Borders Businesses Seek Collaboration with Government.
Key concerns of the Borders business community were directly addressed at a recent UK Government meeting in Glasgow
The government’s Business and Trade Select Committee has been touring the UK for a series of round tables and its Scottish event was held at the University of Glasgow. The Scottish Borders Chamber of Commerce was invited to put forward rural issues affecting business and the chamber’s new board member, Ken Topping, Chief Technology and Information Officer at GoFibre, attended.
“It was a really valuable event, and I’m pleased that we were able to put forward issues particular to the Borders,” he said. “I was impressed by the Minister and there was a real feeling that this government is moving closer to the Scottish Government than has been the case in recent years and is genuinely interested in the different issues affecting business and trade that we have in Scotland.”
The roundtable was hosted by Professor Sir Anton Muscatelli, the University of Glasgow’s Principal and Chancellor, and key speaker was Rt Hon Liam Byrne, MP, the Chair of the Business and Trade Committee.
He said he was in Glasgow to listen more than speak, and wanted to hear from around the audience of the challenges business is facing and where the new government can help to create solutions.
”“We spoke about transport infrastructure, and the need to ensure the Borders is connected with national networks"
Ken ToppingChief Technology and Information Officer at GoFibre
Mr Topping said: “We had small groups where we had a lot of discussion across a range of areas, and we also had the chance to hear directly from Liam.
Key Issues Raised
“Key points I took into the meeting from the Borders, which had been shared with us by our Chamber members, were the concerns around access to labour, both skilled and untrained, and how we both support people who come here with skills already and people who come here and we train in the region.
“We spoke about transport infrastructure, and the need to ensure the Borders is connected with national networks, about planning restrictions and delays causing issues, and also how relations between UK and Scottish Government impacted on business in the Borders.
Borders Businesses Seek Collaboration with Government to Address Key Challenges
“It certainly felt that we might be moving into a period of greater collaboration, that there has been a reset and there are signs of green shoots, so the important thing now is how we build on these discussions and work with both the UK and Scottish Governments for the benefit of businesses in the Borders.”
Mr Byrne told the audience that he had taken on board a wide range of issues and would be feeding these back to the Business and Trade Committee and UK Government, to help shape future direction.
“So, we’re half way through our Business & Trade Committee engagement enquiry and that’s the road trip done,” he said. “Our Commons Conference is still to come, and the survey is still open!
“So far, we’ve heard a lot about confidence and stability, the need for leaders to project greater confidence; about the green transition; workforce labour and skills; infrastructure and regional development; the planning system; capital and investment; innovation and research; small business support; and greater power and resources for local areas, among others.”
Mr Topping was encouraged, adding: “Having just joined the Chamber board, I found it very worthwhile.
“I see our Chamber as operating as the glue between the businesses in the Borders and the resources available to make those businesses grow and flourish, and I‘m looking forward to us developing further.”
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