Wee County MP, John Nicolson, addressed local businesses at a digital upskilling workshop hosted by Google on Friday. The Google Digital Garage event welcomed dozens of local people and small businesses to take part in a day of mentoring and training sessions to help them grow in a hybrid world.

In his speech opening the event at the Alloa Business Centre, Mr Nicolson told businesses that digital was an area he had been particularly focussed on in the first half of his term as Member of Parliament for Ochil and South Perthshire and cited his work as the Scottish National Party’s spokesperson for digital, as well as his efforts on the House of Commons Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Commitee and various other committees scrutinising the Online Safety Bill which is currently making its way through parliament.

Speaking on how digital had changed the way his office helped constituents, Mr Nicolson said: 

“When I was first elected, I promised my constituents that I would be the most accessible MP that they’d ever elected. I was, and I remain, determined to make good on that promise. Indeed, to ensure constituents could maintain their contact with me throughout the pandemic, my team and I set up a whole new system for ‘virtual surgeries’. Constituents could—and still can—go to my website, select a date and time, and book a video or telephone call with me to discuss their issues and concerns.

“More recently, my team has developed an online survey system to make sure I am au fait with the live views on the issues that matter to people, businesses, and organisations across the constituency. I’m really proud of what we have achieved as an office in the digital sphere. But there is always more to learn, as my time as digital spokesperson has taught me!”