Broadband vital to rural businesses

The importance of broadband to rural enterprise was acknowledged by the deputy first minister John Swinney at the Growbiz 10th anniversary celebrations last week.

Answering questions from those at the event, Mr Swinney said that businesses and residents “should see significant improvements in mobile coverage over the next few years”.

He explained:“The Scottish Government has given a commitment that we will find solutions to the problems in getting 100 per cent of coverage during this term of office.

“We will get to 97 per cent by the end of 2018 and are working with mobile operators to get 3G coverage throughout the country.

“The Scottish Government is investing in improving coverage for the emergency services which is available for everyone to use when the emergency services aren’t utilising it.”

Encouraging young people to set up their own businesses was also discussed at the Growbiz event with the Mr Swinney highlighting the new Developing the Young Workforce initiative which sets out pathways such as modern apprenticeships that “enable young people to have the skills they need to adapt to whatever the future may bring”.

But Iain Scott, from Can Do Places, commented:“There is lots going on to help young people set up their own businesses but the biggest obstacle they face is working zero hours contracts which makes it virtually impossible.”