Opinion piece by Karen Bladt, Chair of Business Center Bornholm.
View the post at Bornholms Tidende here.
The many consultation responses to the proposal for a significant reduction in Business Center Bornholm's funding point to a shared concern: Bornholm risks weakening the capacity needed to translate political ambitions into business development, investment, jobs, and ultimately tax revenue. Chairperson of the Board Karen Bladt urges politicians to listen to the consultation and find another way.
Bornholm Regional Municipality is facing difficult financial priorities. Karen Bladt, chair of the board of Business Center Bornholm and director of HASLE Refractories, acknowledges this, but at the same time she believes that the financial situation itself makes it necessary to keep an eye on how Bornholm generates the revenue of the future.
“Of course we need to keep spending under control. But we also need to keep an eye on the revenue side. A strong business sector creates jobs, activity and tax revenue, and is therefore a crucial part of the foundation for the welfare we want on Bornholm. Therefore, business development should not only be seen as an expense, but also as an investment in Bornholm's future economy,” says Karen Bladt.
The consultation responses point in the same direction
Following the expiry of the consultation deadline, a large number of responses have been received from businesses, trade organisations and partners.
Although the senders have different perspectives, several concerns recur: the risk of less outreach to businesses, fewer resources for project development and external funding, weakened investor attraction and less capacity to connect businesses with knowledge, skills, capital and new opportunities.
According to Karen Bladt, it is worth listening to.
“The remarkable thing is that the concern comes from many different quarters. That tells me that the discussion is bigger than Business Center Bornholm as an organisation. It is about what business and development capacity we wish to have on Bornholm.”
From political ambition to action
Karen Bladt also points out a fundamental connection between the political ambitions for Bornholm's development and the practical efforts out among the businesses.
Business Center Bornholm's task is precisely to translate the municipality's business development strategy into concrete business promotion and enterprise services. This is achieved, among other things, through business development, outreach, projects, partnerships and by connecting Bornholm-based companies with specialists and national business promotion schemes.
“We can have all the political ambitions we like regarding growth, investments, the green transition, labour and business-friendliness. But strategies do not produce results by themselves. Action must be taken together with businesses. That is a significant part of the role that Business Center Bornholm fulfils today.”
“Therefore I find it difficult to see the logic in wanting, on the one hand, to raise the ambitions for Bornholm's business development and, on the other hand, to reduce the capacity required to help turn those ambitions into reality.”
Bornholm faces major opportunities
At the same time, Bornholm is facing opportunities which, according to Karen Bladt, make the need for business development even more pressing.
Energy, the green transition, new investments, research and education can create new opportunities for the island's businesses. BCB has already worked on, among other things, the energy island, business development, the attraction of labour and the link between businesses and national business promotion schemes.
“Bornholm has some opportunities ahead of it that we have worked for for many years. However, investments and new activities do not automatically create lasting value on Bornholm. We must be adept at connecting them to our businesses, skills and jobs so that as much value as possible remains on the island.”
Bornholm has some opportunities ahead of it that we have worked towards for many years. However, investments and new activities do not automatically create lasting value on Bornholm. We must be adept at connecting them to our businesses, skills and jobs so that as much value as possible stays on the island.”
A call to choose another path
Karen Bladt emphasises that the board is not arguing that Business Center Bornholm necessarily has to continue unchanged.
On the contrary, BCB is ready to discuss priorities, organisation, financing, and an even closer cooperation between the municipality and the business community.
But the order is crucial.
“Let us first agree on what Bornholm needs to succeed with commercially, and which functions are necessary to get there. Afterwards, we can discuss who best solves which tasks, how we organise ourselves, and what it should cost.”
Therefore, Karen Bladt has a clear appeal to the municipal council ahead of the upcoming priorities:
“I hope the politicians will listen to the many voices in the consultation and choose a different path than the proposed cuts. We are reaching out a hand. Let us sit closer together – business community, municipality and politicians – and develop a stronger model for the future business development of Bornholm. But let us not first remove a large part of the capacity we need to create it.”
For further information, please contact:
Karen Bladt, chairman of Business Center Bornholm, tel. 40 61 92 07, email: kb@hasle-refractories.com