Call for businesses to make growth plans

Finance Secretary John Swinney is expected to attend. Picture: Dan Phillips

Both the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) and the Scottish Council for Development and Industry (SCDI) called on companies to look at future opportunities.

They made the plea ahead of their joint business convention, which is taking place later this week in Edinburgh.

Andy Willox, the FSB’s Scottish policy convenor, said that during the “last few years, faced with tough trading conditions, a number of Scottish small businesses will have shelved their plans for business growth, expansion or innovation”.

But he said: “This week, we’re encouraging those firms to seek out new opportunities and modernise their plans.

“Not every business will aspire to becoming a multinational, nor should they, but every business has the capacity to produce more, to be more efficient or to provide a better service.

Challenges

“By learning from experts in their field, and by anticipating regulatory, economic and technological changes, we hope our event will give Scottish small businesses the best chance to thrive.”

He spoke out ahead of the third annual FSB-SCDI National Business Convention, which is being held in the capital on Thursday.

Finance Secretary John Swinney and Scottish Secretary Michael Moore are both expended to attend, along with about 250 business owners.

Vince McKeown, of the SCDI, said: “Organisations of all sizes, from the private, public and third sectors, have been forced to change in the face of unprecedented challenges in recent years.”

While he said competition for business was now “more intense”, he stressed there were still “opportunities for those with the determination and vision to succeed”.

He added: “If Scotland is to reach its full potential, then we must build on these foundations, capitalise on our assets, infrastructure and networks, and work towards utilising growth.”