A forum for like-minded professionals to connect, so that they can swap recommendations, share tips and advice and learn from each others’ experiences.

Connecting Dumfries and Galloway was established in 2019 and is an association of professionals in the D&G region with a shared goal of bringing together ideas, initiatives and people.

The speaker for this event will be Colin Smyth MSP.

While COVID-19 is first and foremost a public health crisis, and the challenge to bring it under control grows, it has also become an economic crisis for the region. Colin will share his thoughts on the impact the pandemic has had on the economy of Dumfries and Galloway based on the feedback he has received from local businesses, as well as agencies such as the South of Scotland Enterprise Agency.

He will also give his views on the support that so far been provided and what more he believes needs to be done to protect local businesses in the short term and rebuild the local economy in the long term.

However, he is keen to use the event to listen to the views of businesses in the area on how the pandemic is affecting them and what more they believe can be done, so he can ensure that the views of businesses in Dumfries and Galloway are at the forefront of debate in the Scottish Parliament and when issues are raised with Government Ministers.