View from the Chamber
Lochaber Chamber of Commerce was delighted to welcome Jamie Hepburn MSP, the minister for business, fair work and skills, along to our Business Forum meeting of premier members.
Held at the Liberty British Aluminium head office in Fort William, Mr Hepburn had a fruitful discussion with representatives from the premium member businesses, which includes many of Lochaber’s biggest companies, who value the access to high-level discussions this level of membership offers.
With exciting economic developments on the horizon, it was a good time for our major employers to talk directly to the minister about what they feel is required to ensure Lochaber has the skilled workforce it needs.
The meeting was chaired by Lesley Benfield, programme director of Developing the Young Workforce (DYW) West Highland.
Mr Hepburn was very supportive of the work that DYW West Highland team does in linking young people from high schools in Lochaber, Skye and Wester Ross with employers throughout the area and the range of opportunities that it allows young people to experience.
He was also supportive of the exciting plans in progress to create a new Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths Centre as part of West Highland College UHI. This new facility will place Lochaber at the forefront of a drive to innovate from within the Highlands and allow our young people (and existing workforce) to ensure they have the high-level technical skills needed, not just to work in, but also to create and lead, the businesses of the future right here in Lochaber.
Mr Hepburn left the meeting in no doubt about the passion that exists within our business community to ensure we are ready to embrace the challenges and opportunities of the future. We look forward to his further input as Lochaber’s ambitious economic plans move into their next phase of development.