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A twist in the tale

The recent announcement in the Chancellor’s budget, that the oil & gas sector is to be hit with additional taxes, sent ripples of alarm through the North east as the business community began to assess the implications for the region’s future and the potential damage a reduction in investment in the North Sea could have on all other business sectors.

The debate about what should the wider business community can do to safeguard the economic prosperity of Aberdeen city and shire and ensure that they work together to unlock the region’s full potential will be focus of a special event in Aberdeen on April 21.

A panel of six prominent local and national business leaders will look at the issues facing the North-east – and some of the successes which have given us the highest GVA per head of population in Scotland – when they take part in A Question Time with a Twist. The event is being organised by Aberdeen & Grampian Chamber of Commerce as part of North East Business Week. The discussion will focus round key issues in the area, the likely impact of the May 5 election, and how business and government can work more effectively together in the future.

The twist will be that the audience will include local and national politicians who will get the chance to turn the tables on the business community by asking them the tough and challenging questions about their aims and ambitions for the future.

The business lunch, at the Douglas Hotel in Aberdeen, will be chaired by journalist and writer Keith Aitken and in the hot seat will be David Binnie, MD of Opito; David Riches, Commercial Director of the British Chambers of Commerce; Bob Ruddiman, Head of Energy for McGrigors; Tom Smith, Chair of ACSEF; Mike Salter, Chair of the Scottish Chambers of Commerce and Edel Harris, CEO of Cornerstone.

Chamber Chief Executive Bob Collier said: “This is one of the strongest economic regions in the UK but it will not necessarily stay that way unless there is greater understanding and buy-in from Government about its significance to the national economy and to the Treasury.

“In the lead up to the election we challenge our politicians and parliamentary candidates to lay out their proposals and tell us what they are going to do to support this region. In this event, we are encouraging them to join the audience and challenge the business community to lay out their proposals and to tell them how they can support this area and unlock the as-yet untapped prosperity.

“With financial restraints becoming ever tighter, we must find new and better ways to work together with government to support our region’s growth and create jobs and economic stability for the people who live and work here.”

For further information and to book a place, log onto www.agcc.co.uk/events or call 01224 343922/343905.