Банк NatWest подчеркивает ключевую роль Шотландских высокогорий и островов в экономическом росте страны

Why the Highlands and Islands are vital to Scotland’s growth By Paul Thwaite, chief executive of NatWest Group, which includes the Royal Bank of Scotland. The Highlands and Islands of Scotland are known around the world for their natural beauty, culture and heritage. But they are also home to globally recognised businesses and industries — from Scotch whisky to wind power — that make a vital contribution to Scotland’s economy and that carry its reputation far beyond these shores. First and foremost, they are places where people live and work — where distance, weather and the practical realities of island and rural life are part of people’s everyday reality. That resilience has been clear in recent weeks, as communities and businesses have been living with the impacts of the Cairngorms wildfire in the height of the tourism season, with walking routes and attractions closed and local firms facing disruption. Our customers across the Highlands and Islands don’t just manage the unique challenges of doing business here; they are helping to power Scotland’s growth. In Orkney, for example, Leask Marine is supporting offshore wind developments that are critical to our future energy supply. And in Oban, MacGregor’s is expanding into the Whisky Vaults Hotel with our support, boosting tourism and hospitality while showcasing Scottish culture and enterprise. These are the kinds of stories that bring to life what growth is all about: businesses investing, creating jobs and building opportunities in their own communities. For our customers in this part of Scotland, the challenges of banking and doing business are not abstract. They are shaped by geography, infrastructure and the need for services that are tailored to the realities of living here. That is why access to banking matters so much — and why it can’t look exactly the same as it does elsewhere. Many of our 11,000 colleagues and relationship managers in Scotland live and work within the communities we serve. Through our unique network of physical and mobile branches, as well as our flying banker service, we have a presence in more communities than any other bank in Scotland. Nowhere is our commitment more visible than in the Highlands and Islands — where infrastructure and relationships on the ground matter so much. In Inverness, we have invested £2.5m in a new flagship branch, bringing together two city centre locations to better serve customers across the city and surrounding area, with further investment planned in Stornoway, Ullapool and Brodick. But, in the Highlands and Islands, access to banking also has to reach beyond bricks and mortar branches. In Lewis and Harris, our mobile branch has been visiting communities along the Stornoway route for 80 years. What started as a practical response to the challenges facing remote croft weavers on the Isle of Lewis, where travelling to a bank could mean losing valuable time away from work, has become an enduring part of how we show up for many communities – something I had the chance to experience first-hand earlier this week. Today, we have eight dedicated mobile branch vans serving the Highlands and Islands, reaching places such as Callanish, Shawbost and Leverburgh. But, of course, those living and working on some of the more remote islands of Orkney require an altogether more innovative solution. Our flying banker has been taking to the skies to reach customers in Westray, Sanday and Stronsay for almost 60 years. The service may be unique, but the principles behind it remain the same: backing entrepreneurs, helping people to increase their financial confidence, and working with communities in a way that reflects their own priorities and challenges. It is also a region where the value of banking relationships that understand local economies cannot be underestimated. That is why our role is not only about providing products and services. It is about being present through the moments that matter for customers and local economies, including when communities face disruption or uncertainty. As the Royal Bank approaches its 300th anniversary next year, I am proud of the part we have played in Scotland’s story. This is not just a moment to reflect on our past. It is an opportunity to focus on what comes next. Because Scotland remains central to who we are. Our roots here are deep. But our focus is firmly on the future and the role that we can play to support Scotland’s growth story. For me, growth means being ambitious about what can be achieved, and being practical about what is required. It means recognising that national growth comes from the strength of local communities. And it means continuing to show up – in cities, towns, villages and islands – as a trusted partner to people and businesses. That is our commitment to our customers and communities across the Highlands and Islands and how we will support growth.