Aberdeen company recognises GlobalScot support

The conference, which brought together over 100 GlobalScots from around the world with 200 of Scotland’s most ambitious companies, was chaired by Glasgow born and educated Gerry Rice, who is now deputy director for external relations of the International Monetary Fund.

Aberdeen based Cresent, an international service company providing consultancy, training and media services predominantly related to health and safety within the oil and gas industry, recognised the benefits of attending such an event.

Jim Land, Managing Director of Cresent said “I decided to attend this years’ GlobalScot conference because I wanted to meet some like minded people who are interested in taking their businesses forward in an international basis.  Discussions during the day highlighted that Scottish companies are reticent in some ways to ask for help, but I would advise them to take every opportunity and ask the GlobalScot network for their help and support in taking their business international.”

The theme of the conference was ‘Scotland’s global opportunity – great minds and innovation’, encouraging Scotland’s most ambitious companies to consider how innovation and creativity can provide a means to survive and prosper in the current climate.

Companies were keen to hear from GlobalScots such as Will Whitehorn, president of Virgin Galactic, Peter Robertson, former vice chair of the board of Chevron, Helen Sayles, vice president of Liberty Mutual and Don MacLeod who will shortly take over as chief executive of National Semiconductor.

Lena Wilson, who took over from Jack Perry as chief executive of Scottish Enterprise last month, also joined a panel of GlobalScots to discuss ‘Scotland’s global opportunity’.

Commenting on the conference, Wilson said: “We have been overwhelmed by the positive feedback from companies and from GlobalScots about the conference. I was genuinely delighted to see so many Scottish companies attending the event – a fantastic result given the fact that these companies are still operating in a really tough economic climate.

“This demonstrates that Scottish companies appreciate how important it is to look beyond traditional markets and exploit business opportunities overseas, and that they are prepared to get out there and make the connections which will help them to achieve this. These connections have the potential not only to generate new international business opportunities for Scottish companies, but to really accelerate Scotland’s economic growth.”

To find out more about the conference or the GlobalScot network, visit: www.globalscot.com