Mark Connolly, Policy & Communications Executive at Scottish Chambers of Commerce
Working at the heart of Scotland’s business community has given me a front-row seat to how policy can either unlock opportunity – or stifle it.
As part of the team at Scottish Chambers of Commerce (SCC), I see every day how crucial it is that legislation is rooted in the reality of how businesses operate. When this happens, then local and national government can get the most out of the firms that give so much to their communities. That’s what drives me: the belief that businesses deserve a voice at the table, and that Scotland is stronger when they are heard.
I can probably trace this back to my childhood, where I saw up close the frustrations and challenges my father had to contend with as a small business owner in the retail sector. Rising costs and declining demand as a result of economic stagnation were all obstacles to his business which limited its growth potential and forced workers to find innovative solutions and work ever harder to achieve the same results.
Even though this business employed many people and provided value to customers who depended on its services, it was surprising to me how little recognition small businesses like this one received from the state – and even more shocking how little help they got.
As a politically aware teenager, I often heard ministers and party leaders talk of ‘supporting business’ and ‘letting the private sector flourish.’ Yet at my dad’s business, the reality was very different.
Despite the rhetoric, governments rarely stepped in to help the small firms that needed it most. Instead, they often raised costs and taxes while cutting the public services needed to sustain demand. The growth enjoyed by a few large corporations allowed politicians to claim success, but as I watched small businesses that form the backbone of Scotland’s economy struggle to survive, the disconnect between policymakers and business owners became impossible to ignore.
This gap between Downing Street and the High Street fascinated me. I began reading widely on economics and public policy and the more I learned, the clearer it became that with the right institutions and rules of engagement, the state and private sector could form a symbiotic relationship, enhancing growth while advancing the state’s broader ambitions.
With the wrong ones, the relationship limits government effectiveness and stifles business opportunity.
I knew I wanted a career in public policy, helping raise living standards through growth and productivity. The question was: how could I maximise my impact?
To make a real difference, I had to be part of an action-oriented, results-driven organisation and the Scottish Chambers of Commerce is exactly that. Representing nearly half of Scotland’s private sector workforce, SCC is the leading voice for the business community.
It delivers tangible results – in the form of policy changes, new investment, and representation at the highest levels of government.
None of this happens alone. One of the greatest lessons since joining SCC has been how vital coalition-building is. The Chamber Network—stretching into every part of Scotland—gives us extraordinary leverage. It means we don’t just speak as one organisation but as a collective voice representing thousands of businesses.
Whether it’s working with local Chambers, industry bodies, or national partners, building alliances is essential to deliver results.
Getting these elements right has never been more crucial with the Scottish Parliament elections on the horizon, investment opportunities tied to the green energy transition, and global economic turmoil testing the resilience of our trading ties.
The challenges facing Scotland’s businesses are only becoming more complex and I’m proud to be part of a team—and a Network—that seeks solutions and collaboration rather than confrontation and divide.
What drives me now is what has always driven me: the belief that relationships and communication matter to create an entrepreneurial economy which strengthens society. the belief that; and the belief that better policy builds a better Scotland. Put another way, I am driven to deliver for businesses just like my father’s. And at SCC, I’m in exactly the right place to help make that happen.
