A busy week for EK and SNP

It was a busy week last week for the Scottish Government and East Kilbride.

The First Minister made a welcome return visit to Coca-Cola European Partners in College Milton, marking the company’s recent £23 million investment in theit East Kilbride factory.

The last time Nicola visited the factory was five years ago to mark the 50th year in East Kilbride. On that visit she signed the Scottish Business Pledge – introduced to boost productivity, competitiveness, and ensure fair working conditions.

Since then, the workforce there has increased and there has been much innovation in working practices, research and development.The company’s record is excellent on waste management and they strive constantly to improve the recyclability of drinks containers.

Elsewhere, the minister for trade, innovation and investment was determined to meet Mage Control Systems. I was happy to accompany Ivan McKee MSP because I have known this company since its inception a few years ago.

Mage is a local success story, producing specialist electronic control systems for use across a range of industries, including health services and exploration. Mage is an accredited living wage employer, recognising the benefits of paying staff a fair wage, dedicated to staff development and the promotion of fair work.

Fair work of course contributes to general wellbeing: The First Minister gave a‘TED Talk’ in Edinburgh last month saying countries should focus on wellbeing, not just‘economic growth at any cost’.

A few years ago, I was on the steering group of Oxfam’s‘Humankind Index for Scotland’aimed at assessing Scotland’s prosperity beyond economic growth and increased consumption – how people can live well in their communities.

Oxfam were‘ahead of the curve’in this study and it’s good this discussion is now being had at national and international levels.

In her‘TED Talk,’Nicola argued a focus on policies that promote wellbeing, not just economic growth, could help address the rise of alienation and disaffection from politics.

She said:“When we focus on wellbeing, we start a conversation that provokes profound and fundamental questions – what really matters to us in our lives. What do we

I’m sure East Kilbride is leading the way...

value in the communities that we live in, what kind of country, what kind of society do we really want to be?”

Scotland has linked up with two other small nations, Iceland and New Zealand, to take forward this new political and economic idea. Wee countries working together can achieve a lot – and lead the way.

‘Leading the way’is certainly an apt description of the young woman I met along with Ivan at the third East Kilbride ministerial visit of the week. The Federation of Small Business’Young Entrepreneur of the Year, Liv Conlon, has based her successful company, The Property Stagers, in the town.

Liv is leading the way, not just in her business concept of‘upstaging’ properties for sale and rent, but in her commitment to help other young people achieve their dreams.

I know there are many more inspirational individuals here – I’m pretty sure East Kilbride leads the way.