Scotland's Economy

Review of enterprise and skills support

July 12, 2016 by The Scottish Government 1 Comment | Category Economy

In May, Economy Secretary Keith Brown confirmed in his first speech in his new role that as one of his first actions, he would carry out a review of enterprise and skills support to ensure that all of Scotland’s public agencies are delivering the joined-up support and impact that Scotland needs.

Scotland has a clear vision: to improve our economic growth, productivity and social inclusion. We will achieve this through investing in our people and infrastructure; fostering a culture of innovation; boosting inclusive growth; and promoting Scotland on the international stage. Our enterprise and skills agencies – Scottish Enterprise, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, Skills Development Scotland and the Scottish Funding Council – play an important role in delivering this economic strategy, supporting economic development and enabling every individual to achieve their potential.

Today, the Ministerial Review Group which will assist Mr Brown in the review met for the first time and agreed how they will work. The Group will play a vital role in ensuring that the enterprise and skills review is robust, outcomes-focussed, produces sound and evidence-based recommendations, and is driven forward with energy and creativity.

Membership has been drawn from a wide range of key stakeholders and experts from the Council of Economic Advisers, COSLA, business, entrepreneurship, the third sector, the STUC, further and higher education and the student body, each of whom will bring an important level of expertise, perspective and challenge.

Mr Brown said:

“Our agencies provide a crucial role in supporting businesses, developing the skills the economy needs and supporting development opportunities. Now, we want to build on these successes further.

“One of the ways we’ll do this is by carrying out an end-to-end review of our public sector enterprise and skills support. This will seek to ensure that our agencies are delivering the joined-up support that our young people, universities, colleges, training providers, businesses and workforce need; that they are aligned behind our clear vision; able to prioritise services and investments; able to use their skills and tools to respond confidently and flexibly to changing economic circumstances; and that their support is clearly understood.

“The review will consider how best to deliver and enhance the support these bodies currently provide or need to provide in the future to meet the needs of all who use the services or work within the Scottish system of enterprise and skills support – whether as students, businesses, service providers, partners – and to deliver on Ministerial ambitions, particularly in relation to productivity.

“Scotland remains an attractive and stable place to do business, with a fundamentally strong economy. The context in which we are operating has changed as a result of the EU referendum, which is why we are determined to pursue every avenue to secure Scotland’s continued place in the EU and the stability, jobs and investment that come from being part of the world’s biggest single market.

“As our challenges increase we need our enterprise and skills support to be the best possible as we reinforce that Scotland very much remains open for business.”

As contributions, ideas and options for the way ahead start to emerge, we will take into account that a good outcome needs to ensure:

• A common vision and performance framework for all to maximise economic growth and productivity and support more inclusive growth, with full geographical access.
• A modern system of support that is fit for the 21^st century, simple and clear for users to access, and supported by the right agency roles, services, skills and behaviours.
• Affordability – making the best use of all public resources, financial and other assets to impact on outcomes, with funding matching priority services and flowing through the minimum number of levels and organisations to the user.

The full remit can be accessed here: http://www.gov.scot/Topics/Economy/EntandSkillsreview

Membership of the Group is as follows:

• • Crawford Beveridge – Council of Economic Advisers
  • Frances Ruane – Council of Economic Advisers; ESRI
  • Ian Walker – Johnson & Johnson
  • Stephen Boyle – Chief Economist, RBS
  • Lynne Cadenhead – Bio ID Security; Women’s Enterprise Scotland
  • Ross Martin – SCDI
  • Liz Cameron – Chambers of Commerce
  • Susan Love – FSB
  • Grahame Smith – STUC
  • Jim Duffy – Entrepreneurial Spark
  • Hugh Hall – Chair, Colleges Scotland
  • Andrea Nolan – Convener-elect, Universities Scotland
  • Vonnie Sandlan – NUS Scotland President
  • Councillor Stephen Hagan – COSLA Spokesperson Development, Economy and Sustainability
  • Mhairi Harrington – Principal, West Lothian College
  • Professor Sir Ian Diamond – Principal, Aberdeen University
  • Suzanne Burns – HR Director, STV; Board member, Developing the Young Workforce National Employer Group

Comments

• Bill Fraser says:

  12 July 2016 at 4:03 pm

  This is just an observation from an interested member of the public but there seems to be a gap in your membership for supporters of the old the poor, the unemployed and the disabled.

  These are important groups who could bring their experience to the work of the committee, I would be interested to hear your views.

  Reply