Air transport infrastructure: crucial for the growth of any business

Like many businesspeople in Aberdeen I spend a considerable amount of my time travelling. A well-connected air transport infrastructure is crucial for the growth of any business that wants to work on a global scale and for the continued sustainability of the North-east of Scotland’s economy.

As European headquarters to many of the Oil & Gas industry’s largest operators and home to some of the most innovative suppliers to that industry, our geographical location in the North-east of Scotland demands continual improvement which offers direct access to Aberdeen and also incorporates the major hubs which link us to the rest of the world. This must always be a top priority if we are to secure and strengthen our region’s economic future.

Other sectors outwith Oil & Gas also require a supportive air infrastructure; North-east Scotland, known worldwide as Scotland’s larder is home to a first class food and drink sector, add to that an increasingly significant tourism sector and a strongly emerging cultural presence which all require a hub which connects us to where our customers are located. Our two universities are world-leading educational institutions and our students require easy access to areas of the world where they can put into practice the labours of their theoretical studies.

It is encouraging that Aberdeen is taking a lead in helping develop our connectivity infrastructure by being the first city in the UK to host Routes Europe 2015. It provides a real opportunity to promote our region; to emphasise our investment opportunities across the full range of business sectors and to showcase this is a fantastic region to invest, live and visit.

The 2015 Routes Europe Conference is about inward and outward travel which offers increased tourism opportunities. With the planned redevelopments of the city, providing flights to accommodate travellers can only attract the larger events and audiences. As a local business person I’m particularly looking forward to being able to engage with delegates to learn more about how we can work with them to support and encourage more route offerings for this area.

PCL Group was incorporated in 2000 and now operates on a global level as a total cabling and IT service provider to the offshore, marine, commercial, industrial and renewables sectors. The ability to have easy access to supply and service our customers globally is vital to our strategic growth.

Jeanette Forbes

Jeanette Forbes, Chief Executive and founder of the PCL Group, is a qualified systems engineer who established her own company in March 2000 after…