Scotland's Economy

  • This week: 31/5/19

    31st May 2019 by

    Advancing Manufacturing Challenge Fund Manufacturing businesses will be able to improve their productivity and upskill their workforce with support from a £14 million fund. The Advancing Manufacturing Challenge Fund will support businesses develop their manufacturing capabilities by inviteing public bodies, academic organisations and charities to enhance their existing equipment and training services. To launch the...

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  • Infrastructure Commission for Scotland

    29th May 2019 by

    Infrastructure investment plays a critical role in creating an inclusive, sustainable economy. In December, I established the Infrastructure Commission for Scotland (ICS) to provide independent advice on the right vision, ambition and priorities for a 30-year strategy for infrastructure in Scotland to meet our future economic growth and societal needs. Over the course of 2018-19,...

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  • First year of employment service attracts over 10,000 participants

    29th May 2019 by

    Scotland’s first fully devolved employment support service has been accessed by more than 10,000 people in its first year. Fair Start Scotland (FSS), which launched in April 2018, encourages people to access employment support on a voluntary basis. The service has published its latest set of statistics to 29 March 2019 which show that: 10,063...

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  • Scotland and the Netherlands: European partners

    24th May 2019 by

    Despite the ongoing uncertainty over EU exit, the EU remains incredibly important to Scotland’s trading potential. And as our second largest export market, one country which is of particular significance is the Netherlands. Scottish exports to the Netherlands were estimated to be worth £2.5 billion in 2017 – 7.6% of all international exports – and...

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  • This week: 24/5/19

    23rd May 2019 by

    Business hubs Public Finance and Digital Economy Minister Kate Forbes launched a new network of business hubs in public libraries to support entrepreneurs. The Scottish Coworking Network has been developed by the Scottish Library and Information Council (SLIC) with Scottish Government funding and is aimed at providing local entrepreneurs, freelance workers, sole traders and start-ups...

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  • This week: 17/5/19

    17th May 2019 by

    Labour Market Statistics This month’s labour market statistics update, released by the ONS for January 2019 to March 2019, showed that the Scottish economy and jobs market continues to strengthen. The update showed: 2,682,000 people are now in work in Scotland Unemployment in Scotland fell to 3.2%, the lowest rate on record Scotland’s female employment...

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  • Unemployment rate at record low for fifth consecutive month

    14th May 2019 by

    Commenting on this month’s labour market statistics update, released by the ONS for January 2019 to March 2019, Business Minister Jamie Hepburn said: “The Scottish economy and jobs market continues to strengthen. “Scotland’s employment rate is 75.4% and the unemployment rate sits at 3.2%, a new record low and lower than the UK rate of 3.8%. Indeed...

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  • This week: 10/05/19

    10th May 2019 by

    Labour Productivity Statistics The latest labour productivity statistics were released and show Scotland is performing well. Key figures included: In 2018 Quarter 4, labour productivity in Scotland, measured by output per hour worked, has increased by 2.3% in real terms (inflation adjusted) compared to the same quarter last year Compared to the previous quarter, labour...

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  • This week: 03/05/19

    3rd May 2019 by

    New export growth plan launched The Scottish Government has launched ‘A Trading Nation’, an export plan backed by £20 million investment, to help increase the value of Scotland’s overseas exports and provide support to businesses considering overseas trade. First Minister Nicola Sturgeon launched the plan at the 22nd National Economic Forum in Edinburgh alongside Economy...

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  • This week: 26/04/19

    26th April 2019 by

    Cyber Scotland Week Cyber Scotland Week draws together events across Scotland to showcase the innovation taking place across the sector, raise awareness of good cyber resilience practice and promote careers within the industry. Digital Economy Minister Kate Forbes attended events throughout the week, including the College Cyber Security conference and the National Cyber Security Centre,...

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