Brexit causing main concern among Lochaber businesses
Access to skilled labour, housing for workers, traffic congestion in and around Fort William particularly during the summer months, all overshadowed by the continuing uncertainty caused by Brexit, writes Mark Entwistle.
Those were the main concerns flagged up by Lochaber businesses to members of the board of Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) during a visit to the region last week.
Alistair Dodds, deputy chairman of HIE, explained that board members were in Lochaber as part of a routine policy to hold board meetings outwith the organisation’s base in Inverness.
‘It’s important to go round areas we are investing in, so yesterday (October 29) the board was down here and we usually take the opportunity to have a business breakfast, so we met quite a few local business representatives before the board meeting,’ said Mr Dodds. ‘Today we’ve been round various businesses we have invested in in the past or are considering investing in. It is really important board and senior management see what we are investing in.’
HIE interim chief executive Carroll Buxton added: ‘It is about getting a feeling for businesses and the challenges they are facing. Because, while some challenges are similar across the Highlands and islands, there are some very specific local area issues and it was really good to hear those from people experiencing them daily.
‘We had a brief, but brilliant, visit to Caol Regeneration and they talked us through the Thomas Telford marina project. They are doing a fantastic job. Community development is vital for HIE, so seeing a mix of community and business projects is important.’