Business development support in Fife Economic Development Team

Fife means business Business development support in Fife

Invest Fife

Fife Council has an integrated Planning and Economic Development team who are committed to providing a flexible approach to your needs – whether you have a new investment project, or you are planning to grow your business in Fife. Our team ethos and what drives our services to you is our Contents commitment in making “Fife the best place to do business”. We are dedicated to developing a team approach to every INVEST FIFE 3 enquiry that comes in to us no matter what size or scope of your proposition. We will work with you beyond the investment journey A REGION TO GROW 4 so that your business grows and succeeds in Fife. CONNECTIVITY TO THE REST OF THE WORLD 6 Our supportive, experienced and well-connected team can: SKILLED WORKFORCE 8 • Provide a designated case officer as a single point of contact MODERN BUSINESS INFRASTRUCTURE 10 • Support to develop major planning applications to provide greater certainty BUSINESS SUPPORT AND PARTNERS 12 for applicants in terms of the process and timescales. • Facilitate access to finance, grants and both local and national incentives • Offer relocation advice and tours (virtual tours will be available soon) • Help to find the best space for your business, be it offices, co-workspaces/ Hubs, industrial and bespoke builds • Assist with information on new developments and planning proposals • Access to Opportunities Fife team who will provide support to recruit and retain the best talent • Provide transportation liaison with public transport providers to establish new services Well connected business location • Facilitate new connections and introduce you to sector networks

Key Stakeholder Engagement Project & Proposition Development #fifemeansbusiness

3 Business development support in Fife

Average earnings for A region to grow people living in Fife is DUNDEE North Fife is the perfect choice for business. £564.40 A90 With it’s excellent road and rail per week networks it is able to attract a skilled Tayport A9 TAY workforce from both inside and Newport PERTH FIRTH OF on Tay outside of Fife. The Invest Fife team Leuchars will work with you to help your company realise the workforce you Newburgh A91 ST ANDREWS need now and into the future. Cupar Fife’s workforce exceeds 230,000 people and the region A915 is within an hour’s drive of 1 million workers. It makes a Kingsbarns significant contribution to the Scottish economy with an A91 A92 annual business turnover of £10.3 billion that supports around 9,000 businesses and 94,000 jobs. Crail Fife has a strong commitment to workforce training, life-long learning and skills development – creating the conditions to attract and retain talent, develop a GLENROTHES Fife A915Population knowledge economy and promote a culture of enterprise. Leven Kinross Loch Leven A911 at working age is Methil 62.1%

A915 Fife’s total working age KIRKCALDY population is M90 A92 A910

River Forth 231,974 STIRLING Rosyth/Zeebrugge Freight Ferry DUNFERMLINE Burntisland Kincardine Kincardine A985

M90 M80 M9 A985 InverkeithingInverkeithing Total workforce FIRTH ROSYTH aged between M876 OF 16–19 is FORTH Grangemouth 16,327 Port

M9 A90 A8000 A90

A199 A1

A902 A8 A199 A1 A8 A71 A70 4 M8 5 A68 A720

A7 M8 A720 A701 Business development support in Fife

Connectivity to the rest of the world Fraserburgh Our transport links via road, rail and even sea enable businesses of all types to use Inverness A96 A96 Fife as a base.

Aberdeen ROAD Edinburgh 45 Minutes Dundee 45 minutes Stirling 55 Minutes A9 Perth 35 Minutes East Coast 1 hour Main Line A90 r MOTORWAYS ou 1 H South & west: M90, M8, M73, M74, M6, A1M & M1 Dundee Perth North: M90 ns A9 mi 0 St AndrewsAndrews 3 M90 Edinburgh AIR A92 International Stirling Glenrothes FIFE Airport connections from Edinburgh MethilMethil Airport Glasgow M9 20 direct UK destinations DunfermlineDunfermline KirkcaldyKirkcaldy International M80 87 International including US and Middle East BurntislanBurntislandd Airport GLASGOW M876 Grangemouth RosytRosythh 46 flights per day to London Port M9 A1 M8 EDINBURGH Berwick Upon Tweed RAIL M77 A702 A720 Main East Coast Rail link Fife Circle – Edinburgh Main West Coast Rail link M74 Glasgow Prestwick A1 Freight links International East Coast Airport Main Line PORTS Rosyth Deep Water Port West Coast England Grangemouth Docks Main Line Kirkcaldy Methil Carlisle Burntisland West Coast M6 Main Line

