THERE’S often still a misconception that bigger means better, for example when it comes to the size of a company.
You would think that a UK-wide business has the capacity to deliver a better service and more competitive prices compared to a smaller, independent business, right?
Here’s a simple tip for Scots to save cash on their broadband[/caption]
Dragons’s Den star Shaf Rasul shares his advice[/caption]
I saw a post last week from Scotland’s money expert Chloe Carmichael that challenges this when it comes to broadband providers.
She was working with price comparison website Uswitch to highlight that smaller, regional broadband providers are worth considering over the broadband giants.
It turns out Glasgow is a UK hot spot for these regional providers that are often cheaper, less likely to raise prices mid-contract and, crucially, can be more reliable.
I bet lots of people bypass them for a provider they know, believing the service would be slicker and prices more competitive.
It’s great to see Uswitch championing these smaller providers — it just goes to show smaller businesses can not only deliver a better service, they can beat the big players on price in some sectors, too.
That’s a big advantage as the cost of living crisis continues to bite and many utility companies are set to put up their prices next month.
And it’s not just homeowners who should heed Chloe’s advice.
Businesses should regularly review their broadband provider and take advantage of any better rates with smaller, regional providers, too.
Homeowners and businesses should shop around for broadband[/caption]
HIGHLAND FIRMS LOW ON CONFIDENCE
WHENEVER I see any optimistic news for the Scots economy, my business-centric brain is compelled to dig into the finer details.
It’s easy to pay attention to the positive headlines that say things such as “Scotland is showing promising signs” in terms of growth and opportunities for business.
But only by deep-diving into the stats can we see that things are a lot more nuanced, and that some regions or sectors feel more confident that others.
It’s hard to shake the fact that popular hub cities such as Glasgow, Edinburgh and Aberdeen may be doing much of the heavy lifting for these types of stories, but Scotland is far more than just these three locations.
According to recent findings revealed by the Highlands and Islands Enterprise, businesses in the more northern parts of the country seem to be less and less confident — some even bluntly stating they need help.
The Highlands is home to vital industries including whisky, energy & seafood production[/caption]
Carried out by Ipsos, the HIE-commissioned survey found that towards the end of 2024, the number of businesses across the Highlands who believe they’re struggling rose from 21 to 28 per cent.
This sharp rise in such a short time is a major cause for concern, especially as the survey gathered insights from a wide range of sectors across the Highlands and Islands.
This region is home to some of Scotland’s most vital industries, including oil and energy, whisky distilleries, and seafood production.
It’s not just their own wellbeing either, as all businesses surveyed are also feeling less confident about Scotland’s general economic outlook, which dropped from 50 to 44 per cent from the previous survey.
It revealed that one of the main factors causing this landslide in confidence is overall economic uncertainty.
Business leaders in the Highlands and Islands aren’t confident in their own operations because interest rates are unpredictable and inflation is rising and falling sporadically.
Why steer your business in one direction when the economy can U-turn at the drop of a hat?
Other factors include the costs involved with running businesses, legislation, regulation and accessing skilled workers, with the survey stating that around 47 per cent of employers in the region believe they did not have enough people or skills.
Temporary and seasonal roles are far more challenging to fill than permanent positions.
With this part of Scotland being more remote than the Central Belt cities, it’s understandable that enticing new workers to relocate for job opportunities is a challenge, not helped by the lack of accommodation.
A more immediate solution though is tackling the skills shortage for the Highlands and Islands.
By empowering current employees with the necessary skills and training they need to grow and evolve businesses, companies can add a touch of self-sufficiency to operations.
Reassuringly, the survey highlights that most employers (around 80 per cent) are taking steps in the right direction, with more than half offering training to their workforce, 44 per cent allowing flexible working and 42 per cent looking to make pay packages and rewards far more competitive.
If this uncertainty among businesses is driven by workforce concerns, then it’s time for leaders across the region to take a hard look at their approach.
By offering attractive job roles, creating outstanding work environments and — most importantly — providing competitive financial incentives, businesses can strengthen their position and retain top talent. This is especially crucial in less populated areas, where standing out as an employer of choice can make all the difference.
So, even though this might be a culture shock, especially for anyone more accustomed to the hustle and bustle of central Scotland, sometimes it’s important to shine the spotlight elsewhere in our beautiful nation.
By acknowledging why these Highland businesses are feeling less confident, we can then look at what we can do to offer solutions.
Then we can learn what is truly working, and what is not working.
