Highland businesses had a direct line to Westminster this week as Inverness Chamber of Commerce welcomed Shevaun Haviland, Director General of the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC), to a special Round Table Dinner and Business Breakfast at Ness Walk.
At the Business Breakfast, opening the discussion, Shevaun described Chambers as a “force for good” – uniquely positioned between business and government – and reflected on her own experience across corporate, SME and government roles as a foundation for leading the UK’s most influential business network. With 72 international Chambers (each with the local British Ambassador as their president) in the BCC network, she reminded members that “you have a friend in every port”, underlining the global reach available to Chamber businesses.
[pictured (l-r): Councillor Raymond Bremner, Leader of The Highland Council, Shevaun Haviland, Director General of the BCC and Colin Marr, Chief Executive of Inverness Chamber of Commerce]
The conversation quickly turned to the pressing issues facing firms in the Highlands and across the UK. Taxation, she noted, is currently the number one concern for businesses, holding back investment and growth. Skills shortages remain universal, with nearly one million young people across the UK not in education or employment – a structural challenge that requires reform of how young people are prepared for the workplace. Initiatives such as the Youth Guarantee Scheme, alongside closer collaboration between business and education, were highlighted as part of the solution She acknowledged that in Scotland because of the work being done by Developing the Young Workforce that we are already ahead of the curve
Members reinforced these concerns during a wide-ranging Q&A.
Jaci Douglas, Chief Executive of the Care and Learning Alliance (CALA), raised the vital role of childcare as economic infrastructure and asked how businesses and the third sector could work more effectively together to support sustainable communities. Shevaun acknowledged that the cost of childcare is creating a significant talent challenge, particularly for women returning to work, while warning that increasing regulation can make employers more hesitant to hire young people.
Renewable energy and inward investment featured prominently. Jill McAlpine of inpurpose associates questioned how BCC views the scale of opportunity around renewables and international investment. Shevaun pointed to the slowdown in oil and gas and the slower-than-expected rollout of renewables, emphasising the need to shift the narrative from “net zero” to energy security to build broader public understanding. Colin Marr, Chief Executive of Inverness Chamber, was clear that indecision from Government presents the greatest risk to Highland growth – “We need certainty. A ‘maybe’ answer will simply push investment elsewhere.”
Skills and workforce challenges were further explored by Councillor Raymond Bremner [pictured], Leader of The Highland Council, who highlighted the Workforce North initiative – bringing together business and public sector partners to fast-track young people into employment and reinforce the message that you do not need to leave the Highlands to build a successful career. Colin acknowledged the strong role Highland Council were playing in getting “all the right people in the room” and acting now, rather than waiting for talent to return years later.
Trade and Brexit were also scrutinised, with members acknowledging ongoing difficulties. Shevaun was pragmatic: while improvements are being made, regulatory complexity and changing rules continue to add cost and friction. However, she reiterated that export remains “the quickest and fastest way to grow the economy”, encouraging businesses to utilise Chamber export services and to continue feeding intelligence into BCC’s Quarterly Economic Survey to strengthen national advocacy.
Artificial intelligence, infrastructure and cross-sector collaboration rounded out the discussion, with Shevaun highlighting that businesses effectively using AI are saving three to five hours per employee each week – productivity gains that cannot be ignored. “We have to stay ahead of the curve,” she urged.
Feedback from those attending reflected both the scale of the opportunity and the seriousness of the challenges ahead.
Lindsay McCallum of Braedown and Chair of CALA, described the event as a valuable opportunity to ask how the generational opportunity of the energy transition can genuinely improve the lives of people who live here. Iris Thompson-Burton of inpurpose associates reflected on the importance of stronger collaboration across sectors, while Chris Hawkes of Strut welcomed Shevaun’s recognition of the ambition and resilience within the Highlands economy. For Matt Donn of Brodies LLP, the session offered a broader commercial perspective beyond day-to-day operations – reinforcing how global economic shifts influence local decision-making.
Closing the event, Colin Marr thanked Shevaun and the BCC Senior Leadership Team for making the journey to the Highlands.
“It was invaluable for our members to have direct access to the Director General of the British Chambers of Commerce and to speak candidly about the challenges and opportunities facing the Highlands. From skills and childcare to energy security and trade, these are not abstract national issues – they are real, daily pressures for our businesses.
“The strength of the Chamber network lies in turning those lived experiences into influence at Westminster. We are grateful to Shevaun and her team for listening carefully and for reinforcing that the voice of Highland business will continue to be heard at the highest levels.”
The message from the morning was clear: while global uncertainty and domestic pressures remain, the Highlands has ambition, resilience and opportunity in equal measure. The role of the Chamber – locally and nationally – is to ensure that voice translates into action.