6 7 Business development support in Fife

Fife has a clear commitment to lifelong learning and developing further and higher A skilled workforce education. Fife College enjoys excellent links with industry and has a proud tradition of vocational and skills- based training and education. Fife is the perfect choice for College delivers over 1,000 education and Fife is also a home to Scotland’s oldest university, The University of St Andrews, which attracts training courses for over 22,000 students students and teachers from around the world. Its world-class reputation in teaching and research businesses attracted by studying at a range of levels from introductory consistently place St Andrews top in Scotland and among the top five in the UK. proximity, first-class business and access programmes, through craft and propositions, a capable intermediate levels to higher diplomas, degrees and post-graduate studies. workforce and lower costs. For more information visit www.fife.ac.uk The UK university rankings Companies locating in Fife can benefit from University of St Andrews 3 recruitment, selection and training support Scotland’s Rural College through Fife Council’s Opportunities Fife and Employability Team. Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC) is a specialist University of Edinburgh 16 horticultural and agricultural institution. Based The region has a strong commitment to at the Elmwood Campus is Cupar, SRUC plays a Aberdeen workforce training, life-long learning and skills national strategic role in serving the needs of the University of Glasgow 18 development – creating the conditions to rural land based sector and more significantly attract and retain talent, develop a knowledge has become the premier training provider to University of Aberdeen 29 economy and promote a culture of enterprise. Dundee Scotland’s growing golf industry and recognised Stirling St Andrews as a Centre of Excellence in golf related studies. University of Dundee 31 Developing the Young Workforce For more information visit: www.sruc.ac.uk Glasgow Edinburgh The aim of Developing the Young Workforce is University of Stirling 43 to create a rich variety of high quality learning Opportunities Fife opportunities, linked to skills needs and University of Abertay Dundee 103 employer demand, enabling young people to Opportunities Fife is a partnership between be informed and empowered to make smart Fife Council, Skills Development Scotland, the decisions about the best route to work Department for Work & Pensions, the voluntary Source: The Complete University Guide for them. sector, Fife College and NHS Fife and works with employers to deliver a cohesive employability For more information email: service for Fife and develop the skill base for a [email protected] thriving local economy. Opportunities Fife can provide local employers University of St Andrews with a single entry point and act as a gateway University of St Andrews’ world class into accessing a whole range of services research finds applications in a wide range of available to help you and your business. They organisations. This can be assisting in economic will discuss your recruitment needs, develop development, advice on policy issues, or tailored training solutions to meet the real skill various forms of cultural engagement. Staff needs of your business and match these to local and students are encouraged to develop their individuals looking for work. research for possible commercial exploitation, Key benefits to your business are: and some staff offer consultancy based on their • Tailored pre-recruitment training to match research. The university provides means by your skill requirements which inventions and copyrightable materials • Access to recruitment services matching local may be developed for application, patented, people to local jobs and utilised. • Access to ‘in-work training’ to develop your For more information email: workforce [email protected] • The opportunity to gain reputation benefits and raise your profile Fife College • Increase your competitiveness and ability to The Modern Apprenticeship 1 million Fife College boasts first-class facilities, expert win new contracts. achievement rate in Fife is teaching and a wide range of courses suited to • For more information please visit the workers within an the needs of local and national industry. With Opportunities Fife website. hours drive five campuses across the region and a host of 69% local learning centres the College is within easy reach of the Fife community making learning even more accessible than ever before. Fife 8 £12.9Bn world class universities Annual business turnover within an hour’s drive 8 9 Business development support in Fife

