In Your Shoes - Liz Cameron

Liz Cameron OBE is the Chief Executive and Director of Scottish Chambers of Commerce. Liz has just returned from a business trip to London promoting Scotland as a great place to do business as well as exploring new the industries and companies that will be major players in Scotland’s economic future.

Busy week ahead

After a last minute triple check to make sure I had everything I was off to the airport! I had a busy week of events scheduled so I spent the whole flight reading briefings on Scotland’s economy and making sure I could understand the London Underground Map. Once I had landed and managed to get through the busy London traffic, I reached our hotel. I stayed at the wonderful Accor Novotel Hotel in Waterloo which was just perfect for a business trip! After dropping off my luggage I was off to the first meeting at the House of Commons to meet with Tasmina Ahmed-Sheikh MP. It was the start of a very hectic week!

Business breakfast

I was up bright and early to attend a business breakfast event, hosted by First Minister Nicola Sturgeon. It was a great event discussing how Scotland can grow internationally and boost the performance of Scottish business. It was a very successful event and a good chance to meet some of Scotland’s top business leaders who are pushing ‘Brand Scotland’ globally.

AGM & Summer reception

I attended the annual BCC AGM and Summer Reception where I was really able to feel the power & strength of the Chamber Network. Both events were spectacularly well run and great to see so many chambers across the country coming together to discuss all things business. The biggest take away from today was that whilst I and The Scottish Chambers of Commerce is striving to grow businesses here, the same thing is happening all across the country. There really is no other business network that has the span of knowledge that we have. And I am very proud of that!

Looking good for the next 300 years!

On Thursday I managed to catch up with the British Bankers Association to discuss Scotland’s financial industry. For over 300 years Scotland has been a world leader in financial services and it is looking good for the next 300! Scotland has some of the best financial work forces in Europe and businesses from all over the world are coming here to do business because of that. It is this global outlook, and the network of contacts globally that is helping to grow this industry and BBA, like myself, see a very bright and prosperous future for the financial sector in Scotland. 

Google HQ

We received a fantastic tour of the Google HQ in London before meeting with them to discuss technology and growing demands of this fast paced market. Here at SCC we have been pushing for more Scots to consider a career in technology given the huge number of opportunities in the sector. There is a skills gap in this industry and a very successful and rewarding career can be made if we can provide people with the training and skill required. I was inspired even more to continue pushing for our young people, particularly women, to develop a career in technology.