As the results are mulled over and the dust begins to settle on last week’s election results, I’ve heard one message time and time again from businesses this week: now begins the real hard work.
Getting elected to the Scottish Parliament is a tremendous honour and MSPs new and old deserve huge congratulations for their campaigns.
But with jobs and livelihoods still at risk, there really is no time to lose in cracking on with the tasks ahead. All of us need to redouble efforts to pool our collective talents, insights and knowhow to develop the solutions needed to overcome challenges and seize the opportunities before us to get Scotland’s economy back on track. And business stands ready to play its part.
For many businesses, the gradual easing of Covid restrictions provide hope. Garden centres, barbers and others have been able to reopen their doors, albeit in an often-limited capacity. This week saw further easing of measures for some of Scotland’s hardest-hit sectors. Having lost out on festive trading, hospitality, leisure and non-essential retail firms will be looking ahead with greater optimism than they have for some time.
It’s not all good news. Some sectors vital to Scotland’s economy are still holding their breath. For airlines, airports and other travel firms, the movement on quarantine-free international travel will feel like an inch, when it’s a mile they need.
Yes, we all want to go on that much-needed summer holiday, but passenger and freight travel is the lifeblood of those firms. It’s also essential for wider economic recovery, with many firms reliant on reaching global markets and supply chains. The four nations approach to travel was welcome, but a great deal more clarity is needed in the weeks ahead if we’re to help many vital firms stay afloat. Prioritising prime destinations for UK business travel to key trading markets with high rates of vaccine deployment and low virus rates is a must for industry.
Closer to home, step-by-step relaxation, incredible vaccine progress, and a boost in community testing can give all of us hope that the page can finally start to be turned on the pandemic. But firms know only too well that the impact will be felt for far longer. Restrictions can still be tough and a lag in demand will make trading conditions difficult for some time – with different sectors, and even areas of the country, recovering at different speeds.
Government support has provided a lifeline during unprecedented times, but with firms low on cash, confidence and demand, continued support may be needed. That’s why we need all parties in the Scottish Parliament to work with their counterparts in Westminster, the other nations of the UK and business to put economic recovery at the top of their in-trays.
Pre-election, CBI Scotland said we need a new ‘partnership for prosperity’, underpinned by enterprise and government working together to power recovery, unlock Scotland’s competitive advantage and champion the role of business in an economy that works for everyone. It’s a message we stand by now and will be our mantra in our meetings with ministers and officials in the coming weeks and months.
Yet we mustn’t forget that Covid-19 is a truly international issue. To that end the CBI was proud to host this week’s meeting of business federations from across the G7. Reducing trade protectionism by strengthening the WTO and tackling climate change were key themes.
With Scotland’s hosting COP26, there will be a fantastic opportunity for Scottish businesses and governments to showcase how business leadership and collaboration can and must lead to real results.
Tracy Black is director of the Confederation of British Industry in Scotland
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