2 nd business in the parliament conference. feedback session

2nd Business in the Parliament Conference

Feedback Session

Iain McMillanCBI Scotland

Innovating businesses and encouraging private sector

R&D spend

•Sales skills key to success

•R&D, innovation, demand pull importance

•Better targeted public procurement – problem not input driven

•Do entrepreneurship, do it early

Liz CameronScottish Chamber

of Commerce

Growing a business and access to capital for growth

•Funding gap – Particularly with middle range companies and access to funds for start-up

•Business needs to develop a business model & inform executive of their needs to implement

•Procurement – both as policy instrument & process

•Infrastructure / Innovation

David WattInstitute of Directors

Connecting Scotland for economic growth

•Centrality of the importance of infrastructure is essential to productivity

•Welcome progress made to date to address transport issues

•Need for coordination and understanding between all parties involved

•Recognise the potential of Broadband and the flexibility it can offer – cultural change

Shonaig MacphersonSCDI

Creating a skilled and flexible workforce

•There is not a skills shortage, there is a people shortage

•Re-fresh talent

•Investors in our people

•Education, education, education

Andy WilloxFederation of Small

Businesses

The regulatory framework for business

•Meaningful engagement & consultation

•Frustration: dismantling dysfunctional legislation

•Frustration at inflexibility, e.g. public sector procurement

•Level playing field / competitiveness / inconsistency

Peter LedererVisitScotland

Promoting Scotland and trading internationally

•A single growth target not realistic

•Scotland brand strong but not associated with business

•Information brokerage for SME’s – information on sectors/markets etc

•SSS focuses on high value jobs – transport infrastructure underpins attractiveness

Emerging themes of the Enterprise and Culture

Committee Inquiry on Business Growth

Question Time

Kevin SneaderDirector & Senior Partner

McKinsey & Company

2nd Business in the Parliament Conference