Sir Tom Farmer opens inaugural Andrew Carnegie Day

People should be at the heart of any business, according to entrepreneur Sir Tom Farmer.

Opening the inaugural Andrew Carnegie Day in the philanthropist’s home town of Dunfermline, the Kwik-Fit founder told a large audience of business leaders, bankers, politicians and “normal people” that what has formed him, both professionally and personally, were the people who have surrounded him during his life and hugely successful career.

In these difficult times, it was easy to focus on the negative in the world at large and easy to forget the positives, Mr Farmer said at the entrepreneurial breakfast organised by Visit Dunfermline as part of the day’s festivities.

“But there are more positives than negatives and we should focus on that.

“There is no point in burying our heads in the sand but we will eventually come out of the tunnel… and we must be ready in our businesses to take opportunities which will come along.

“And one of the biggest successes will be looking after the people in our organisations.”

Unlike machinery, staff did not come with full instructions, and it was people companies should invest in, he emphasised.

Picture by David Wardle