Fife Business Week 2016 - Supporting New and Growing Businesses for Future Success

23rd August 2016

FIFE Business Week 2016 is set to run this year from 7 to 11 November. Featuring a range of events to support new and growing businesses, it will also provide opportunities for companies to come together to network and exchange ideas.

Now in its seventh year, Fife’s main business event offers a broad range of seminars and workshops, covering important issues for the local economy and is once again set to be the highlight of the Kingdom’s business calendar.

Hosted by Fife Council’s Economic Development Team and Business Gateway team, this important initiative is designed to support businesses to succeed whilst making Fife the best place to do business.

The theme for this year’s programme of events is Supporting New and Growing Businesses, aligned to Fife Economic Partnership’s objectives. The week of action will focus on key issues that are impacting on Fife entrepreneurs, business start-ups and employers with fresh insights into workforce development, finance and strategy and digital connectivity.

Councillor Lesley Laird, Depute Leader and Spokesperson for Economy and Planning, said: “Fife Business Week is a great showcase to promote local business and their success. It offers the opportunity for every company in Fife to come along, talk to each other, make new contacts, and exchange ideas.

“Fife is very much open for business and there is so much support available to help a business invest, grow and thrive. The region is already home to some of the UK’s

highest performing small businesses, and we are proud that we can offer businesses high calibre, highly skilled staff, excellent infrastructure links and centres of excellence in many sectors.

“Fife Business Week is aimed at supporting economic growth, is designed to inspire businesses to grow, and to encourage them to join us on our journey to make Fife the best place to do business.

Councillor Laird added: “The week-long event will also demonstrate how Fife Council is working with partners across Fife to develop a highly skilled talent pool, get more people work-ready and develop skills that will help business and boost the local economy.”

Stephen Doran, Fife Economy Partnership Chair and Managing Director, Raytheon UK, said: “The Fife Economy Partnership is ambitious to see the local economy flourish. Thanks to our partners, we are set to deliver a comprehensive line up of events that will enable businesses to access the range of public and private sector support agencies, business experts and entrepreneurs keen to help them move their businesses forward and secure future success.

“Events take place across Fife to inspire companies and entrepreneurs, and the vast majority are free to attend. We look forward to welcoming all businesses.”

To launch this year’s Fife Business Week, Councillor Lesley Laird visited successful growing business, Eurospray in Glenrothes. Operational since 1998, it is now Scotland’s largest sub-contract paint finishing facility. For the last 15 years, the company has been refurbishing set top boxes for NTL, Telewest and Virgin Media.

Jim Fairnie, Managing Director of Eurospray commented: “We are building on the success of our primary business and are now diversifying into new markets and since December have been refurbishing the interiors of the Virgin train East Coast 125 Fleet and will be moving onto the 225 fleet towards the end of this year. This is an exciting phase of development for Eurospray and a major area we aim to develop further.”

During Fife Business Week, a Fife Council Meet the Buyer event will also be scheduled to connect businesses with buyers and decision makers to discuss how to access business with public sector agencies and prime private sector contractors, and highlight upcoming opportunities.

The full calendar of events to mark the seventh Fife Business Week will be rolled out at the end of September.

For more information on Fife Business Week please email [email protected] or visit www.fifebusinessweek.co.uk

ENDS

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Note to editors

The Fife Economy Partnership is a business-led group that brings together people from Fife’s businesses and public sector organisations to take forward policies and activities to support economic development in Fife.

Eurospray is Scotland’s largest sub-contract paint finishing facility, which has been operational since May 1998 and was set up to service the increasing demand of OEM’s for Quality finishing at competitive prices. Currently employing 60 people in two Glenrothes facilities, Eurospray was voted best Start-Up business at the Fife Business Awards in 2000.

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