Business club to help Scottish firms cash in on major events

Published on Tuesday 3 February 2009 20:44

SMALL and medium-sized enterprises are to receive help to exploit major events in Scotland, under a new government-backed scheme.

BusinessClub Scotland will help SMEs to pitch for contracts at big events, promote their businesses to visitors and market the skills learned from putting on events to win further work.

This year's Homecoming programme – designed to attract descendents of Scotland back to the motherland – and the 2014 Commonwealth Games are among the events being targeted under the initiative, which was launched yesterday by Alex Salmond, the First Minister.

SMEs will also be given help to cash in on the likes of the Ryder Cup in 2014 and the Intercontinental Rally Challenge, which is being held this year in Stirling and Perth & Kinross and is expected to attract more than 30,000 visitors.

Over the two years of the pilot project, the Scottish Government will pump 200,000 into the scheme, with further funding being sought from industry.

The initiative is being led by the Scottish Council for Development and Industry (SCDI), with the support of five other business organisations and Scottish Enterprise.

Dr Lesley Sawers, chief executive of the SCDI and chairwoman of the new club, told The Scotsman: "This won't replicate what other organisations currently do. We're not seeking to create another business organisation.

"Basically we're providing access to information and opportunities at events that don't currently exist.

"You don't have to be a member of an organisation to participate or to join us or to sign up for the services, which are free."

Yesterday the CBI, the Federation of Small Businesses, the Institute of Directors, Scottish Chambers of Commerce and Scottish Financial Enterprise also gave their backing to the scheme.

Salmond said: "BusinessClub Scotland is modelled on Australia's Business Club, which helped 60 Australian companies gain more than 70 contracts for the Beijing Olympics, valued at 100 million, a further 150m exports to Doha for the 2006 Asian Games and 26m to the Delhi Commonwealth Games.

"Glasgow 2014 alone will be spending up to 200m on goods and services in the run-up to the games, and we want businesses based here in Scotland, and employing local people, to be in as strong a position as possible to be successful in winning these contracts."

Andy Willox, FSB's Scottish policy convener, said: "We are really excited about the potential of BusinessClub Scotland to get more small businesses providing goods and services to the growing events market in Scotland, and to then get involved in the huge opportunities in major events around the world."

Owen Kelly, chief executive of Scottish Financial Enterprise, said BusinessClub Scotland was a "good, practical, initiative".