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