Angela Constance MSP
Written 11 posts
Minister for Drugs Policy (Previously: Cabinet Secretary for Communities, Social Security and Equalities; Cabinet Secretary for Education and Lifelong Learning; Cabinet Secretary for Training, Youth and Women's Employment; Minister for Youth Employment)
Women in work
14th November 2014
This was been a historic week for female employment. In amongst some very positive news in the latest labour market figures was proof that that we are making a difference in narrowing of the gender gap. The gap between male and female employment rates in Scotland shrunk from 9.4 percentage points in Nov-Jan 2013 to…
Improving opportunities for women
21st August 2014
Scotland’s economy is moving from recovery to expansion with labour market statistics published last week showing record levels of women in work. Women are key to the strength and resilience of Scotland’s economy. They have made a huge contribution to the recovery we are seeing now. But too often they do so on an unequal…
Catalyst for regeneration, innovation and sustainable economic growth
1st August 2014
With the eyes of the world on Glasgow’s Commonwealth Games, Scotland is rightly proud of its medallists and all the athletes involved in 11 spectacular days of sport. And while we celebrate their successes there are thousands more winners across Scotland beyond the podium places. The Games is about more than medals, it’s a catalyst…
Women and business
4th July 2014
In April this year my colleague Shona Robison and I were promoted to the Scottish Cabinet, bringing female representation at the most senior level of Government in Scotland to 40 per cent. The Scottish Government’s commitment to increasing board level female representation is not confined to central government. We want to see women better represented…
Young Entrepreneurs on the EDGE
17th June 2014
On 16 June 2014, the fourth round of the Scottish EDGE saw 30 dynamic entrepreneurs pitch their businesses to be in with the chance of each winning up to £50,000. This round saw the introduction of the Young Scottish EDGE which is for young entrepreneurs aged 18 to 30. It is a fantastic opportunity for…
Scottish Women in Technology
11th March 2014
Last week was International’s Women’s Day and a number of Scottish Government ministers, myself included, took part in a week of activity aimed at highlighting the importance of women to Scotland, especially in the labour market. Rather neatly, that week has segued into Make Young People Your Business Week, a series of events to raise…
International Women’s Day 2014
7th March 2014
In September 2012 I was very pleased to join the First Minister and the STUC in hosting Scotland’s first Women’s Employment Summit. Since then, the Strategic Group on Women and Work has met regularly to consider what more can be done to enable women to fulfil their potential in the labour market. There are more…
International Women's Day
8th March 2013
International Women’s Day is an opportunity to celebrate the achievements of women, as well as acknowledge the challenges they continue to face at home and abroad. In my day to day work as Minister for Youth Employment, I am always struck by the educational accomplishments of the young women that I meet. For example, a…
Another thousand opportunities for young people
1st March 2013
I attended a very special event this week – ‘The Gathering’ – a key date in the calendar for the third sector in Scotland. It’s a massive annual event that brings together Scotland’s social enterprise and voluntary organisation community. The third sector are valued partners in our endeavours to boost youth employment. They have a…
Labour Market Statistics
22nd February 2013
I am not much of a ‘blogger’ but labour stats day comes but once a month, every month, and press releases, media interviews and 140 characters on Twitter don’t give you the bandwidth to express in detail what you feel and think of the latest statistical release. I have often said that tackling unemployment for me…