Responding to the latest update of the route map for Scotland through and out of lockdown restrictions, Dr Liz Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Chambers of Commerce said:
“It is disappointing that we seem to have taken a step back in terms of compliance with guidelines while the virus has taken steps forward. We need to control the spread of the virus more effectively and we urge all to follow the rules.
“We can ill afford a return to stricter measures. Scottish Chambers of Commerce has been witness to the huge efforts and investments businesses have made to implement safe operating practices so that they are COVID safe and secure. We need to move forward to ensure our economy can recover and stem the loss of jobs where possible. That’s why we need our offices to be allowed to open quickly, particularly those where businesses have worked closely with employees and invested heavily in safety procedures. For the sake of our theatres, live music venues, soft play and indoor contact sports facilities, clear guidance on when they can reopen safely is also required quickly.
“We need effort and investment rolled out to ensure testing facilities are expanded and properly resourced. Until a vaccine or some other intervention is in place, we must learn to manage the spread of the virus smarter.”
BUSINESSES in the north could face “serious challenges” when the UK government’s furlough scheme comes to an end next month.
That is the warning made by the chief executive of the Caithness Chamber of Commerce, Trudy Morris, who would like to see the continuation of the financial support “in the coming months”.
She is concerned “the sudden loss” of the scheme, which has provided financial help for firms during the coronavirus crisis could create “a cliff-edge” for businesses across the north.
The funding package was announced by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rishi Sunak, when the UK went into lockdown in March. At that time, firms could claim 80 percent of the wages of furloughed staff – up to £2500 – although that figure was reduced to 70 per cent at the start of this month. Employers pay 10 per cent to ensure staff still receive 80 per cent of their wages. The scheme will finish at the end of October.
Ms Morris said: “The furlough scheme has brought significant relief to businesses over the lockdown period, and has helped to prevent significant job losses that would otherwise have been unavoidable. In recent months, with the added flexibility to bring employees back part-time or to bring them on and off furlough, it has been a key part of enabling businesses to get their operations back up and running. With physical distancing restrictions still in place, it remains difficult for many businesses to bring back all their staff at one time and the furlough scheme has also played a key role in enabling these businesses to continue to operate at a reduced capacity.
“While the past few weeks have shown some promising green shoots of recovery in the region, particularly for the hospitality and tourism sector, we are aware that many businesses will need continued support through the winter and into next year. A ‘cliff edge’ in terms of sudden loss of support through the furlough scheme could bring serious challenges to businesses across the north Highlands.”
She added: “The support provided to businesses throughout the pandemic has been welcome and recognises the key role that business plays in our local communities. It is important that the good work done so far is not lost for want of a few months of additional assistance. As a chamber, we are continuing to lobby both Scottish and UK Governments on the importance of understanding the needs of businesses in the North Highlands and to continue to provide tailored support in the coming months.”
Speaking earlier in the year, the chancellor said: “Our Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme has protected millions of jobs and businesses across the UK during the outbreak – and I’ve been clear that I want to avoid a cliff edge and get people back to work in a measured way.”
Figures show the job retention scheme has protected 7.5 million workers and almost one million businesses.
Source – John O’Groat Journal
Responding to the publication of the Scottish Government’s 2020-2021 Programme for Government, Dr Liz Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Chambers of Commerce said:
“The onus is on all of us to build back and the sooner we start the better. The Scottish Government’s Programme for Government has some ambitious aims that we welcome. Now we need to see how these proposals will be implemented and when.
“There is no doubt in anyone’s minds how important it is to keep the spread of the virus at bay but of equal importance is ensuring the sustainability of our livelihoods and the strength of our jobs market. We need to ensure equal amounts of energy and investment are focused on the survival of our businesses now as well as into the future.”
On green jobs and skills:
“A joined-up approach from private and public sector is absolutely essential to tackle the global challenge of climate change and the skills needed to deliver net zero ambitions. The Green Jobs fund – alongside support for decarbonising domestic and industrial heating – is a welcome statement of intent.
“We look forward to seeing the detail of how businesses of all sizes will be able to access support to upskill their employees through the extended Flexible Workforce Development Fund.”
On investment in tech and infrastructure:
“The rapid adoption of Mark Logan’s proposals to develop a world-class ecosystem for technology start-ups and growth businesses is bold albeit uncosted as yet. However, this along with support to close the digital exclusion gap that has become so apparent in Scotland during the course of this pandemic will set a course towards the necessary and hopefully rapid adoption of digital technologies.”
On commitment to introducing Air Departure Tax (ADT):
“This has been talked about for years and still no solution to this quandary. If we are to boost inward investment not to mention a tourism industry devastated by the pandemic, now would be the time to act on this.”
