IT is one of the most visited cities in the UK, with a booming economy and a highly skilled workforce.

And the fact that Glasgow is barely an hour away from Dorset, thanks to new, twice-daily flights, has inspired efforts to make it easier for the two towns to do business.

A delegation from Dorset Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI) recently flew to meet counterparts from Glasgow Chamber of Commerce at the city's historic George Square.

The two chambers believe a host of business sectors could benefit from the link.

The itinerary for the day illustrates how practical it is now for business people from each end of the new Flybe route to visit the other.

The party of six Dorset business people took off just before 9am and were back just after 5pm. The 912-mile round trip would have taken 16 hours non-stop by road.

Ian Girling, chief executive of DCCI, said the talks had been “highly positive”.

He and his Glasgow counterpart Stuart Patrick discussed their chambers’ work, their memberships and the economic make-up of Dorset and Glasgow.

They discussed commercial opportunities for their combined membership of more than 2,000.

Mr Girling said: "An excellent relationship has been forged with Stuart and the team at Glasgow Chamber, one we have agreed to fruitfully develop."

He pointed out that Glasgow has the most highly skilled workforce in the UK outside London, with 41 per cent of the population educated to degree level.

The City of Glasgow has a population of 600,000, while the Greater Glasgow area has 1.7m. That makes it the fourth largest city in the UK, drawing 2.3m visitors spending £495m.

The Dorset delegation hopes the ease of travelling between the two cities will enable them to do business in a host of key areas – potentially including engineering, finance, tourism, trade exhibitions and leisure marine, defence, renewable energy technology, mass participation events and food and drink.

The tourism industries of both areas could benefit from efforts to highlight the attractions of each destination.

DCCI’s visit to Glasgow, which was sponsored by Flybe, involved a meeting at the city’s historic George Square. The talks took place at Merchants House, the Glasgow chamber’s headquarters overlooking the Square.

Glasgow’s chamber is the oldest in the world with continuous records, and the talks took place a few feet from King George III’s red wax seal, which marked the 1783 Royal Charter for the founding of the chamber.

Stuart Patrick said: "The trade delegation from Dorset was warmly welcomed by the Glasgow Chamber. We can provide our members with access to DCCI's in-depth knowledge of the markets and players in Dorset and further afield on the South Coast.

"Thanks to the DCCI, plus the promotion of AFC Bournemouth to the Premiership League and Flybe's direct flights to the county, Glasgow will be hearing a lot more about Dorset and what it can offer businesses in Scotland."

The delegation consisted of Iain Girling; Paul Knight, managing director of Bournemouth Airport; Ron Wain, joint managing director of Deep South Media; past DCCI president Paul Collins of the Westover motor group; and David McNair, acting president and a director at Nuffield Health Bournemouth Hospital.

Paul Willoughby, Flybe's regional general manager for the south, said: "We are committed to strengthening business links and the convenient flights between Bournemouth and Glasgow airports means that the business communities, including that of the wider Dorset catchment area, are in an advantageous position to capitalise on this relatively new route."

The airline opened a new base at Bournemouth Airport in May, with two 78-seat aircraft flying nine routes: Glasgow, Amsterdam, Biarritz, Deauville, Dublin, Jersey, Manchester, Paris Charles de Gaulle and Toulon–Hyères.