Business Focus: Inverness BID manager warns of impact of continued home working
by Mike Smith, manager of Inverness Business Improvement District
Last week’s Courier business comment by chamber CEO Stewart Nicol that the city of Inverness is the “heart and economic centre for the whole of the region” was spot on – and rightly he stressed the importance of capital projects in the city centre to that economic impetus.
People have always mentioned to me that in the Highlands there seems to be an assumption that businesses will always continue as is – when one unfortunately fails, a new one will replace it.
Covid has made it even clearer that success in business requires investment, good ideas, a focus on service, hard work and supportive other city centre stakeholders.
So, all credit to the private sector investors who, despite the pandemic, are currently delivering a range of new properties in the city centre, working in many cases with the public sector.
The Scottish Government’s move yesterday “beyond level 0” was of course much welcomed by the public and businesses alike and particularly the hospitality sector which has been so restricted by the social-distancing requirements.
However, of real concern is the government’s guidance that office workers should continue from home – something which is surely contrary at a time when public attendance at events is being increased, socialising unrestricted, nightclubs can be without masks etc.
Surely it must be understood that without office workers returning to our city centres, the ongoing viability of many businesses will be uncertain, particularly as tourism reduces come the autumn.
The promotion of hybrid working policies ignores the need for a holistic approach to ensuring Scottish city and town centres are able to provide an attractive and financially viable offer for locals and visitors alike.
This is particularly important for Inverness where, while we are heavily dependent our seasonal tourism offer, we need to ensure that the core businesses in retail and hospitality operate all year.
Last week we, and the Edinburgh and Aberdeen BIDs, wrote jointly to the First Minister asking her to review this situation.