Modern business infrastructure

It’s not just the location and Fife Council Market and Trade Development the people that make Fife such Delivered by Fife Council’s Economic Environmental Services Enterprise Hub Fife Development team, the Market and Trade Environmental Services are responsible for Designed to provide enterprising individuals, a great place to invest, it’s the Development Programme offers a practical public protection, food safety, trading standards and effective way for Fife companies to easily start-ups (with growth aspirations) and growing help you’ll receive too. and health and safety enforcement in a wide participate in events and trade shows. We businesses, access to a unique facility which range of businesses. The service is committed Whether you’re looking for office space, need organise group stands and visits for major UK encourages collaboration, networking and to provide high quality advice and assistance to the inside track on what’s happening in the and international exhibitions and conferences business growth. any new or existing business to enable them to region, or want to know how to tap into the best including provision of a range of support This flexible workspace situated in Glenrothes comply with any relevant legislation including talent, we’re here to help. services from advice and information to internet trading. town centre offers modern, professional and Invest Fife helps businesses to locate, expand customised training programmes. As part of affordable offices, together with modern events For more information visit: www.fife.gov.uk and flourish here in Fife. We provide a range of the Fife Economy Partnership in conjunction space, easily accessible co-working areas and or by contacting 03451 55 00 22 or Health & support services for existing businesses and with Fife Council Economic Development, Fife private meeting rooms. potential investors, making it easy to realise your Chamber of Commerce, Business Gateway Fife Safety: [email protected] OR For more information contact: 0800 254 5200 ambitions for growth. and Scottish Development International support [email protected] or email: [email protected] or and advice is available for businesses looking visit www.enterprisehubfife.co.uk to consider trading in new markets, but also for Business Property Planning those already exporting but wishing to improve Fife Council’s Planning team delivers a Fife Council’s Business Property Team manages current processes and expand further. a portfolio of premises to lease containing professional service to customers including almost 300 industrial and office premises at processing of applications, breaches of planning locations throughout Fife. We can also assist in and pre application advice. a search for business property within Fife, with For more information email: access to a comprehensive list of availability [email protected], within Fife. or contact 03451 55 11 22

Employment Land for Business Building Standards and Safety Fife Council maintains a portfolio of land Supports all applications to build and ensures which contributes to the available supply of they meet certain standards to make sure they employment land across Fife. The portfolio are safe for people to use, save energy and offers a range of quality sites in terms of location provide facilities for people with disabilities.

and size for office, manufacture, storage and For more information email: distribution uses. [email protected], or contact 03451 55 11 22 For more information email: Fife Trusted Trader Scheme [email protected] This scheme was launched in January 2011 and is led by Fife Council Trading Standards. It’s a membership scheme which uses an online directory of local trades who have made a commitment to treat their customers fairly. Trusted Trader is designed to: help customers avoid rogue traders, help customers make a more informed choice when choosing a trader and promote good business practice. To apply to become a part of the scheme or to search for a trusted trader visit: www.fife.gov.uk/kb/docs/articles/business2/ trading-standards/trusted-trader-scheme

