Lesley Benfield, CEO of Lochaber Chamber of Commerce explains why it’s so important to support the local wider business community to ensure that Lochaber flourishes as a great place to work.

In today’s connected world, we can’t help but be aware that the news is often less than optimistic surrounding the economy, the future, and life outside Europe. However, according to recent reports, Scotland has not only escaped recession, but has in fact grown by 0.8 percent in the first quarter this year, the strongest growth for some time. In the recent HIE Business Panel Survey, 76% of businesses are optimistic about their prospects over the next 12 months, however SME’s are less likely to experience the same growth as being forecasted by larger companies. Additionally, the employment uncertainty surrounding Brexit has already this year created challenges within the tourism sector due to lack of availability of seasonal work force: typically, 2 in 5 small businesses employ a non-UK member of staff. Despite this, it is far from doom and gloom. Many small businesses, the lifeblood of our future, are still actively recruiting and creating new jobs.

In Lochaber we are still experiencing high levels of growth in tourism and business investment, with many businesses expanding their existing operations, or people moving into the area to combine a business start up with a lifestyle choice; Lochaber is absolutely a great place to live, work, study and visit.

One concern I do have however, is regarding the professional services sector. These SME’s make a valuable contribution to our local economy: where would we all be without the architect, surveyor, engineer, accountant, lawyer or other business professional to call on and who understands the local area and our needs?

Increasingly, and despite the Scottish Governments’ procurement policy, local authorities appear to be awarding tenders outside their local region which then has a double negative: not only does it mean that wealth is dispersed elsewhere, but it also means that local businesses are not being supported and the wider local economy suffers from lower income levels.

We’ve seen Highland Council spend 10% less in 2015/16 with local SME’s than it did 4 years previously with many of the contracts being awarded to larger businesses outside Lochaber, who have economies of scale and quote lower prices. Local SME’s might appear less competitive, but invariably offer valued advantages by being on the door step with local knowledge and beneficial contacts. Most worrying of all within this trend is the loss of opportunity for the professional services sector to create high worth, sustainable local jobs for the region’s young work force.

Lochaber Chamber of Commerce hosts one of Scotland’s 21 Developing the Young Workforce Groups; an industry led approach to engage business with local young people, allowing insight into their industry and the opportunity to develop and source their future workforce. Earlier this month, the Government funding for the programme was extended to 2021 which is fantastic news, however at the same time if business contracts are being awarded outside the region, the small local business is challenged in being able to offer apprenticeship and trainee opportunities in these key professions.

Lesley Benfield CEO Lochaber Chamber of Commerce commented: “We have already seen significant success for the Developing the Young Workforce in Lochaber, Skye & Wester Ross and we know that spending money with local SME’s benefits the local economy. As a business support organisation we will be working very hard with all the relevant agencies to ensure we have a far more joined up approach so that Lochaber can continue to flourish and continue to be a great place to work for everyone”

Lesley Benfield

ceo@lochaberchamber.co.uk

01397 705765