The Scottish Chambers of Commerce Annual Business Address 2024 once again cemented its reputation as one of the most significant events of Scotland’s business calendar. The much-anticipated gathering brought together over 600 key figures from over 300 companies, including leading entrepreneurs, renowned personalities and senior politicians from Scotland, the UK and beyond.
Sponsored by SSE Energy Solutions, the event celebrated the vibrant spirit of Scottish business and innovation, while highlighting the incredible accomplishments of the Scottish Chambers of Commerce Network. It was a night that honoured success, inspired collaboration and showcased the strength of Scotland’s business community.
The evening’s agenda featured an impressive lineup of speakers, each delivering unique insights and sharing compelling stories which captivated all. Among the standout speakers were:
Stephen Leckie, Former President, Scottish Chambers of Commerce
John Swinney MSP, First Minister of Scotland
Nikki Flanders, Managing Director, SSE Energy Solutions GB & Ireland
Dr Diane Gutiw, Vice President, Global AI Research Centre at CGI
Mike Soutar, Founder of Shortlist Media, Media Mogul and on-screen Interviewer for The Apprentice
Rowena Bird, Co-founder & Product Inventor at LUSH
Owen Wyatt, Chief Growth Officer at DC Thomson
Dr Liz Cameron CBE, Director & Chief Executive, Scottish Chambers of Commerce.
Opening the evening Stephen Leckie, Former President of the Scottish Chambers of Commerce, “This gathering highlights the importance of collaboration between government, business, and our communities. A collaboration which drives Scotland’s economic growth and prosperity. Your presence today underscores the shared commitment to fostering a thriving business environment.
I’m delighted that tonight is our biggest-ever event with the widest possible representation of the Chambers of Commerce Network – from the Scottish Borders to the Highlands.
The past few years have tested the resilience of every business and individual across Scotland. But resilience is not just about weathering storms. It’s about learning, growing, and ensuring our foundations are stronger for the future. Businesses across Scotland have embraced change, from adopting new technologies to pivoting towards sustainability. These are not just survival strategies; they are investments in a more dynamic, competitive future.
Increasing energy costs, higher tax burdens, stretched consumers, new government regulations– this is a lot for us to manage and absorb.
Inevitably, we have to turn our attention to the levers that are in our control such as increasing prices, reducing operating hours, pause on hiring and freeze on investment. These all have the risk of hitting consumer spending power and our ability to create jobs.
Ultimately, the strength of our economy depends on thriving businesses not just resilient businesses. Every business in this room, and beyond, has the ambition to grow, do better, make more money, reinvest more.
Scotland has a rich tradition of innovation, from the industrial revolution to today’s cutting-edge work in renewable energy, life sciences, and fintech. To harness this potential, we must foster an environment that rewards entrepreneurship and investment.
That’s why, where and how we choose to invest is a critical marker for our future growth.
We need to prioritise regional and sectoral investment to ensure that opportunities are spread across Scotland – from the thriving hubs of Glasgow and Edinburgh to the vibrant economies of our rural and island communities. Investment in infrastructure, digital connectivity, and skills development will ensure Scotland remains a destination of choice for global business.
Government policies are critical to creating the conditions for growth. Businesses need certainty, clarity, and collaboration.
This means a renewed focus on tax reform to incentivise innovation, a planning system that enables swift development, and support for key sectors like renewable energy, tourism, and manufacturing. Government must also take bold steps to address the skills gap, working closely with businesses and educators to ensure we’re equipping people with the tools they need for the future economy and empowering our agencies such as Skills Development Scotland to respond to business demand.
None of this can be achieved in isolation. The relationship between business and government must be a partnership. Businesses are the engine of the economy, creating jobs, wealth, and opportunities. Governments have the tools to unlock potential – through policy, investment, and support.
By working together, we can ensure Scotland remains a world leader in innovation, a magnet for investment, and a model of sustainable growth.
As we look ahead, I am confident in the strength and ingenuity of Scotland’s business community. Together, I know we have the vision, talent, and determination to turn challenges into opportunities.”
Commenting on the collaboration between the Scottish Government and the Scottish Chambers of Commerce, First Minister of Scotland, John Swinney, remarked: “One of the key contributors is the partnership we enjoy with the Scottish Chambers of Commerce. Through the International Trade Partnership, which has been a partnership of long-standing, reflecting the fact that the Scottish Chambers of Commerce, historically, have always been outward looking, always interested in taking companies from Scotland to International markets and of course the strength of the Chamber of Commerce network Is that the network is so intensely connected within local communities.
“Those companies with dynamism and an export appetite can be readily identified, they can be supported and they can be given a platform on the international stage. Since 2019, when we established the International Trade Partnership, there’s been the successful support of more than 100 trade missions overseas onboarding over a thousand Scottish businesses and resulting in international sales, worth an estimated 45 million pounds that wouldn’t have happened without the intervention of the international trade partnership.
“The importance of Government working in partnership with business is a welcomed theme for me to reinforce in what I say to you tonight. At the heart of any government will be its policy agenda, I have set out the policy agenda for Government will be focused on four principal themes; the eradication of child poverty, transforming the economy to deal with net zero, ensuring sustainable public services and growing the economy.
“I don’t view these as unconnected or compartmentalised themes, these are absolute interlinked themes as we cannot achieve the eradication of child poverty, we cannot deliver sustainable public services, we cannot support the transition to net zero, unless we have got a fundamentally strong, growing and dynamic economy.
“I am committed as First Minister to making sure that the government takes the necessary steps to ensure that is the case, but we will be greatly strengthened if we do that in an atmosphere of partnership and engagement with business to ensure the perspectives and the aspirations of the business community are brought very much into the heart of government.
“The government is focused intently on ensuring we create the conditions for your success.”