Events are a crucial part of what attracts visitors to Scotland. If you're a food and drink producer, they offer major opportunities to:

• Increase sales
• Enhance your reputation
• Raise your profile
• Attract new markets

Each year, Scotland hosts literally thousands of events, ranging from the world's largest arts festival and huge sporting occasions, to music festivals and special interest events for enthusiasts. Research commissioned by Scottish Enterprise in 2011 forecasts that visitors to events in Scotland will spend £24 million on food and drink in 2012. This figure is projected to rise over the next ten years with a peak of almost £33 million in 2014, when we host the Commonwealth Games and the Ryder Cup.

Our Event Ready Producers project runs to the end of 2014 to help your company make the most of the business opportunities that events can offer.

A new 'Ready for Events' guide is now available providing food and drink producers with:

• Information on the business opportunities that events can offer
• Advice on how to work with events
• Examples of events, caterers and producers who have worked together to provide visitors with the very best food and drink experiences
• Guidance on where to go for help and support to make the most of opportunities in the events sector

One-to one expert business support is also available to food and drink companies through the project. The support offers companies a review of their readiness to supply events and tailored advice on developing their sales and supply strategies, product and price propositions, financial performance, marketing, staff skills and service delivery. Each company receives up to 3.5 days business support, including a site visit, a bespoke action plan with forecasts for sales and turnover growth, and referrals to relevant support.

Event Ready Producers