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With David Richardson Development Manager for Highlands and Islands. David why is
it important to be a member of the FSB
The answer is simple - collaboration and co-operation are the buzz words at the moment.
Everyone's talking about it where you go.
The FSB is truly a collaborative organisation very much a co-operative
organisation.
Businesses get together to form one voice. Individually
nobody listens, collectively... wow you can move mountains.
So for us, FSB 200,000 members...or thereabouts across the UK
almost 20,000 in Scotland 2500 in the Highlands and Islands
or my part of it, it is a very strong voice. The public sector and
politicians want they want to listen to us - they want to hear what's going on and the FSB can voice that
so, lobbying, representing our members is crucially important
But, of course, members benefit in other ways free business banking, legal advice,
insurance,
everything else put it all together and what a package you have. Because it's
such a big area how important is it to have a Regional Committee?
Vitally important. The Western Isles is really special because it is an archipelago
a very long stretchy archipelago of a whole range of islands
with tiny populations highly dispersed, small communities
very fragile. Connectivity is a big thing right across Europe
but in Western Isles you're a long way from the mainland of
Scotland which it is the Highlands and the Highlands in turn is a long way from the
power base in Central Scotland and the South. It is vitally important to have a
strong
unifying voice so the FSB truly does represent that voice,
locally with the council with Highlands Enterprise
with other organisations here, but also right across the Scottish Government
and through the regions and beyond to London