Issue 10 (25 August 2009)

Encouraging outlook

Welcome to the tenth edition of Fife Business Matters.

Boosting more than morale

Small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are being offered free help and advice to improve health, safety and wellbeing in the workplace.

Fife entrepreneur’s Second Life accolade is out of this world

And to make things even easier for local businesses, many of whom may be tendering for the first time, Fife Council’s Economic Development Team is also offering news, events and workshops through the Supplier Development Programme. This covers a range of procurement issues and unravels the tendering process.

Technology group secures trio of top contracts

Direct route to new markets

Belgium’s Flanders region is famed for its delicious chocolates and fine beers but, these days, it offers so much more - especially to Fife businesses.

Oz deal for Heil

A Fife firm building lorries for the waste collection trade is cleaning up down under.

A welcome boost for export

The business breakfast hosted by Business Gateway Fife on behalf of Fife Council gave an insight into improving and developing international trade and saw collaborative working between various economic development support organisations for the very first time.

Energy event fuels new interest in Fife

May’s All Energy Exhibition in Aberdeen brought together major players from across the globe, all of whom had the chance to learn about Fife’s growing reputation in the field.

Garden firm growing strong

Eco visit builds on green knowledge

A visit to one of the world’s greenest communities has given Fife businesses some food for thought.

Hobbit houses to hit the big time at SECC

Skills focus key to FMC’s prosperity

Managing Director David Currie explains: “We are number one at what we do: a world leader in providing subsea solutions to our customers, so technology is very important to us.

Training programmes essential to employability in the Kingdom

In this difficult economic climate, Fife Council is working hard to ensure that those furthest from the labour market don’t get pushed further away from job and training opportunities and provides a range of training programmes such as Get Ready for Work for 16-18-year-olds, New Deal, Working for Families and Equal.

Fife bid for share in £1bn investment

Fife is in the running for a share in a £1 billion Government fund to support the creation of jobs for long-term unemployed young people and others who face disadvantage in the labour market.

Strategic support for those facing redundancy

It held a ‘Facing Redundancy? Start Your Own Business’ workshop designed to support people facing redundancy in Fife.

Smart move for franchisee

Firms head for oil industry showcase

They will join Fife Council at the Aberdeen oil and gas industry showcase, which is expected to be the largest and busiest event of its kind in 20 years.

Learning new business skills

All events run from 9.30am to 12.30pm, except the Basic Bookkeeping sessions which run from 9.30am to 4pm.

Helping boring customers

An innovative manufacturer is experiencing exciting success helping boring customers!

Golfing holidays with added value

Restaurant with a view to success

Hannah Norman, who owns the Room with a View restaurant in Aberdour, won the Moffat Award for Best Scottish Tourism Business with Outstanding Economic and Community Impact.

Businesses must seize opportunity of new crossing

Aiming for an enterprise culture

A framework for action was agreed by stakeholders at a key event in June, outlining ways to achieve economic growth by encouraging enterprise and entrepreneurship.

Adapt for growth

That was the message from Peter Livingstone of Business Gateway Fife during a lunchtime seminar at Dalgety Bay Business Centre.

Praise for creative Fifers

Wemyss revival on the telly

Fife’s colleges mean business

Scotland’s Colleges Mean Business aims to raise awareness of the business support available from the country’s 43 further education colleges.

What the papers say

The application for regional selective assistance from the U.S. solar panel manufacturer Zoom has been approved but the firm has still to purchase the site from the current owner Freescale.

What the papers say

The Glenrothes-based group made an operating profit of £1.63 million, on the back of a 6 per cent rise in turnover to £153m.

What the papers Say

Fife Council wants to encourage people to enjoy the public space, opposite the post office and next to St Andrew Erskine Church, with benches, better lighting and improved paving.

Networking for success

Business Gateway Fife’s Women Into Business programme will run from October through to April, covering a range of topics including networking, marketing and PR, E-commerce, business finance and ‘Moving Forward’.

Pandemic contingency workshops planned for Fife

As concern over the swine flu virus continues to spread, being prepared has never been quite so important.

Helping Fife retailers beat the recession

The programme was delivered in partnership by Fife Council and Business Gateway, who joined forces in a bid to help small businesses beat the recession.

New meetings venue-on-sea

A Fife consultancy business has turned its own meeting space into a cutting-edge facility for the entire business community.

Enabling teams to deliver for the future

This radical new approach to leadership development promises breakthrough results for Chief Executives and their teams.

Fourth annual business show likely to be biggest and best yet

The Business Show Fife 2009 looks like being the biggest and best yet.