Greenock Chamber of Commerce serves Inverclyde, an area just 20 miles west of Glasgow that boasts one of the most stunning outlooks across the River Clyde towards the Argyll hills, the Cowal Peninsula and the Isles of Bute and Arran. The Inverclyde towns of Greenock, Gourock, Port Glasgow, Inverkip and Wemyss Bay hug the banks of the River Clyde, while the villages of Kilmacolm and Quarriers Village sit in the hilly countryside nearby.
The Greenock Chamber of Commerce was originally incorporated as the Chamber of Commerce and Manufactures of Greenock in the year 1813 by Royal Charter on behalf of his Majesty, King George. A quote from the Charter is 'to tend to the encouragement and promotion of trade and manufactures already extensively established and carry on there.'
Since 1813 industry in the Greenock area has changed quite dramatically from primarily ship building and sea going industries and associated activities to that of general commerce; retail; legal and financial activities; light engineering and extensive electronic engineering. There is still some ship building type activities ongoing with use of the dry dock and Ferguson’s shipyard in Port Glasgow.
The main objectives of today’s Chamber of Commerce are to represent the local trades, of all descriptions, and act as a focal point for general discussions on all aspects of trade and commerce with Local Government, the Scottish Parliament and the various Enterprise Groups.