‘Pandemic presents opportunities’

One of the aspects of the global pandemic that has been encouraging has been its ability to inspire people to work in ways they had previously considered implausible or beyond their technical abilities.

And yet, six months on, here we all are, confidently sharing our screens on Teams, mastering Zoom socials and even networking at virtual events.

We could not have imagined how smoothly we would be able to adapt when Covid-19 meant that many of us had no choice but to learn to operate online while working from home.

Imagine the effect of a similar volte-face in attitude in the business world. When faced with the temporary collapse of domestic markets in the UK and Europe, can Scots quickly embrace a new mindset and expand beyond their usual territorial borders?

Those Scots businesses looking warily at the new prospect of renewed lockdown restrictions in the UK and with the almost forgotten old threat of a No Deal Brexit suddenly thrust back on the table may find that it’s easier than they think to expand into China and the Far East.

Last week, I attended the China-scotland Business Forum, online of course. As Head of ACCA in Scotland, I represent the interests of finance professionals, but others were there from our universities, tourism, government and transport.

From the Chinese side, Consul General

Ma held the door wide open for Scottish businesses to capitalise on the huge opportunities offered by the world’s second largest economy. He was keen to promote their resilient and strong recovery from Covid-19 and to offer any assistance to promote further trade and export links.

A political sales pitch, no doubt, but a potent consideration for our Scottish enterprises. We probably could not have imagined our daily online business lives six months ago. Maybe, we can imagine a new global dimension to Scots businesses that have not already taken the Silk Road.

At ACCA, our strength has always been our unrivalled network of members and partners across the world. Our own operations in China have rebounded strongly from Covid-19 with students able to sit exams in July when students in Scotland, England and Wales had to wait until this week to attend Covid-secure centres, with many being remotely invigilated at home. Students were also able to attend ACCA exams in July held at Hong Kong SAR, Macau SAR and in Taiwan.

The Scottish Government has encouraged for years the growth of Scottish exports and luxury products with global regard, like Scotch whisky and our salmon, have been successful. The pandemic is demanding changes of us, but it also presents opportunities to reimagine our lives and to seize global connectivity, even from the dining room table.

● Craig Vickery is Head of ACCA Scotland