Scotland's Economy

  • Living Wage Week

    11th November 2018 by

    This week we have been celebrating Living Wage Week 2018. As Minister with responsibility for Fair Work and Business, I have spent the week visiting living wage employees and meeting people who are being paid the living wage rate. I was delighted to welcome the news that rate of the real Living Wage will increase to...

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  • This week 9/11/18

    9th November 2018 by

    Living Wage Week kicks off Scotland’s new Living Wage was announced as £9 per hour.  The First Minister visited Lady Haig’s Poppy Factory to mark the start of Living Wage Week, 5-9 November.   Read more here.           Apprenticeship Conference Skills Development Scotland delivered Scotland’s first Apprenticeship Conference as part of...

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  • This week 2/11/18

    2nd November 2018 by

    Introducing the business rates cap Hotels across Scotland and offices in Aberdeen are amongst those who will benefit from a cap to their business rates bill following an announcement by Public Finance Minister Kate Forbes. Having already benefited from the cap in 2017-18 and 2018-19, hospitality businesses will now see rates capped at a maximum...

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  • Two weeks of talking up Scotland in Europe

    19th October 2018 by

    Minister for Trade, Investment and Innovation, Ivan McKee, usually visits innovative businesses all over Scotland as part of his role. However, over the last couple of weeks he’s been talking up Scotland to other countries in Europe. Last week he started in London for a series of meetings including discussions with Nesta, a global innovation...

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  • Delivering world class infrastructure for Scotland

    19th October 2018 by

    When the First Minister announced a reshuffle of her Cabinet in the summer I was honoured to take on the role of Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Infrastructure and Connectivity. The creation of this portfolio highlights the importance we as a Government place on investment in infrastructure as a key driver of economic growth. As the...

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  • Strengthening economic links with Ireland

    18th October 2018 by

    Minister for the Digital Economy and Public Finances Kate Forbes will travel to Dublin this week to undertake a series of engagements to strengthen Scotland’s economic links with Ireland. The Scottish and Irish Governments have been working towards creating greater economic links for some time and the Minister’s visit highlights our ambition to collaborate with...

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  • Ensuring the UK Budget delivers for Scotland

    10th October 2018 by

    Ahead of the UK Budget on the 29th of October, I have written to the  Chancellor of the Exchequer to outline the key issues that the Scottish Government wishes see included in the Budget. A full copy of my letter to the Chancellor is below. ___ Rt Hon Philip Hammond MP Chancellor of the Exchequer HM Treasury...

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  • This week – 28/09/18

    28th September 2018 by

    Digital Improvement Pilot Cupar will become a Digital Improvement District, a first for Scotland, fulfilling the Programme for Government commitment to fund a business improvement district dedicated to digital improvement. It will soon have town centre WiFi and act as a potential model for future small town designs. This innovative approach will trial and showcase...

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  • New action plan to boost Scotland’s cyber security industry

    26th September 2018 by

    A new action plan will encourage the growth of innovative Scottish cyber security research to deliver world-leading cyber security goods and services. The Scottish Government and Scottish Enterprise will work with key partners to ensure Scotland fully exploits the economic growth opportunities of the increasing demand for cyber security goods. Scottish Enterprise will receive just...

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  • This week – 21/09/18

    21st September 2018 by

    Scottish growth pulls ahead of the UK The Scottish economy grew by 0.5% during the second quarter of 2018, according to statistics announced this week by Scotland’s Chief Statistician. In the first half of this year, Scottish GDP grew by 0.8% compared to 0.6% in the UK. This growth in the first six months of 2018...

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