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Showing what we can do - August 2011

George Yule, newly elected President of Aberdeen & Grampian Chamber of Commerce, shares some of his thoughts as he begins his two-year term of office.

There’s clear evidence that things are starting to come together for Aberdeen and its wider hinterland, which is just as well because there’s evidence of a greater appetite for change within the business community and general population across the region as we address the effects of global recession, particularly the public sector spending cuts on our very doorstep.

Surrounded as we sometimes are by what appear to be an almost inevitable “won’t do/can’t do” attitude when it comes to harnessing change and getting things done, it’s easy to under-estimate and almost overlook that beneath that negative reaction to positive proposals there’s been a groundswell of “can do/will do/have done” activity taking place that has resulted in some highly significant projects which have added real value to our city offering.

Specific examples  of the most recent initiatives that have come on line include the transformation of Marischal College into a publically owned iconic new headquarters for our city council, the stunning new developments at both of our universities, the much envied Aberdeen Sports Village whose superb facilities are soon to be supplemented with state of the art 50m, 10lane Olympic-sized swimming pool and Aquatic Centre, the multi-million private sector investment into two of our main transport hubs – Aberdeen Harbour and Aberdeen Airport and, further north, major investment and development at Peterhead Harbour.

The Energetica corridor is beginning to take shape; the Trump golf course at Menie is progressing apace; we have a Merchant Quarter to be proud of in the City; other projects in the pipe line are as diverse as the new stadium and soccer academy for the Dons to  bringing the North European Fashion Week to Aberdeen in 2014; there are also various proposals for much needed improvements to rejuvenate our city centre particularly the Business Improvement District [BID] initiative, the Lord Provost’s Aberdeen 1st Civic Pride campaign and the high profile Union Terrace Gardens project and who knows one of these days we might actually drive on a completed Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route!!

Individually and collectively, they are further evidence that this is a fabulous area to live, work and bring up our children and that it is important that we cherish our local heritage whilst pushing forward with new developments and new initiatives. ‘Standing still’ isn’t an option for us if we’re to sustain the quality of life going forward and everyone i.e. from the multi-national business organisations to SME’s, and individuals across the region has a role to play in some form or the other.

We must ensure that these “works in progress” whether they relate to the City or the Shire become a reality. We must also ensure that the various supporters championing these projects work in closer collaboration rather than fall into the trap of competing with each for scarce resources. There’s never been a better time or more compelling case for ‘joined up’ thinking to add more value to the region.

Our much berated Councils are facing up to the reality of severe cutbacks in public sector funding and have publically presented their plans and vision to address these aggressive challenges; tough times need tough decisions to be made and followed through by leaders who are visionary, committed and courageous in this regard. I am encouraged by their apparent willingness to co-operate with each other and also with the private sector in pursuit of greater economies of scale whilst supporting many of the game changing initiatives that must be pushed ahead for the long term benefit of the area. I have very high hopes that the Chief Executives of our two local authorities will lead from the front in continuing to develop a positive approach in organisations which many have considered have operated in a “can’t do/won’t do culture” for far too long now, because there is a real sense that the critical mass of the region’s population and business community is ready and willing to embrace the necessary changes that will add value to the City and Shire.

This area needs improvement in various ways – that’s apparent to everyone, but the clever bit will come from DELIVERING these game changing initiatives within the constraints of funding limitations and by overcoming the short-termism and head-in-the sand attitude of the can’t do/won’t do ‘anti-change’ brigade.
We have a very long history in this region of overcoming material difficulties and aversion to change by buckling down and meeting the challenges head on – there’s a job of work to be done and that’s going to be my focus and the ongoing focus of the Chamber from here on in.