Scotland's Economy

Foundations laid for delivery of economic strategy

June 8, 2022 by Kate Forbes MSP No Comments | Category Economy

Economy Secretary Kate Forbes has co-chaired the first meeting of the National Strategy for Economic Transformation Delivery Board and reflected on the foundations laid for the new board from its predecessor – the Enterprise and Skills Strategic Board (ESSB).

“The National Strategy for Economic Transformation included an action to restructure the Enterprise and Skills Strategic Board so that it became the National Strategy for Economic Transformation Delivery Board.

The ESSB was established following the Enterprise and Skills Review and sought to maximise the impact of the investment that Scotland makes in enterprise and skills development, and to delivering inclusive and sustainable growth. It is a testament to the work and substantial legacy of the ESSB in driving greater alignment and collaboration across the system that we now have the foundations in place to successfully deliver our economic strategy.

Among the ESSB’s key achievements is substantial progress with the four key missions outlined in its Strategic Plan, Working Collaboratively for a Better Scotland. These were having the right skills in the workforce, boosting the number of new and growing businesses, and exporting, along with driving workplace innovation and fair work in business performance.

Over the past five years the ESSB has driven changes in the way enterprise and skills agencies connect and collaborate with businesses and industry. The board has also worked to ensure much greater engagement between agency chairs and CEOs to tackle challenges such as Brexit and the impact of the pandemic.

It led on developing a performance framework to monitor Scotland’s progress of becoming one the best OECD countries for productivity, equality, wellbeing and sustainability.

Many of the areas which the ESSB focused on as evidenced drivers of economic growth such as skills alignment, innovation and business models and workplace innovation, have been taken forward into the National Strategy for Economic Transformation. The ESSB helped shape many of the actions within the new economic strategy and influenced the thinking around designing a new culture of delivery.

I am very grateful for the ESSB’s work and want to thank Nora Senior for her leadership of the board and all the members for giving up their time and sharing their expertise. I invite you to read the Enterprise and Skills Strategic Board key achievements and lessons learned report.”

Kate Forbes

Cabinet Secretary for Finance and the Economy

Comments