Dave Thompson MSP

The school holidays have not begun but already we’re into the festive swing of summer. The Queen’s Jubilee weekend, and the Euro football matches are just the start of a busy season which will also see thousands of visitors descend on the UK for the Olympic Games. Last week, the Olympic Torch journeyed through the Highlands and I was privileged to see it pass by in Aviemore. Different runners carried the torch to the cheers of those who lined the streets.

The Olympic torch is a symbol of many dimensions. On the surface it means that the Olympic Games are approaching rapidly and that many of us will be glued to the telly as we watch spectacular sporting achievements. But, the symbolism of the torch is far more significant than that. As the torch passed through Highland towns, so also did a message of peace and harmony and hope. The torch relay calls on governments and people across the world to practise peace. As the torch passes from person to person and from town to town, there is an international appeal to put down weapons, defend the vulnerable and protect democracy.    The games might be in London, but the Highland region has a part to play as it endorses the Olympic message of peace and hope.

This summer, as graduates are churned out of university, few will be able to return home to the Highlands in the search for jobs. However, far from the madding crowd, there is one organisation which draws graduates to Kincraig: Frontier Science. A company which specialises in the management of clinical trials, Frontier Science has sites in the USA, Switzerland, Italy and Kincraig. Young graduates’ career aspirations can be met  in the beautiful environment of Kincraig, and they do not have to move to the central belt or to one of the big English cities. Instead, these graduates can choose to stay at home in the Highlands, being close to family and to all that is familiar to them.

Frontier Science is an example of what can be done in any rural area to draw expertise and money into the Highland economy. Rather than set up shop in one of the big southern cities, many organisations could choose to establish themselves in the Highlands. The internet is a great asset for connecting the world and no longer do we need to be physically present at meetings in order to connect with colleagues and bosses. It would be good to see other organisations choosing to take this route which would significantly boost the Highland economy.