By Rodney Ayre, President, Scottish Chambers of Commerce
Trying to put into words what the future holds for Scotland’s businesses in 2025 is hard enough, but for an engineer I will admit it’s well out of my comfort zone.
Our power doesn’t come from words and talk. It’s from process, building, creating and delivering. We make things happen and don’t just talk action.
And our success and our impact is not just limited to Scotland, it’s global.
So maybe it’s time for us all to step out of our comfort zone and see the challenges and opportunities from a manufacturing and engineering perspective.
The building blocks to growth and prosperity lie in our own hands and by working collaboratively and in partnership with governments it is time to turn all those words into deeds.
I’m a manufacturing guy, I make things for others to use to help them make other things for others, a cycle of growth.
Scotland has a powerful heritage in traditional industrial and a new successful heritage in developing industries across a range of sector.
Yet too often we have a negative image of ourselves even though in 2023 exports were up 13% and Scotland’s economy is continuing to grow despite the difficult climate.
It’s time for less negative talk and more positive action.
The cost of NI to employers and reduced access to the EU market because of Brexit are all expected to impact the medium and long-term growth of the manufacturing sector, my sector.
I know from years of national and international experience in the engineering and manufacturing sector the ability to look beyond adversity and see the opportunity.
I use the phrase, “when faced with an obstacle how do I get over it, under it, around it or through it” definitely not standing looking at it. That’s the culture Scotland has embraced for centuries and why we are such great inventors. Even now with all the challenges, the companies I speak to are already making plans, looking for the new opportunities.
Manufacturing is the workhorse of the Scottish economy; as a Trading Nation make things to grow.
Our continued success will come from our established companies Established companies expanding offshore and innovation companies accessing funding and taking risks.
We must capitalise on our enviable position in renewables onshore and offshore, the development within the space sector, the digital environment, Service and hospitality sectors, healthcare, I could go on….
The transition from oil and gas to green energy offers significant business and economic opportunities for Scotland. As does offshore wind, the developing green hydrogen industry, and the need to decarbonise homes and industry.
Within the complex mix of large International Companies and medium and small indigenous business Scotland has the ability but we need a Government that understands the full importance of the manufacturing sector, what it has to offer and where to put support to get the best outcome, now and beyond the next horizon.
The above statement is not related to who is in power, it’s a statement on the future manufacturing sector we wish to have in Scotland and the long term vision and clear direction to create stability for investors.
To an engineer, a problem without a solution is a complaint: Identify the problem, work together on an agreed solution, don’t wait for the future to happen but be bold and create it ourselves.
I am very privileged to be the President of the Scottish Chamber of Commerce and working with an impressive Board of Directors and Operational team. We are asking ourselves how to support making Scotland a strong trading nation, an enviable brand, “Made in Scotland.”
With my manufacturing hat on, here are some initial thoughts:
1. Let’s get it done and make it happen where we can, making sure that Government understands and is ready to provide the initial fiscal support where the outcome is clearly beneficial but the fiscal challenges.
2. Government and Business must work in parallel to support a strong public service and a thriving Business sector. They are not mutually exclusive as the latest Budget would have you think.
3. Cut the red tape in ALL sectors.
4. In business be willing to take more risk to ensure innovative ideas are supported through to the manufacturing stage within Scotland. That includes financial risk.
5. The Made in Scotland brand and strategy should be a priority for business and government and we leant the lessons from our European Cousins Strategies.
6. Make it easier for international companies to invest in Scotland by creating a seamless proposition.
7. More investment in infrastructure, services, transport.
The SCC has a leading role to play in working collaboratively with government and delivering successful growth.
We will support the internationalisation of Scottish Business by creating a new value proposition and collaborating with partners for inward and outward investment.
We will grow our link with international trading partners worldwide, including the chamber network, to create that synergistic group branded, “Scottish Chamber of Commerce” and deliver an International synergistic ecosystem to support new, existing and developing businesses.
We will make a clear proposition, together with other large organisations including our partners in the British Chambers, as part of a strong and wide voice to Government of the opportunities that business can give and where the support is required.
But most importantly, we shall take the inspiration of our industrial past and today’s successful innovative culture to manufacture and engineer Scotland’s economic growth.
More action and less words will keep this engineer happy!
