June

What are your hopes or fears regarding the new coalition government?

website_mockup Irrespective of one’s political allegiances, after 13 years a change of government should be welcomed. The UK is slowly recovering from the recession and with a new team installed in Downing Street we should all be looking forward with optimism to the new opportunities.

“Intech-power Limited is certainly looking forward to the future. We have a number of engineering, design and construction projects in the pipeline and the development of renewable energies in the Pentland Firth is a tremendous boost to the North of Scotland

“However I do have one major area of concern that I am glad to be able raise here. In the Cromarty Firth, Scotland has one of the finest natural harbours in the UK, we have a skilled workforce, and in Nigg we potentially have one the finest construction yards in Scotland and it has been lying empty for years.

“Perhaps we need ask ourselves some questions: Why has the yard been lying empty for so long? Why has the government allowed this situation to continue for so long? Why should the situation at Nigg be allowed to continue? And most importantly, why does the government not step in now to resolve the situation with the company that has control over the Nigg facilities?

“The full potential for the Cromarty Firth and the companies engaged in the alternative energy industry in the North of Scotland will not be realised until this issue is finally resolved.

Dennis Winpenny, Managing Director, Intech Power, an integrated project management and engineering design contractor

Tracey-Jayne-Stuart Working for an arts organisation, I am hoping that the coalition provides a solid platform for supporting the arts throughout the UK, ensuring funding for the Arts is maintained by introducing tax breaks for companies supporting social enterprises and Third Sector organisations.

“As we are heavily reliant on volunteer support, I would also hope that the coalition sees the voluntary sector as a vehicle to support its mandate for social cohesion.

“My fear is really that the coalition may have no mandate in Scotland due to lack of public support from the Scottish electorate, leading to the breakdown of the coalition’s relationship with Holyrood and conflict between the two governments.

“Again, working for an arts organisation, I also have concern that significant cuts may be made in arts funding due to the huge budget deficit that the coalition has inherited.

Tracey Jayne Stuart, Business Development Manager, Aberdeen Arts Centre

Ronnie-Murdoch I would hope the new government is going to help small businesses because we are struggling – especially those on the High Street.

“Supermarkets have taken just about all the trade there is from every High Street. The High Streets have been devastated and are being relocated into the supermarkets.

“I also fear that all sorts of stealth taxes might be loaded on businesses. I know they have to get the money back from somewhere but everyone is finding it hard.

“I really don’t know who they are going to take it from without making peoples’ lives much more difficult. Businesses small and big, right across the board, are finding it difficult to cope.

“If they raise VAT and put it on raw meat it is just going to be another nail in the coffin.

Ronnie Murdoch – Murdoch Brothers Butchers, Forres

Jeanette-Forbes At PCL Group we would like the incoming government to look at things which arecontributing factors to providing a sustainable economy which will hopefully take the country forward.“Families need to have financial stability and small businesses need to be given the opportunity to grow. To get there we need to have a sound banking system. “The British people are extremely good at turning negatives into positives but we need the right tools for the job and only those in power can help by making the conditions fair and attractive for all to benefit.“Competitive taxes, less red tape, improved transport infrastructures and better educational systems which lead to improved skill sets are all important elements in our attempt to make the UK a great place and ‘open for business.’“We cannot be expected to do this on our own we need a government that is willing to help by leading the way to economic stability.