HIGH-PROFILE business leaders Lord Willie Haughey and Sir Tom Hunter do not believe that face-to-face meetings and field sales operations will become a thing of the past as the country emerges from the Covid-19 pandemic.

Answering a question from a caller on yesterday’s Go Radio Business Show with Hunter & Haughey, they both agreed that while obstacles lay ahead for many businesses, meetings would be relegated to Zoom or Skype.

Lord Haughey, the Labour peer and owner of City Facilities Management Holdings, told Alan Howat, director of Glasgow-based McMillan Office Supplies, that there would still be demand for face-to-face contact. “While you will pick up a bit online, I think it will be about 80 per cent in person and in the short term there is going to be demand for boots on the ground,” he said.

Entrepreneur and philanthropist Sir Tom Hunter added: “I was taught that people buy from people – people doing business together is a contact sport. I definitely think that face-to-face and personal service will make you stand out.”

Another caller, Craig McGee, who is chief events officer at Panoptic Events in Glasgow, asked the business duo how to “keep growth at the forefront of your mind when you feel the odds are against you”. Lord Haughey said it was important to retain “optimism and faith” while Sir Tom pointing to business being a continual learning game.

“I love to learn – meet as many people as you can,” he advised. “Even if something doesn’t work you have learned a lesson.”

Discussing the hospitality industry opening up shortly after the latest lockdown, Sir Tom noted that it would still be difficult and “people in hospitality must be pulling their hair out”. But he added: “I think there is pent-up demand and people want to get back out there – and Scottish hospitality can lead the way.”

The Go Radio Business Show features advice and insight from Sir Tom and Lord Haughey, broadcasting at 11am on Sundays.