10 11 Business development support in Fife

Wider business support

Scottish Enterprise The Supplier Development Programme (SDP) Fife Chamber of Commerce Fife Tourism Partnership Scottish Enterprise is Scotland’s national SDP is a consortium of Scotland’s Local Supports businesses of all sizes across the The Fife Tourism Partnership has been set up economic, enterprise, innovation and Authorities which aims to assist businesses in region. As a local, independent, organisation to support the tourism industry in Fife. The investment agency. Scottish Enterprise works Fife to improve their performance in winning with a national voice (through its affiliation to Board members work with businesses across contracts with Scottish Public and Private with public and private sector partners to Scottish and British Chambers of Commerce), it Fife to develop a joined up Fife Tourism Sector Organisations. SDP offers information, develop the business environment and deliver represents the interests of members and makes Strategy. To register you business go to support, news, events and workshops covering their views heard in the right places at local, www.FifeTourismPartnership.org. Once a range of dedicated support services locally, procurement issues to help you unravel the nationally and internationally. national, UK and European levels. It provides a registered you can then sign up to promote tendering process. range of business services and information, and your business on the Fife consumer site: For more information visit: For more information contact: organises events to bring businesses together www.WelcometoFife.com www.scottishenterprise.com [email protected] through an extensive programme of network- ing meetings, business seminars and training courses. Scottish Development International (SDI) Business Loans Scotland Support for Social Enterprise For more information and local contact details SDI is an organisation which helps overseas BLS is a consortium of Scotland’s Local visit: www.fifechamber.co.uk businesses tap into Scotland’s key strengths in Authorities working together to provide loan Fife Voluntary Action knowledge, high level skills, technology and finance up to £100,000 to new and growing Supports new and existing third sector innovation and also helps Scottish companies businesses throughout Scotland. Centre for Engineering Education and organisations that operate in Fife. They do more business overseas and to promote Development (CEED) work with community groups, voluntary For more information visit: www.bls.scot, organisations, charities, social enterprises and Scotland as a good place to live and work. It is CEED is a community of businesses and contact [email protected] or call individuals looking to set up a new organisation. jointly operated by the academics who have joined together to pool 01592 858333 FVA is able to help you to determine if the social and Scottish Enterprise. their talents, expertise, experience and resource enterprise route is right for you and your idea. in the pursuit of operational excellence. Their For more information visit: www.sdi.co.uk There are many approaches, legal structures and Financial Support to Businesses aim is to improve operational efficiency and benefits to consider, including disadvantages Led by Business Gateway Fife on behalf of Fife effectiveness–that will impact the bottom line. of certain models which should be considered Business Gateway Fife Council Economic Development, Financial For more information visit: before getting started. And, if social enterprise Business Gateway Fife is part of the Support to Business can help with funding to www. ceed-scotland.com, email: d.nicholson@ isn’t a sustainable model or the right approach integrated economic development team in encourage small companies in Fife to invest ceed-scotland.com, or contact: 07539 922495 for you, we’ll still help you to take it forward Fife Council. Business skills workshops are and grow their business. It can help with because we provide support across the whole of available to help with the skills required to run plant and machinery, property improvements, The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) the third sector, not just social enterprises. a successful business. Expert Help for specific product development, process improvement, projects to achieve business recovery or growth training and market development and your FSB is the business membership organisation For more information visit: ambitions is also available for businesses. company may be eligible for assistance if you in Fife with over 1400 members. As well as being www.fva.org/social_enterprise.asp Support to improve business productivity and employ up to 50 people in manufacturing, a powerful lobbying group representing the profitability through staff training. Register for business to business services or tourism. interests of small businesses both locally and the monthly electronic newsletter. nationally, the FSB offers an unrivalled portfolio For more information contact a business of benefits. For more information email: success@bgfife. adviser at Business Gateway Fife on 01592 For more information visit www.fsb.org.uk or co.uk visit: www.businessgatewayfife.com 858333 or email: [email protected] contact: [email protected]

The Prince’s Trust Enterprise Programme Green Business Fife Aims to provide essential financial and A free environmental network that provides an professional support to young people in Fife integrated support mechanism to assist Fife aged 18-25 and 26-30 for those unemployed businesses in realising resource efficiency gains, or working less than 16 hours per week, so that minimising their environmental impact and they can set up and run their own businesses. identifying new business opportunities. For more information visit: For more information visit: www.princes-trust.org.uk www.greenbusinessfife.co.uk

12 13 www.investfife.co.uk [email protected]

For more information contact: Invest Fife Fife House North Street Glenrothes Fife KY7 5LT

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