STEWART NICOL: We should be able to hold ‘hard conversations’ about Inverness

I was delighted to be asked to speak at last month’s Port of Inverness AGM. My wide-ranging brief was to reflect on my 15 years as chief executive of Inverness Chamber of Commerce and, “to consider what the future might hold for our city and region”.

There was much to be positive about, for our city and region has changed remarkably in such a short period of time.

Our magnificent achievement in winning Green Freeport status for Inverness and the Cromarty Firth, as you would expect, featured highly in my comments. I reflected that the consortium that was formed to submit the freeport bid was a remarkable example of partnership working and close collaboration from organisations across the public sector and leading businesses, ranging from SMEs to global international players. This point was reinforced by speakers and panellists at the Freeport Business Breakfast Inverness Chamber of Commerce delivered in the same week as the port’s AGM. I am absolutely convinced that delivery of all of the outputs from our Green Freeport will transform our economy for the benefit of our region’s young people, communities and businesses.

Although we have much to be proud of, there is much to be done. We all know each other well and should be able to collaborate more effectively. More than that, I argued, we should be able to hold “hard conversations” to make sure important decisions are reached against a backdrop of deep listening and strong consensus. While I was specifically thinking of the current Academy Street plans, I also sense that it applies to much of what needs done in our fantastic city.

Inverness is the capital of the Highlands, rightly so and always will be. We are the home of one of the world’s most fabled creatures, Nessie. Another global icon, the NC500, starts and finishes in our city, which remains one of the fastest growing in Europe. I shared with my audience my reflection that Inverness would be better served as a separate city authority, rather than as part of the Highland Council. The muted response I received was as expected and confirmed for me there is much yet to be done in this space.

Stewart Nicol is Inverness Chamber of Commerce chief executive

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