Expat Scots return to help old country's firms flourish

Published on Friday 14 July 2006 12:26

AROUND 200 top Scottish business people living abroad are due in Edinburgh to discuss how they can help Scotland's home-based companies grow and prosper.

The first Globalscot conference aims to harness the talents of successful business leaders to help boost the economy.

First Minister Jack McConnell will address the gathering of 200 expatriates and representatives of 250 Scottish businesses.

Among those expected at the conference on September 27 and 28 are Microsoft vice-president Bob McDowell and Andrew Mooney, chairman of Disney Consumer Products.

Globalscot members offer time, advice and networking support for free, in a bid to help Scottish businesses succeed. Its members are drawn from fields such as electronics, finance, life sciences, tourism and energy, with most working in senior positions within global organisations or running their own companies.

The organisation has more than 900 members, but has been criticised for lacking a uniform way of targeting potential members.

The conference is being organised by Scottish Development International, part of Scottish Enterprise, the government agency responsible for economic development in Scotland.

The conference programme will include a mixture of conference briefings as well as industry-specific intelligence and one-on-one discussions.

Mark Hallan, head of Globalscot at Scottish Enterprise, said: "The conference is the first opportunity for Globalscots to come together at an international event of this scale.

"It gives Globalscots the chance to network with their peers and forge partnerships with Scotland's best and brightest companies.

"Any business serious about its own growth should take advantage of this unique opportunity."