In my first column of 2016, I discussed the uncertainties that lay ahead of us this year, namely in the world of politics.
As the year draws to a close, we can now be certain of some things – the UK will leave the EU and Donald Trump will be inaugurated as President of the USA in January.
However, it is still unclear what impact these milestones in UK and international politics will have on Scottish business and life in general in Scotland as we know it.
Last week, Nicola Sturgeon revealed the Scottish Government’s Brexit proposals. The document outlines how Scotland could remain in the European single market as part of the UK, although the foreword states that the best option would be Scotland becoming a full member of the EU as an independent country.
Despite promising to investigate all potential options as part of the UK, some have argued that Nicola’s proposals are set up to invite a second independence referendum when the Prime Minister cannot meet them.
Theresa May has said she will invoke Article 50 of the EU treaty before the end of March and I suspect Brexit uncertainty will continue for many months to come with the entire withdrawal process continuing for two years.
I’m hoping that by the time I reflect on 2017 this time next year, many of the questions of how Brexit will be progressed and Scotland’s interests protected will be answered.
The country suffered a second political shockwave when Donald Trump was announced as the 45th President of the United States.
The president-elect and our First Minister spoke over the phone earlier this month to discuss Scotland’s shared values with the USA.
Their relationship has been very tumultuous ever since Trump tried to block offshore wind farm plans near his golf resort in Aberdeenshire.
Nicola Sturgeon then stripped him of his role as business ambassador for Scotland after his controversial remarks about Muslims.
Outside of the EU, the US is the UK’s biggest export market so it will be very important for her to continue good relations with the new President in order to limit trade uncertainty abroad as well as on our own continent.
Nevertheless, it will be fascinating to watch their fraught relationship develop next year following Trump’s inauguration.
One thing I am certain of is that Scotland’s businesses will knuckle down no matter what happens next year. There have been some fantastic examples of triumph in moments of worry and uncertainty this year.
2016 arrived in the wake of the closure of Tata’s steel mills in Motherwell and Cambuslang, but by September the Motherwell plant reopened with its new owner Liberty House also planning to bring back the site at Cambuslang.
Despite ongoing trade uncertainty, whisky, seafood, beef, lamb and craft beer top our list of food and drink exports and have helped to set the industry on track to meet its annual revenue target of £16.5billon by next year.
And retail sales volumes grew by 4.9 per cent in the third quarter of the year compared to the same timeframe in 2015 – the very same period in which Tesco’s ‘Marmite-gate’ took place which saw the retailer remove Unilever products from its website in protest at the supplier putting up its prices.
We face a long road of uncertainty before the country can focus on thriving in the new political landscape but it’s important to reflect on the successes of 2016 and to remember that no matter how bleak the future looks, next week is a fresh start and a New Year in which to turn your fortunes around.
Sale is a word we will be hearing a lot of over the next few weeks.
Christmas sales, Boxing Day sales, and no doubt the odd closing down sale will be upon us – and shops and online stores will be filled with big red signs alerting us all to them.
However, when it comes to employment, the Scottish economy is set to lose out unless action is taken to deal with the continuing skills shortage in the sales industry.
The Institute of Sales Management (ISM) has declared that company growth will be impeded unless steps are taken to fill the estimated 7,000 sales jobs that are currently available in Scotland.
This week, the ISM launched a regional committee across Scotland bringing business and sales professionals together to help solve the skills shortage, whilst connecting people to crucial job opportunities.
With the unemployment rate in Scotland sitting at 6.9 per cent, a career in sales would help reduce this number and get people back on the employment ladder.
The sales industry is worth billions in Scotland but filling these roles is a challenge as the industry has been tainted in recent years by mis-selling and the perception that sales employees are only interested in generating commission with little to no care for their customers.
The ISM plans to change that perception as well as provide a proper career structure for people in the industry.
It’s anticipated that local committees will also reach out into communities and help those in need, particularly the unemployed or those recently made redundant.
They will provide guidance, advice and training to help people turn their lives around, while giving them essential business and sales skills.
It’s great to see it all coming together and I applaud those who’ve masterminded the initiative. This is one sale that I will certainly be expecting to see genuine value from.
It Made Me Laugh
Bar queues could be a thing of the past thanks to the creation of a contactless, self-serving beer pump.
I was amused to hear Barclaycard has created a prototype called Pay@Pump, helping to cut those painful waits to be served on nights out.
The new service is enabling customers to select their drink of choice, instantly pay by tapping their contactless card or device against the base of the pump and then place a glass on it to begin pouring their drink automatically. The whole process is said to take 60 seconds in total.
Evidently, the desire for more contactless methods of payment is increasing.
Nevertheless, we should probably monitor the use of Pay@Pump carefully. There’s something to be said for bar staff keeping a close eye on those thirstier members of the public.
It Made Me Weep
I was so disappointed to hear that FIFA decided to fine all four home nations for displaying poppies during World Cup qualifiers around Armistice Day.
The symbol, regarded as a sign of remembrance for the First World War, has been deemed a political symbol by FIFA.
SFA chief executive Stewart Regan says it is clearly disappointing that they have opted to categorise the poppy in such a manner, but the SFA board will meet to discuss any appeal and will request full reasons from FIFA.
Scotland’s fine comes in at £15,694 whilst England has to pay £35,311 as they also organised the additional poppies that were seen in and around the Wembley stadium on the large screens.
I find this completely outrageous. FIFA should hang their heads in shame.
