Local businesses in Orkney have a strong and unique island identity which is key to them continuing to trade well in the challenging economic times the world is facing. That strong message came from the First Minister of Scotland, John Swinney, as he visited businesses in Orkney on Sunday 22 February.

John Swinney toured the Sheila Fleet jewellery workshop in Tankerness and the Deerness Distillery before meeting with Orkney farmers later in the day.

Interviewed by The Orkney News, John Swinney said:

“There are significant economic challenges facing business. The combination of increased employment costs and the challenges of energy costs are significant factors for business to wrestle with.

“I’ve been visiting the Deerness Distillery, which will be affected by some of the issues in connection with tariffs that have been applied across the United States by President Trump. “

He continued:

“Businesses will be facing challenging times, but what I think is an underlying strength for the Orkney business community is there is such a strong brand identity for Orkney.

“Orkney trades and performs well across the international economy, but the Scottish Government has got to look for every way we can possibly act to support companies in Orkney, whether that’s through the enterprise support of organisations like Highlands and Islands Enterprise or the investment support of the Scottish National Investment Bank, so that we are on the side of business in Orkney and supporting business to grow. “

The Scottish Parliament recently passed the Community Wealth Building Bill. A first of its kind in the world, the First Minister was asked how Community Wealth Building could work for the islands of Orkney.

The First Minister said:

“The Government has gone into new territory by legislating on community wealth building. And what that’s all about is about trying to make sure that more and more of the wealth that is generated within our community stays in our communities.

“I first came to Orkney in 1977 and my lasting impression of that trip, I was only 13 years old, was of a community that had a strong sense of identity, of belonging, of togetherness.

“Some of the products I remember of that visit of Orkney Fudge and Orkney Cheese are products that have helped to define the identity of Orkney’s business community.

“As I look at business developments over the years, I look at community developments over the years. There has been such a sustained effort in trying to retain more and more of that indigenous strength within Orkney to build from it. I think the community is testament to that.

“The community wealth building bill, I hope, will give the communities in Orkney even more ability to hold on to that wealth and to use that wealth for the benefit of the people who have the privilege to live here.”

The interview with the First Minister can be viewed here:

A Scotland First as the Scottish Parliament Passes the Community Wealth Building Bill

Fiona Grahame

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