‘A Competitive Business Environment for Sustainable Economic Growth – Strategic

Priorities for Scotland and Fife’ OR‘Making Fife the Easiest Place to do

Business’

John KilgourPresident, Fife Chamber of Commerce

Managing Director, Fife GroupMaking Businesses the Top Priority

Key Priorities for Businesses

• Procurement• Transport• Business Rates• Education and Skills• Planning & Construction• Finance for Business• Plus a little bit on Scottish Independence

Making Businesses the Top Priority

Procurement

• A simplified system – use the rules for local benefit

• Driven by Economic Development aims• Consultation with businesses – need to

listen• Performance Information

Making Businesses the Top Priority

Transportation

• Complete new Forth Crossing by 2016• Upgrade routes linking the M90 to Kincardine • Upgrade the Redhouse Roundabout at Kirkcaldy

with improved access to Levenmouth • Dualling of the A92 Trunk Road through

Glenrothes• Air Passenger Duty• Expanding Heathrow Airport

Making Businesses the Top Priority

Business Rates

• 2010 re-assessment & Transitional Relief Withdrawal

• 5.6% increase in April 2011 • Small Business Bonus Scheme• Reduction of Empty Premises Relief from

100% to 10% - impact on Town Centres and Business Centres

Making Businesses the Top Priority

Planning & Construction

• Planning Gain/Section 75’s• Need to kick start the Construction industry• Morrisons proposal first started in 2009 when

B&Q closed in Kirkcaldy– £30 million Investment & 300 jobs– Widespread Support - few objectors– Contrary to local plan– 3 years plus in Planning stages – not yet complete

Making Businesses the Top Priority

Education & Skills

• Greater Dialogue between Business and Educators

• School leavers NEED to have basic skills and correct attitudes

• Fife needs to work together to support a successful College merger

• Adequate funding for the new college• Provision for 25 plus to meet the needs of

business

Making Businesses the Top Priority

Finance for Business

• Businesses confirm lack of finance is holding them back

• State backed Business Bank is proposed• Need for funds to kick start construction

sector

Making Businesses the Top Priority

Making Fife the Easiest Place to do Business

“Fife Chamber of Commerce wholeheartedly supports the principal aim of the Fife Economy Partnership, which is to make Fife ‘the easiest place to do business’. However, we know that that much more needs to be done to achieve this aim and we believe that putting business at the top of everyone’s priority list will go a long way towards making this happen.”

Making Businesses the Top Priority