Annual conference brings out future opportunities in Scotland
THE Scottish Wholesale Association (SWA) brought together the wholesale channel in Scotland to focus on some key matters coming down the line at its annual conference in May.
The SWA Connex Conference took place on 28 May in Glasgow’s Òran Mór and saw sector members gather for a chance to share their insights into the strengths of the channel, prepare for what it to come down the line and ensure that the sector is focused on those issues that matter most.
The industry firm placed focus on its “strategic pillars” of the SWA throughout the event in advocacy and engagement, training and development, sustainability, data and communication with talks across the day exploring these pillars through speakers and panels.
Talks across the day engaged with a range of topics in relation to this, such as with Tanya Pepin’s, co-founder and managing director of The Wholesale Company, Building Wholesale Resilience – The Path to 2050 presentation. Pepin focused on how the consumer environment has changed in recent years from supply disruption and unstable geopolitical conditions including global conflicts and climate change.
Professor Colin Campbell similarly shone a spotlight on the impacts climate change has had on the sector in a session titled Planet & the Scottish Supply Chain in 2050. The chief executive of the James Hutton Insitute explained why Scotland could play a vital role in sustainable food security and shared in-depth insights with attendees on what the likely future impacts climate change could have on food production and transportation.
Other speakers on the day included Martin McCardle, regional operations manager at Brakes Scotland, who shared how the firm’s practical changes have helped it to successfully recruit for hard-to-fill roles while also improving retention across the business.
Meanwhile, Jayne Swanson, head of public affairs at the SWA, discussed how an evolving political landscape could help to “create a moment” for the wholesale sector and why SWA member insight is the key to turning that moment into an impact that could make a difference for members.
Finally keynote speaker Felix Riley, entrepreneur and former comedy writer, challenged attendees to find new ways to turn their ambition into outcomes.
Colin Smith, chief executive at the SWA, said: “Supply, Sustain, Support – that’s the framework we’ve put in front of every political party and stakeholder, translating those pillars into a clear ask: secure the supply chain, sustain a skilled and resilient sector, and support the conditions for growth.”
