Stirling was the location for the first board of trade meeting in Scotland last week as Liam Fox, Secretary of State for International Trade convened the meeting in Stirling Castle. The board of trade was re-established last year, but has been in existence since 1696. In all that time it has never met in Scotland.
The meeting coincided with a session of the National Trade Academy which hosted a session at Codebase for young people and students of business alongside business people to learn about the impact that trade has around the world. The trade academy programme included talks from the secretary of state for international trade and other advisors to the board of trade including former Labour minister, Brian Wilson.
There was also a launch of an online one stop shop, invest.great.gov.uk which will help to promote the UK to global investors.
Six Scottish Companies, including local Bus Manufacturer, Alexander Dennis, were awarded Board of Trade awards for exceptional international trading performance.
The visit of the board of trade was secured when local MP, Stephen Kerr, lobbied the department to have the event in Stirling.
Stephen Kerr, Stirling’s MP said:
“It is a huge honour to have the board of trade meeting in Stirling. Stirling was on show and many of the local businesses who were involved in the event would have been able to promote their own export activity and develop links with other companies and potential investors. We export a great deal from Stirling whether it be insulation from Superglass, Shortbread from Campbells or digital services from the companies at Codebase. It is vital that we encourage international trade and events like this one highlight the importance of exporting to the Stirling and UK economy.”