On plans for a draft bill proposing terms and timing of a second referendum on Scottish independence:
“Businesses are in desperate need of certainty and stability, two things which are sorely lacking in the current economic and political environment. When appropriate, we will initiate engagement with our members across the country to understand how the prospect of another referendum on Scotland’s constitutional future could potentially affect their ability to grow, create new jobs and invest.”
A special, online edition of the Caithness Chamber Newsletter from the August Executive Magazine is available to read here.
The Newsletter includes updates from;
- Ice & Fire Distillery
- Fibre 1
- Caithness CAB
- Royal Marine Hotel
- Anubis Security
- Harper Macleod LLP
- BBM Solicitors
Caithness Chamber of Commerce’s new Test and Protect service, #ProtectNorthHighlands, goes live today (26 August) across Caithness and Sutherland. Offering a simple, secure way for businesses to store customer data in line with Scottish Government’s requirements for Test and Protect, the service is free to all businesses across the region thanks to the generous support of Highlands and Islands Enterprise.
Expressions of interest have already been received from a range of businesses across the North Highlands, and the service has been undergoing a period of soft launch testing with hospitality businesses in Wick, Thurso and John O’Groats.
Although aimed primarily at tourism and hospitality businesses, the service is open to any business which may need to provide Test and Protect data to NHS and wants an easy and secure way of collecting this. Businesses can check the number of logins on their dashboard and download a support package of QR codes, posters and flyers. They can also manually check-in guests who do not have a smartphone.
Designed and built entirely in the Highlands by Cairngorm Studios, Grantown-on-Spey, in conjunction with Cairngorms Business Partnership Ltd, this web-based service is being rolled out by Chambers of Commerce across Scotland, ensuring a continuity of experience for visitors at participating venues across the country.
Businesses interested in using the service can sign up free at protect.caithnesschamber.com or email protect@caithnesschamber.com to find out more. The Chamber team will be on hand to guide them through the signup process and to get them set up and running with everything they need to offer their customers a simple, secure check-in process.
Andrew Mackay, Owner, The Caithness Collection, said:
“This new service will be invaluable to businesses across the North Highlands which are struggling to get to grips with Scottish Government’s new requirements for Test and Protect. Ensuring customer safety is our first priority and we’re delighted that the Chamber is able to provide us with a free and simple solution to enable this. I would encourage any business which is looking for a way to check customers in and out quickly and securely to contact the Chamber to find out more.”
Learn more about the #ProtectNorthHighlands service on it’s dedicated page here. Please note the service is open to all businesses, not just members of Caithness Chamber.
At the latest meeting of the Caithness Transport Forum, held virtually on 13 August, members were pleased to hear of a range of positive developments relating to transport infrastructure and services in Caithness.
The Forum heard from Scrabster Harbour Trust on the forward plans for the port, including the ambitious £18.5m redevelopment of the St. Ola Pier. Despite delays to construction due to COVID-19 restrictions, the Trust has made good progress on the project and has awarded the construction contract to a Highland-based contractor, RJ McLeod.
Members were updated that the project has community benefits written into the contract and that it is expected to bring significant economic benefit to the region as a result of both the construction and operation of the pier.
Forum members also heard from both Pentland Ferries and Serco NorthLink Ferries regarding their respective passenger services across the Pentland Firth. Pentland Ferries highlighted that the MV Alfred, their new vessel, had been performing well to date, and updated the Forum on the gradual increase in passenger numbers as a result of easing of restrictions. Welcome news was also heard on a commercial charter for the MV Pentalina, carrying plant and equipment from Gills Bay to Lyness, and on planned improvements to the marshalling area and terminal building at St. Margaret’s Hope.
Serco NorthLink Ferries updated the Forum on the significant effort that has been made to ensure a safe return to travel for passengers and staff, including new physical distancing measures, extra hand sanitation points, and extra cleaning and sanitation onboard vessels and at terminals. They highlighted that they have been working very closely with Scottish Government and NHS on the reintroduction of onboard services in line with the Transport Transition Plan, and that passengers could always find the most up-to-date information and guidance on their website.
Positive news was also heard from the ScotRail Alliance with regards to future plans for the Far North Line. Members were updated that the design phase is in progress for future works on the line, including a much anticipated passing loop at Lentran. The Lentran design options are due for completion by the end of the year, with the process then moving on to the allocation of funding to specific projects. While details of projects are not available at this stage, members were assured that the line would see investment in infrastructure improvements in the coming years.
Further welcome developments on the Far North Line were also noted with regards to an ongoing trial service to move timber by rail between Caithness and Inverness. Funded by Scottish Government and taking place over six weeks, the trial will move around 6,000 tonnes of timber – equivalent to 250 lorry loads. The work of HITRANS in enabling this trial to happen was commended to members.
