Business Leaders Unite to Drive Economic Growth in the Scottish Borders
The Scottish Borders is rapidly emerging as one of the UK’s most attractive regions for business investment. That was the clear message from the latest Scottish Borders Chamber of Commerce Business Leaders Dinner at Bowhill House, which gathered senior figures from major employers, local government and economic development organisations.
A Strategic Location
Among the keynote guests was Raj Singh-Dehal, Chief Corporate Officer at Center Parcs, who explained why the holiday park operator selected the Borders for its next UK site. “The Borders is the gateway between Scotland and England,” he said. “It offers accessibility to Glasgow, Edinburgh and the north of England — and an open, welcoming environment for business.”
This location advantage, he noted, underpins the region’s potential to attract investment and jobs on a significant scale.
Building on that point, Singh-Dehal highlighted the importance of a collective approach to economic development. “Collaboration is key,” he said. “We want to make the Borders a place where young people can stay, work and thrive by improving training, education and connectivity.”
His comments echoed a broader theme of the evening: that the Borders can unlock its full potential by aligning public, private and community efforts to create opportunities for residents and businesses alike.
Championing Ambition in the Borders
The event was hosted by Benny Higgins, Executive Chairman of Buccleuch Group. A former senior banker with RBS and HBOS, Higgins was also the founding CEO of Tesco Bank and advised the Scottish Government on the creation of the Scottish National Investment Bank. Now based in the Borders and overseeing the Duke of Buccleuch’s estate portfolio, he believes the region is ripe for investment and growth.
Pride in the Region
Higgins said he is proud to call the Borders home. With its beautiful countryside, natural assets and strong communities, he argued, the region has everything it needs to succeed — provided it matches those assets with ambition.
“I’m very proud to live in the Borders,” he said. “The Borders has the most beautiful countryside, with a lot of natural assets, great people and kids that grow up here deserve to have the highest ambition. Tonight’s been a great example of identifying what would make a big difference.”
To reinforce the point, Higgins cited Michelangelo’s famous warning that “the greater danger is not that we aim too high and miss it, but that we aim too low and reach it.”
Addressing Key Barriers
Turning to practical challenges, Higgins stressed the importance of understanding the “enablers” that allow the Borders to make the most of its assets. Transport, he said, remains a recurring issue for local businesses. Without effective transport links, companies struggle to attract both customers and employees, which in turn restricts their ability to grow.
Building Skills for the Future
In addition, Higgins emphasised the need for better education and training opportunities. And crucially, this should extend beyond academic pathways to include vocational training. “We need kids that are going to be good electricians, good engineers, good plumbers,” he said. “That is every bit as important as any other form of education and training.”
By addressing these two priorities — transport and skills — Higgins believes the Borders can unlock its full potential as a thriving place to live, work and invest.
”"if you don't have the transport, businesses don't get the people they need either as customers or to work for them."
Benny HigginsExecutive Chairman of Buccleauch Group
The Importance of Listening to Businesses
Scottish Borders Council Leader Euan Jardine stressed the importance of listening to local businesses after meeting firms across the region and speaking with Colin Craig, CEO of Borders Buses, about the challenges and opportunities facing rural transport. By engaging directly with employers, he said, policymakers gain a clearer picture of both the problems and the potential in the region.
Rural Transport Challenges
Jardine explained that the real value of Chamber of Commerce events lies not only in discovering the breadth of innovation within the region but also in creating space for candid discussion of the obstacles that limit growth.
In particular, transport emerged as a consistent concern. Many firms are eager to recruit locally; however, their efforts are often hindered because employees struggle to reach offices and factories due to limited rural transport options. As a result, businesses are losing out on talent while communities miss out on job opportunities.
Nevertheless, Jardine expressed optimism. “We are in a rural economy and a rural area,” he noted, “but no problem is insurmountable.” This, he suggested, is precisely why ongoing dialogue between stakeholders is so important.
Building on these conversations, Jardine emphasised the need for collaboration between businesses, service providers and the public sector rather than “working in silos.” Borders Buses, he said, provided valuable insight into the realities of running a rural bus service while also inviting businesses to work with them on tailored solutions.
Consequently, the bus operator has now joined the Chamber to engage more directly with employers, which Jardine sees as an important step in “completing the unique puzzle” of the Scottish Borders economy.
Looking ahead, Jardine believes the region’s location is a strategic advantage. Positioned in the heart of the UK, the Borders is both a thoroughfare and a potential destination for investment. “Why can’t people stay, invest or deliver here?” Jardine asked. “The answer lies with the people and businesses here. A strong Chamber of Commerce helps them realise they’re not alone in this ecosystem — they have others they can speak to and work with.”
With business leaders, government and communities pulling in the same direction, the region can move beyond being simply a gateway between Scotland and England to becoming a destination in its own right — a place where people want to live, work, invest and thrive.
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