Stewart Nicol’s job fits him like a glove.
In 2008, he became the first full-time chief executive of Inverness Chamber of Commerce (ICC), a role which involves connecting businesses dotted around the Highlands and helping them grow.
At the time, the decision could well have felt like a leap into the unknown, but eight years on, he still holds the post.
“I was on the board at the time,” Mr Nicol said. “I’ve always said we took a really courageous decision to appoint a chief executive, then an even more courageous one to give the role to me.”
Fans of 1980s sitcom Yes, Minister will know “courageous” was the adjective used to describe decisions that would inevitably lead to disaster.
Modesty aside, the father-of-two has made the job his own.
Mr Nicol, who previously worked in hydroelectricity and as a consultant, said: “It’s only now, in the role I’ve got, that I feel I’m doing what I’m cut out for. I’m absolutely passionate about what I’m doing and believe in it utterly. In other jobs there have been times when I’ve thought to myself, I’m not sure I’m committed to this anymore.
“You’ve got to feel a sense of purpose and you can’t do my present job without having that belief and passion.”
Just 45 minutes with Stewart Nicol is enough time to get a feel for his sheer enthusiasm and passion.
It’s also clear he wants decisions to be taken more quickly, especially if they involve speeding up connections to, from and within the Highlands.
To his pleasure, the last year has seen some major calls being made, including the opening of key air links and the confirmation of the city region deal, which will release £315million worth of funding over 10 years.
And Mr Nicol, born in St Andrews but brought up in Falkirk, is gearing up to celebrate those achievements at the annual Highland Business Dinner in Inverness on Friday.
Organised by ICC, the event at Drumossie Hotel will be attended by 350 business leaders, who in turn will be addressed by journalist and television presenter Jon Snow.
Mr Nicol said the choice of guest speaker has proved to be a hit: “We set out to attract leading figures to Inverness. We do a superb job. It always sells out.”
The dinner is being held during the same month British Airways resumed flights between Inverness to Heathrow after a near 20-year gap.
The move was significant for Inverness, which lost Flybe’s London City route in February 2015 due to disappointing passenger figures. The route had only been introduced the previous October.
In another boon for the region, KLM flights between the Highland Capital and Amsterdam got going yesterday.
Mr Nicol, who has lived in Inverness for more than 20 years, said ICC had played a major role in bringing about the Heathrow connection.
He said: “I campaigned and lobbied, I presented to Westminster. I worked really hard on that. At times I felt like I was the only one in the Highlands arguing for it.”
Efforts are also being made to upgrade road links between Inverness and the central belt, and with Aberdeen. But Mr Nicol said air routes and roads are just part of the connectivity mix and that the next frontier for ICC was the steel track.
“As someone who often travels by train to the central belt and Aberdeen, we’ve still got a lot to do in terms of transport connectivity,” he said.
