HRFCA were in Glasgow on 7 December as guests at the Scottish Chambers of Commerce Annual Business Address 2017.
The event, hosted by TV presenter Kay Adams, held at the Glasgow Hilton, brought together an audience of senior executives from across Scotland’s business community, local and central government.
The address given by Tim Allan, President of the Scottish Chambers of Commerce, included reference to the value to business of armed forces reservists, veterans and the service cadet organisations.
Mr Allan made special reference to the work done in this area by Forth Valley CoC under its former CEO, not sparing HRFCA REED Michelle McKearnon’ s blushes by name-checking her in referencing her former Chamber as being the first in the UK to win the coveted ERS Gold Award.
Other Chambers in HRFCA’s area were also up in lights during the event for their involvement with the ERS and Armed Forces Covenant Schemes included Aberdeen & Grampian CoC (with the HRFCA Chairman prominently featured in the obligatory photographic record to provide the evidence) and Fife CoC.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon also spoke, stressing her Government’s focus on making Scotland the best place in the UK to do business.
Keynote speaker on the night was Steve Smart, Senior Vice President, CGI UK and Member of the CGI UK Leadership Team, who shared his thoughts on growing the success of Scotland’s businesses, including in CGI’s field of high-technology.
Mr Smart referenced Scotland’s success as world leader in the production of micro satellites harnessing the most complex manufacturing processes, citing firms such as Clyde Space helping Glasgow to become the foremost satellite-building city in Europe. The Scottish space industry, he said, has created over 7000 high quality jobs and contributes over £130 million to the Scottish economy, paving the way for Scotland to potentially become home of the UK’s first spaceport.
Overall, the event provided an excellent networking opportunity and helped to reinforce mutually-beneficial linkages between Scottish business and the armed forces to which the Scottish RFCAs contribute.
