Business chiefs urged to market St Andrew's Day

SCOTLAND'S business leaders were today urged by the country's small business sector to use St Andrew's Day as an international marketing tool.

A poll of more than two hundred executives from small and medium-sized Scottish firms revealed the majority thought Scotland - one of the few countries in the world which does not celebrate its national saint with a public holiday - could make more of its annual saint's day to promote itself at home and abroad.

"Saint Andrew and the Saltire are known throughout the world and we should use the day to promote Scotland wherever we can," said Amanda Kremer, managing director of Edinburgh-based business networking organisation Thrive for Business.

"Saint Andrew's Day should be a celebration of all things Scottish.

"Burns' Night makes a fortune for the economy and is an ideal opportunity for businessmen to entertain clients and network. There is no reason why St Andrew's Day couldn't be the same," she added.

The survey found that more than half of bosses questioned agreed that St Andrew's Day should be declared a public holiday.