Supporting Statements

David Lonsdale, Assistant Director, CBI Scotland:

"Scotland is one of the world's iconic event destinations, with great offerings like the Open Golf and the Edinburgh International Festival.  For too long these have been seen only as sporting and cultural opportunities. Now businesses will have dedicated support to supply to these events and capitalise on the networking opportunities to the benefit of the Scottish economy."

Paul Bush OBE, Chief Operating Officer of EventScotland:

"Scotland has a world leading events industry and over the past six years EventScotland has worked with partners to secure an impressive and evolving portfolio of events. BusinessClub Scotland will allow us to further capitalise on this success.

"The launch of BusinessClub Scotland will allow Scotland as a nation to harness the widest economic opportunities from cultural and sporting events for our business community. In turn the club will enable our events industry to tap into the opportunities which lie within Scotland's businesses to ensure we continue to sustain, grow and develop events in Scotland."

Andy Willox, Scottish Policy Convener, Federation of Small Businesses:

"We are really excited about the potential of BusinessClub Scotland to get more small businesses providing goods and services to the growing events market in Scotland, and to then get involved in the huge opportunities in major events around the world."

David Watt, Director, IoD Scotland:

This is a welcome opportunity for companies all across Scotland to expand their networks with an international focus and to seek new opportunities through a unified Scottish approach allied to our top events in culture and sport and the great worldwide image our country has."

www.iod.com

Dr Lesley Sawers, Chief Executive:

"There is a huge prize for Scotland's economy if we can seize the opportunity to deliver a real and lasting legacy from our events calendar. BusinessClub Scotland will play a key role and help to deliver significant economic and business benefits.

"From small start-ups to larger, more established companies, BusinessClub Scotland will provide SMEs with the support they need to grow their business, both at home and abroad."

www.scdi.org.uk

Norman Quirk, Chairman, Scottish Chambers of Commerce:

"Now is the perfect time to form a stronger co-ordination between public and private sector which benefits all of Scottish business.   This is a perfect example of our new "Economic Development Partnership" with a clear collective focus on winning more business for Scottish business. 

"This will enable us all to be working together as "Team Scotland", maximising the untapped potential of maximising major events coming into Scotland over the next few years which Scottish business could be exploiting much more."

Owen Kelly, Chief Executive of Scottish Financial Enterprise, said:

"The new business club should increase business opportunities for Scottish companies, which is to be particularly welcomed at this time, and enhance their international business contacts. It is a good, practical, initiative."

Linda McDowall, Senior Director, Business Networks and Communications:

"BusinessClub Scotland will present great opportunities for Scottish companies, particularly in the current econ omic climate.  It provides a real chance for businesses of all sizes, with relevant skills and expertise, to demonstrate what they can do and be better equipped to successfully apply for large scale contracts."