This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Trio of marketing initiatives
12/11/2004
Small and medium size companies in Scotland are to
receive marketing support under three new measures
announced today.
At the Institute of Directors Conference at
Gleneagles Enterprise Minister Jim Wallace said he had
received a clear message from business that successful
marketing was more important than ever before, and he was
confident that the initiatives would provide valuable
help.
The plans are:
- A support mechanism aimed at helping successful
SMART, SPUR & SPURplus companies to access
specialist advice
To create an Institute of Innovative Marketing in
the Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE) area
- Funding for a Scotland wide series of activities
and pilots relating to marketing and product launch
under the Scottish Innovative Actions Programme
Mr Wallace said:
"The first theme of Smart Successful Scotland is growing
businesses. We need to encourage and support new
businesses. But we also eed to help existing businesses to
grow and we are putting greater focus on this.
"An issue raised with me repeatedly over the past year
is the importance of marketing in helping companies to
grow.
"I am acutely aware that effective marketing is more
important to the success of Scottish SMEs today than ever
before.
"I am therefore pleased to announce today three new
measures that we are taking forward to help our SMEs
broaden their understanding of marketing and the benefits
it can bring - and to ensure they have access to the best
sources of advice.
"First, we intend to introduce a support mechanism aimed
at helping successful SMART, SPUR & SPURplus companies
to access specialist advice and assistance relating to
marketing and product launch.
"This 3 year pilot study will focus on companies with
global potential, enabling them to realise more fully the
commercial potential of leading edge products and
processes.
"Second, in conjunction with HIE, we shall establish an
Institute of Innovative Marketing to raise awareness
amongst SMEs in the HIE area of key marketing disciplines
and to provide in-depth advice from a pool of specialist
advisers.
The one year pilot project will cost £100,000 and will
focus on micro businesses working in the ICT sector in the
Highlands and Islands. The results will, however, be
applicable in other sectors throughout Scotland.
"Finally, we are also linking up with Scottish
Enterprise and HIE to fund a broader series of activities
and pilots relating to marketing and product launch under
the Scottish Innovative Actions Programme.
"This European Regional Development Fund backed
initiative will include research activity and a range of
pilot projects, some proposed by the private sector, aimed
at increasing awareness in our SMEs of the need to have key
marketing skills at each stage of the innovation process,
broadening the marketing skills base in SMEs and creating
better access to the required skills. The overall budget
for this initiative is around £500,000.
"Taken together, I believe these initiates will provide
valuable help to our SMEs. I hope it also shows that as an
Executive we listen to what the business community tells us
and respond where we can."