MSPs slam Scottish Enterprise for axing export advice service

more interested in ticking boxes than understanding the needs of businesses and trying to help them develop.

“We were saying we had some really good customers in one country and that we thought we could expand more, maybe even open an office with the right help.

“They then told us that support couldn’t be given because we had already established customers in the country and then suggested we go into another country instead – it was completely ridiculous.”

Politicians have reacted with anger to the news the EAS will close.

Scottish Labour leader Richard Leonard said: “One of the long-standing weaknesses of the Scottish economy is that our export base is too narrow. Just 70 firms account for 50 per cent of all Scotland’s exports.

“Far from closing down its Export Advisory Service, Scottish Enterprise should be stepping it up and investing more in it.”

Scot t ish Conservat ive shadow economy secretary Maurice Golden said: “Helping fledgling companies push their brands and products overseas is central to what an enterprise agency should be doing.

“So for this arm to be shut down is quite remarkable.”

We revealed earlier this year how Scottish Enterprise CEO Steve Dunlop had been forced to email staff ordering them to freeze all future support grants and slash internal budgets.

A memo to employees explained “unforeseen factors” had lef t the organisation financially crippled with more than a month remaining of the financial year.

He then pulled the plug on new spending commitments unless “legally committed”, halted the hiring of staff and cut all travel unless “absolutely necessary”.

A Scottish Enterprise spokesman said: “Later this year, we will be rolling out a new business support model that will maximise in- house expertise and capitalise on digital technology to help deliver greater access to support and advice for companies.

“In preparation, the existing outsourced contract for export advice service will not be retendered.

“Working with partners, Scottish Enterprise will continue to do what it can to support our companies to export their goods and services, even in these unprecedented and uncertain times.”

For this arm to be shut down is remarkable