Scotland's Economy

  • A Fairer Scotland for Disabled People

    3rd December 2016 by

    Making sure disabled people have access to decent incomes and fairer working lives is one of the key ambitions at the heart of our new disability delivery plan – A Fairer Scotland for Disabled People. The plan recognises that even in the 21st century many disabled people are still unable to live their lives as...

    Read more

  • Report opens door to home-based biz

    21st September 2016 by

    Running a business from home is an increasingly popular option offering freedom and flexibility to work the hours you choose in an environment that you create yourself. Generally the costs will be lower and you can avoid commuting.

    Read more

  • Supporting Employability

    21st September 2016 by

    Earlier this month I was pleased to announce the Scottish Government’s plans for employability support programmes in 2017, as the powers are devolved to the Scottish Parliament. Our first year will be a transitional year and we are working on our permanent programmes and will make our plans known in due course. Our programmes will...

    Read more

  • World skills day

    15th July 2016 by

    To mark UN world skills day, Minister for Employability and Training Jamie Hepburn outlines the Scottish Government’s commitment to make Scotland the best place in Europe for Youth Employment: Today is the first ever international world skills day – which has the aim to reduce unemployment and underemployment amongst young people across the world. This is an ambition that...

    Read more

  • 7th July 2016 by

    Minister for Employability and Training Jamie Hepburn spent the day yesterday with modern apprentices, who were showing off a wide variety of skills. Mr Hepburn started the day at Screwfix in Edinburgh, where he helped to launch a new guide to help tradespeople understand how easy it is to hire an apprentice. Thank you @scotgoveconomy...

    Read more

  • Reassurance following EU referendum

    5th July 2016 by

    The First Minister and Economy Secretary Keith Brown today met leaders of key business organisations to discuss Scotland’s place in Europe. The organisations involved were: CBI Institute of Directors Federation of Small Businesses Scottish Council for Development and Industry Scottish Financial Enterprise Scottish Chambers of Commerce FM @NicolaSturgeon and Economy Secretary @KeithBrownSNP will chair a...

    Read more

  • An Apprenticeship Week pledge

    4th March 2016 by

    One of the Scottish Business Pledge’s nine components is investing in youth. To mark Scottish Apprenticeship Week 2016 Deputy First Minister John Swinney met with modern apprentices in the banking sector as their employer Barclays made the Scottish Business Pledge. Here they explain what investing in youth means to them. Ben Dalziel, 18 “I work...

    Read more

  • FM announces support for oil and gas industry

    4th February 2016 by

    Aberdeen and the North East of Scotland plays a crucial part in our economy and remains central to driving future growth and prosperity in Scotland. Clearly, the oil and gas industry is central to Aberdeen’s economy and will continue to be for decades to come, but there is also enormous potential elsewhere in the region....

    Read more

  • Why Cocoa Ooze is sweet on Small Business Saturday

    3rd December 2015 by

    Small Business Saturday is a grassroots campaign which highlights small business success and encourages consumers to ‘shop local’ and support small businesses in their communities. It takes place on the first shopping Saturday in December each year, but aims to have a lasting impact on small businesses like my own – bespoke chocolate company Cocoa...

    Read more

  • HM, Mr Clooney and the Scottish Business Pledge

    24th November 2015 by

    I doubt that I’ll ever again have cause to mention Harper Macleod and George Clooney in the same sentence. The reason I can is that my firm was fortunate enough to win the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Award at last week’s Scottish Business Awards – whose guest speaker brought a dash of Clooney-mania to the...

    Read more