let us together secure the future for both your business and our local business community - for the good of all Bornholm,” concludes Karen Bladt.
The above is a journalistic adaptation of a viewpoint published in Bornholms Tidende on 14 Dec 2020. Read this
