Scotland's Economy

  • Fracking moratorium welcomed

    30th January 2015 by

    I totally understand that those with different perspectives in the debate on unconventional oil and gas have strongly held views, but I very much welcome the positive and constructive welcome from both industry interests and from environmental organisations to the Scottish Government’s announcement of a full public consultation and a moratorium on unconventional oil and...

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  • FM Nicola Sturgeon makes major economic speech

    1st December 2014 by

    Today, I am making clear that a strong, growing economy with a thriving business base is essential to the overall success of our country. I am also announcing that I will strengthen the role of the Scottish Government’s Council of Economic Advisers, to ensure that my government has access to the best possible advice as...

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  • Council of Economic Advisers meets

    12th November 2014 by

    The Council of Economic Advisers has met in Edinburgh. It is the sixth time the council has met. Members discussed how to maximise the economic impact of new powers for Scotland and how they could be best used to promote competitiveness and tackle inequalities. The Council agreed that in order for such a process to be...

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  • 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...

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  • 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...

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  • Falkirk Council’s £67 million Tax Incremental Financing (TIF) scheme

    5th August 2013 by

    Today, we celebrate the launch of one of the country’s most significant projects to support economic growth and job creation. The Falkirk area, which is already a major contributor to the Scottish economy, has been awarded £67m from the Scottish Government through the Tax Incremental Finance scheme. This has given the green light for Falkirk...

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  • Employee ownership is a hidden gem for our economy,

    4th July 2013 by

    Today we are marking Employee Ownership Day. The Scottish Government has been a long-standing supporter of employee-ownership and its ability to root jobs and growth in localities. Over the last year I have visited a number of employee-owned ventures across Scotland, ranging from Clansman Dynamics who build robotic manufacturing equipment in East Kilbride to seafood...

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  • Scotland leads the way for youth employment

    13th June 2013 by

    Yesterday’s job figures have again highlighted a very Scottish success story. For the seventh month in a row we have seen a year on year drop in youth unemployment in Scotland, with the rate now down to 15.2 per cent. That’s over six percentage points lower than a year ago – and down from almost...

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  • State of the Economy

    15th March 2013 by

    This State of the Economy Report comes after a disappointing 2012 – a year when it had been hoped that economic fortunes would improve and momentum would finally return to the global economy. However, the economic outlook is more positive than this time last year. The Report focuses on the business sector, as in a...

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  • Public reform in action

    13th March 2013 by

    Yesterday I visited a project that showed me how innovative and creative ideas can provide real opportunities for our young people. I visited the Streetleague project in Glasgow which exemplifies the Scottish Government principles of reform. Simply put, it delivers improved outcomes for local people through partnership working and a focus on prevention. Streetleague specialise...

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