Over 60 delegates from a range of manufacturing and business to business companies attended a Goods to Market Business Breakfast at Carnegie Conference Centre, Dunfermline on 21st June. The event hosted by the Fife Economy Partnership in association with Scottish Development International (SDI) and South East Scotland Transport Partnership (SEStran) focussed on the importance of manufacturing and on developing new markets and how to increase exports.

The Scottish Government Minister for Transport, Keith Brown, gave the keynote address at this event to promote exporting opportunities and outlined the benefits of sustainable methods of getting goods to market.He reinforced the importance of manufacturing to sustainable economic recovery in the UK.

Despite well publicised problems within the euro-zone, there are still opportunities to develop current export markets, to explore new areas and source potential new customers. Michelle Qaudrelli, Business Manager for Scott & Fyfe, Tayport outlined her companies experience and success in adapting to evolving and volatile markets, the opportunities and challenges and where the company is now.

Under the banner of the Fife Economy Partnership, Fife Council, Economic Development is working to support manufacturing businesses to explore new market opportunities and key issues relating to logistics by exploiting the opportunities for consolidation/collaborative methods of getting goods to market more effectively.

The breakfast provided the opportunity for delegates to participate in interactive workshops addressing the opportunities and challenges facing business trying to develop and expand their markets. The first- 'Getting your Goods to Market' - was facilitated by SEStran, with input from the RHA (Road Hauliers Association), Forth Ports, DFDS Seaways and a representative of the rail freight industry, to look at ways of getting products to market in a timely, cost-effective and sustainable manner. The second -'Export support' - provided an opportunity to learn about SDI’s ‘Smart Exporter’ programme of free trade skills support.

Trade is the life blood of the Scottish economy. Scotland has always been a trading nation and in today’s difficult economic climate making the most of the opportunities available to promote trade and addressing the problems that companies face is more important than ever. Efficient, cost effective transportation   is of course central to trade and accounts for a significant percentage of the costs involved in business; both transnationally and within the UK.

South East Scotland is fortunate to possess Scotland’s only direct freight ferry link to the European mainland, and it is important that this resource is used to the full. Representatives of DFDS attended the event alongside other stakeholders including Federation of Small Businesses, Forth Ports, Scottish Manufacturing Advisory Services and Business Gateway to outline services and support available.