Addressing the SPAA’s annual dinner on Thursday evening (27 February), Dobson criticised the previous Conservative government’s decision to defund level 3 travel and tourism qualifications and the current apprenticeship levy, which requires employers with an annual pay bill of more than £3 million to pay an additional 0.5%.
"Defunding courses, a levy system that is unfit for purpose and an ongoing skills shortage is undermining the principle that young people are essential for future business success,” said Dobson, who will step down as SPAA president at the end of the year. “Once young people join travel, they tend to remain there for the rest of their careers.”
Her comments come ahead of Scottish Apprenticeship Week, which runs next week from 3-7 March, and in the wake of National Apprenticeship Week (10-16 February), and were among several lofty topics Dobson raised during her address.
Sustainable fuel vision for Scotland
Among them was sustainability, and namely Scotland’s potential to become a major producer of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). Dobson identified Scotland’s Grangemouth refinery, which operator Petroineos plans to shut this summer at the loss of 400 jobs, as a potential SAF production plant.
"Scotland has time and time again demonstrated its capabilities in the sustainability arena, with our airlines, cruise lines, operators and airports leading the charge for making real change when it comes to carbon reduction,” said Dobson.
She continued: “But we are missing out on a huge opportunity to be world leaders. Transitioning Grangemouth to SAF production could put Scotland on the world stage as a SAF producer."
The UK government this week pledged £200 million funding for Grangemouth from the National Wealth Fund to explore new opportunities "to ensure the long-term future of the industrial site". Scotland’s first minister, Jogn Swinney, said the Scottish government would put up another £25 million.
Plea for more high street support
Dobson also railed against the Scottish government’s decision to exclude high street travel agencies from business rates support available to other sectors, such as hospitality.
“We share the same costs, the same challenges and we operate under the same conditions, but for reasons yet to be disclosed, we remain ineligible for support,” she said. “Our industry is still in a position where government support doesn’t match the scope of our output.”
Dobson, who is also president of Barrhead Travel, said the lack of government support ultimately hurt the high street at large. “The refusal to pass on these savings ultimately betrays our Scottish high streets,” she added.
“Against the backdrop of a downward trend in general retail spending, this approach clearly does not support high street growth."
Scotland’s travel trade ’thriving’
However, despite the difficult operating environment, Dobson said Scotland travel and tourism sector was thriving, with spending on the up and booking levels at record heights. It comes despite a tough start to the year owing to schools reopening later than usual, and an early January cold snap.
"[It was] not the start to January anyone was hoping for, but once again, I’m incredibly impressed with the agility of our industry and agencies and operators who worked through the night to help our customers,” she said.
“Overall, 2025 is presenting another positive picture for travel; growing revenue and profit means we are already facing an impressive economic influence, as well as investing our money into local infrastructure and jobs that directly support local communities."
