Following the referendum in which the Scottish public, by a ten per cent majority, voted to remain part of the union, a number of industry organisations have spoken out in support of the decision.
Phil Orford, chief executive of the Forum of Private Business, said that while there will be some members of the forum frustrated by the vote and the lost business opportunities that they foresaw, most members have expressed relief.
“For all business owners, regardless of the way they voted, it is now vital that they focus on growing their businesses over the coming years with a relative platform of stability,” he said. “The Forum of Private Business will ensure their voice is heard by Scotland’s leaders to help positively influence the use of additional powers that Westminster has already promised to grant them.”
This largely positive response to the outcome was shared by Chris Sturman, CEO of the Food Storage and Distribution Federation, who said that it was a good decision, not only for the Scottish, but also for all inhabitants of the UK.
“The key is the recognition of UK government that they must also take into account the needs of the English, and that UK government needs to wake up to the fact that citizens are disillusioned with the Westminster and Whitehall bubble, and all the old fashioned behaviour and attitudes that emanate from there,” he said.
He added that the referendum’s outcome provides UK politician with an opportunity, which can only benefit UK business.
Robert Keen, director general of the British International Freight Association, said: “They [BIFA members] an now get on with doing what they do best: Facilitating the UK’s international trade and assisting with the country’s economic recovery through the freight forwarding and logistics services that they deliver to the country’s manufacturers and traders.”
