It’s important for all organisations to have a vision of success, to be aspirational in their outlook and to have a purpose.

This is true for all businesses, regardless of their size, but also for an organisation like the South Wales Chamber which is responsible for campaigning on behalf of its members.

A couple of weeks ago we launched our ‘Campaign for Welsh Business 2015 – 2020’ in partnership with the Mid Wales Chamber of Commerce and the West Cheshire and North Wales Chamber of Commerce at an event in the Senedd which sets out our ambitions for the Welsh economy.

As chambers, we have outlined what we believe the key priorities are to build a sustainable economy for Wales. When we were developing the document, we reached out to businesses from across Wales to see their views so that we are lobbying for measures that will make a real difference to businesses across Wales, fostering economic growth, creating jobs and building a stronger, more vibrant economy.

We are calling for changes that will help make immediate improvements to the SME community, as well as proposing initiatives that will have long-term benefits for businesses, including:

• Build the transport network for the future by creating a national transport body for Wales, independent of all levels of government, to decide on transport infrastructure priorities and co-ordinate transport planning across Wales

• Develop communications for the modern world by working with business owners to maximise the take-up of the latest communications-based services and technologies

• Improve the skills of the current and future workforce by putting in place a national workplace basic skills training programme that every adult can access and ensuring that secondary schools are assessed on employment outcomes to improve the way in which young people are prepared for the world of work

• Encourage business ambition among Wales’ people by setting up a ‘National Entrepreneurial Challenge’ competition, open to groups of people of all ages, and work with financial and advice providers to ensure that those dealing with individuals starting a business are representative of the population at large

• Help today’s businesses thrive by creating a National Bank of Wales as a private sector driven bank, run with the sole aim of assisting Welsh businesses

• Secure Wales’ energy needs to create a central fund for all community benefits funding deriving from renewable energy projects

• Increase how much Wales exports to the rest of the world by creating a new arms-length International Business Organisation with more input from internationally active businesses

• Get the governance of Wales right by getting rid of the outdated Barnett Formula and introducing a fair funding system across the UK and encouraging action from the city regions created in South Wales.

At the launch, we had representatives from all four of the main parties in Wales, all of whom were extremely positive about our proposed measures. What we now need to see is the Welsh and UK governments taking a long-term view on economic development in Wales. If vital measures are not put in place to support businesses in Wales then I fear that the Welsh economy will continue to lag behind other parts of the UK.

And, just to update you on my encounter with the passport office… I received my passport back within four working days, so the service really is providing the total package when it comes to customer service.