Response to the Economic Policy Review Committee Inquiry | Structure and Effectiveness of the Department for Enterprise and Its Executive Agencies | Aug 2025

Our original submission in August 2025 set out members' consistent experience of a system that is overly risk-averse, fragmented across siloed agencies, and focused on activity rather than outcomes. It called for bold structural reform, including an independent Economic Development Agency jointly governed by the public and private sectors, a clearer separation between DfE's regulatory functions and business delivery, and outcome-focused performance measurement.

At the Committee's request, Chamber provided a supplementary submission in January 2026, expanding on specific member experiences and the systemic barriers they face. This submission also noted that comparable jurisdictions have adopted models in which Chambers of Commerce play a formal delivery role in economic development, and suggested the Island should give serious consideration to alternative models over the longer term.

Across both submissions, Chamber's position is clear: incremental improvement is not enough. The Island has strong businesses and significant opportunity, but realising that potential requires accountability, agility, and delivery structures fit for a modern economy. Chamber will continue to engage constructively with the Committee as the inquiry progresses.

Click on the links below to read both submissions: 

📑 Document: IoM Chamber - EPRC Response on review of DfE and the agencies - 18th August 2025 - FINAL.pdf

📑 Document: Supplementary Submission Review of the Department for Enterprise and Its Agencies - Jan 2026 (1).pdf