Scotland's Economy

  • Scottish economy at pre-recession level

    16th July 2014 by

    Scotland’s GDP grew 1.0 per cent over the first quarter of 2014, faster than the UK as a whole. Output in Scotland is now 0.4 per cent above its pre-recession level. The UK figure for quarter one was still 0.6 per cent below pre-recession levels.

    Read more

  • Women and business

    4th July 2014 by

    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...

    Read more

  • Young Entrepreneurs on the EDGE

    17th June 2014 by

    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...

    Read more

  • Education Working for All

    3rd June 2014 by

    The Commission for Developing Scotland’s Young Workforce publishes its final report today. Our Commission sat at an opportune time to look at significantly enhancing Scotland’s approach to vocational education and youth employment. The reforms which have already taken place in schools and colleges as well as the growth in the number of Modern Apprenticeships provide...

    Read more

  • Council of Economic Advisers: Second Annual Chair’s Report

    29th May 2014 by

    I am pleased to present my second Report as Chair of the Scottish Government’s Council of Economic Advisers (CEA). Since reconvening in 2012, the Council has focused on three priority areas – Recovery and Jobs; Internationalisation; and Economic Levers. The Council has made good progress over the last year, taking forward a challenging programme, and...

    Read more

  • Girls into Energy

    10th April 2014 by

        I first wanted to become an engineer when I began the Skills for Work Energy course at Banff and Buchan College (now North East Scotland College) in 2011. I first heard about the course in my second year at Mintlaw Academy when I attended a presentation from a former “energy girl” who had...

    Read more

  • Scotland’s cutting edge laser industry

    9th April 2014 by

    While in San Francisco this week for Scotland Week 2014 I was fascinated to visit the Photonics Research Centre at Stanford University in California’s Silicon Valley. There I met participants in the SU2P programme, a Scottish-US project which aims to maximise the commercial potential of our world-class academic success in this field. I was proud...

    Read more

  • Scottish Women in Technology

    11th March 2014 by

    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...

    Read more

  • International Women’s Day 2014

    7th March 2014 by

    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...

    Read more

  • Scotland’s Budget Bill for 2014-15 published

    17th January 2014 by

    This budget demonstrates the benefits of decisions being made in Scotland, by those who care most about its future. The budget will help us to ensure Scotland is the best place for our children to grow up, that we offer the most competitive environment for business within the UK and that people in Scotland are...

    Read more