Bringing together 500 industry leaders representing 170 Scottish companies, SCC’s Flagship business event was a vibrant night of connectivity and entrepreneurship.
he annual celebration showcased just how resilient, adaptable and outstanding Scotland’s business community really is – despite the looming threats of Brexit and an unstable political environment, Scottish businesses – small, medium and large showed that it is just business as usual.
Sponsored by CGI, Codeclan and Skills Development Scotland, the annual event also included a charity prize draw supporting the ARCHIE Foundation, Edinburgh Children’s Hospital and the Glasgow Children’s Hospital Charity. With some outstanding prizes including a Maserati Driving Experience, Laing’s Jewellery worth £900 and a signed Michelle Cohen print celebrating the Oor Wullie’s BIG Bucket Trail on offer, it’s not surprising the prize draw raised over £4,500 for the nominated charities!
As ever, the evening featured an engaging line-up of business speakers: Tim Allan, President, Scottish Chambers of Commerce; Depute First Minister John Swinney; Justene Ewing, Vice President CGI Scotland and Jonathan Hinkles, Managing Director, Loganair.
This year, the Business Keynote was delivered by Jonathan Hinkles, Managing Director of Loganair, who shared his experience of transforming Loganair into the UK’s fifth largest airline as well as Loganair’s plans to introduce electric aircrafts by the end of 2021 and how important issues such as diversity in the workplace and the climate emergency are for businesses today.
Depute First Minister, John Swinney also delivered a key message on climate change highlighting the role that the Scottish Government will play in encouraging businesses to take the initiative in developing opportunities that address climate change.
Justene Ewing of CGI delivered the partner speech as the event’s headline sponsor highlighting the importance of upskilling Scotland’s workforce and the key role which technology plays in this upskilling.
Closing the evening, Dr Liz Cameron OBE, Director and Chief Executive of SCC emphasised the strength of the Chamber Network as the largest business network in the world, highlighting the importance of businesses and the Government working together as equal partners with the best interests of the business community at heart.
Panel conversation
The Annual Scottish Business Address 2019 included, for the first time, an exclusive ‘Conversation with Global Chamber Leaders.’ Hosted by Kaye Adams, the panel, made up of,
Dr Liz Cameron OBE, Chief Executive of SCC; Francis Martin CBE, President of British Chambers of Commerce; and Chris Southworth, Secretary-General of the International Chambers of Commerce (UK) addressed global business topics including international trade, the cost of doing business and the future of work.
The ‘Conversation with Global Chamber Leaders’ comes at an important time in business and the insight, expertise and world-view enables a greater understanding of the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead for businesses in Scotland and the UK and internationally.
