A report which aims to identify the barriers that are holding back small to medium-sized companies in Scotland from gaining contracts for major sporting and cultural events has been released by the Scottish Government following requests from an MSP and the Sunday Herald.
The report was jointly commissioned by Scottish Enterprise and BusinessClub Scotland in 2012 but has not so far been published.
When asked for a copy of the report earlier this month, Scottish Enterprise told the Sunday Herald that it was not aware of it.
The 44-page document, drawn up by Edinburgh-based Business Tourism Solutions, found that, in a fragmented market, accessing information on forthcoming events was one of the main challenges facing Scottish companies interested in tendering for work for big events around the country and abroad.
Other difficulties highlighted by the survey include the complexity of public procurement processes and the online portals that often have to be negotiated by companies wanting to tender for work.
Two weeks ago, SNP MSP for Falkirk East Angus MacDonald lodged a parliamentary question asking the Scottish Government for an update on the activities of the BusinesClub Scotland, which was set up in 2009 to encourage Scottish firms to gain experience of supplying goods and services to the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, and to use that experience as a springboard to help them compete for future major events around the world.
Enterprise Minister Fergus Ewing is expected to reply to MacDonald's question next month.
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