BEAR Scotland provided an update to the Forum on their works on the trunk road network north of Inverness. Of particular note was the progress made by RJ McLeod on works at Berriedale Braes, with the new road alignment now in place and remaining resurfacing works hoped to be completed by the end of August. Members were also updated on BEAR Scotland’s plans for erection of new signage relating to the North Coast 500 route, expected to start in mid-September.
The Forum was also pleased to hear that additional funds have been provided by Transport Scotland for works in the region, and that BEAR Scotland was proposing to use these to carry out five additional resurfacing schemes on the A99 between Latheron and Wick.
Trudy Morris, Chair of the Caithness Transport Forum, said:
“The challenges presented by COVID-19 over the past several months have had a significant impact on transport providers in the region, and we commend the hard work that they have done to keep lifeline services running safely during this difficult time.
“While the future remains uncertain, and we are sure that there are new challenges to come, we were pleased to hear so much positive news and plans for increased investment in the region’s transport infrastructure in the coming years and months. As a Forum, we will continue to work to bring transport operators and stakeholders together and to lobby for continued investment in and development of transport to, from and within Caithness.”
Responding to the announcement today by the Scottish Government that gyms, indoor pools and indoor sports courts in Scotland can now reopen from the 31st of August, Dr Liz Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Chambers of Commerce said:
“The announcement to bring forward the opening date for gyms, indoor pools and indoor sports courts is the right decision. Their operators are ready and have prepared and invested heavily to ensure they are fully compliant with all guidelines.
“While gyms and pools support public health, we would also like the Scottish Government to do more to support the health of the economy by providing firmer guidance on when non-essential offices can re-open. We would ask that this be kept under review with as early a date as possible to return for those who want to.
“Offices contribute to so many other sectors who rely on their business, especially in our town and city centres. The majority of us are following the guidelines, this needs to continue to ensure we all help build back our economy with no further lockdowns required.”
Caithness Chamber of Commerce is delighted to announce that, thanks to the generous support of Highlands & Islands Enterprise, it will be launching a free, simple online service to allow hospitality businesses across the North Highlands to safely collect and store customer data in line with official guidelines to support the Scottish Government’s Test & Protect Programme.
This new service, #ProtectNorthHighlands, will be launching on 26 August and will be free for any business in Caithness and Sutherland to access. It offers a quick and easy way for customers to digitally check in and out of businesses using their mobile device at any participating business across the region, as well as allowing businesses to manually check in customers without a mobile device.
Participating businesses can rest assured that customer data is being stored and handled securely by the Chamber team, relieving them of the burden of data protection and allowing them to focus on providing a safe and welcoming environment to their customers.
Designed and built entirely in the Highlands by Cairngorm Studios, Grantown-on-Spey, in conjunction with Cairngorms Business Partnership Ltd, this web-based Test & Protect solution has already been successfully rolled out by Cairngorms, Lochaber and Moray Chambers of Commerce.
Trudy Morris, Chief Executive of Caithness Chamber of Commerce, said:
“With the Scottish Government recently making the collection of customer data for Test & Protect mandatory, we know that many businesses will be looking for a solution to enable them to do this safely, securely and with minimum fuss.
“Thanks to the excellent work done by Cairngorm Studios, and the generous support of HIE, we are pleased to be able to support businesses across the North Highlands by offering this simple solution free of charge. With Chambers across the region offering the same service, this will bring confidence to visitors that they can safely check in at participating venues wherever they are in the Highlands.”
For more details on the programme and to register your interest in joining, contact the Chamber today on protect@caithnesschamber.com
Commenting on the publication of Scottish Government GDP statistics for Q2 2020, Dr Liz Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Chambers of Commerce said:
“The collapse in Scotland’s GDP in the second quarter sets alarm bells ringing even if the fall was expected. The 19.7% decline from April to June makes Scotland’s and the UK’s economies among the worst performing in Europe.
“These figures confirm the Scottish economy is in deep recession and intervention is required now to prevent real and lasting damage to the jobs market.
“If businesses are to continue to retain their employees, we call on the Chancellor of the Exchequer to make an immediate reduction in employers’ national insurance contributions. As wage support is withdrawn, we also need to see new initiatives such an Employee Retention Incentive which covers new and existing employers, so that employers, particularly in vulnerable sectors and locations, can keep the doors open until they are able to start earning again.
“Without rapid intervention in the form of fiscal stimulus packages as well as cost cutting efforts such as rates holidays, we fear that the Scotland’s economic landscape may never recover to previous levels.”