Scott Gordon, Managing Director at Gordon Timber
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00:00What does this visit mean for you as a business?
00:12I guess it's just an opportunity for us to tell the Deputy First Minister a bit about the issues that are facing us at the moment.
00:18We're not in a traditionally manufacturing based area, so we're struggling to get hold of all the engineers that we need.
00:27But we have a lot of youngsters joining the firm, we've got the Investors in People gold standard, so that helps us as a structure to take them through and progress their careers.
00:38We also wanted to touch on the replanting rates and the reduction in grants, so that's something that gives us great concern.
00:46So in the short term it's a market for our round fencing products for new replanting sites.
00:52And in the longer term it's a great concern that the raw material resource won't be there when we need it.
00:59So that's a significant concern and we just welcome the opportunity to have a chat with Kate about that.
01:06I'm thinking you're one of the main employers in Nairn, but in terms of what politicians and candidates for the next election in Westminster will need to do for businesses in Nairn, what do they need to campaign for according to you?
01:24I think we're certainly keen to see progress on the dualling of the A9, the A96, the bypass in Nairn, there's broadband connection, all that sort of stuff that helps us run our business as efficiently as possible.
01:45What do you hope will be actioned after today?
01:51I think one of the benefits of having someone like Kate Forbes around is to let her understand what we're doing here and what the importance of the Scottish forestry industry is to the country.
02:02So it's a chance to let her know what it's all about and just hopefully people get a sense of the importance of the industry, the number of people it employs and what it contributes to the rural economy and the national economy.
02:17I certainly welcome that.
02:19So you're talking about rural economy of course and there's been talks about the Highlands and rural areas being left out a bit from the government policies, what's your thoughts about that?
02:28I think for us it's a question of, we're very proud of the fact our roots are in Nairn, so we've been here since 1862 and it's a great green product, it's grown in the Highlands, processed in the Highlands by local people here so we're very proud of that.
02:45Again we just want to make sure people understand what that's all about and can give us all the support we need to carry that forward.
02:52That's great, thank you very much.
02:54Thank you.