Kate Forbes

In the first of a series of industry roundtables, discussions focused on the entrepreneurial actions in the strategy.

These include:

• embedding first-rate entrepreneurial learning across the education and skills systems;
• creating a world-class entrepreneurial infrastructure of institutions and programmes;
• providing a high-intensity pathway for high growth companies; and
• attracting and retaining the very best entrepreneurial talent from at home and abroad  and building an entrepreneurial mind-set in every sector of our economy.

Speaking at the National Economic Forum earlier this week, Ms Forbes also confirmed entrepreneurship would be embedded into the post-16 school curriculum and the Young Person’s Guarantee. This will help cultivate the business leaders of tomorrow by introducing them to first-rate start-up techniques and experiences, and presenting business start-up as an aspirational, realistic and deeply fulfilling career choice.

Ms Forbes said: “Scotland has enormous economic potential and one of the key programmes of the National Strategy for Economic Transformation is to establish Scotland as a world-class entrepreneurial nation, with a culture that encourages, promotes, and celebrates entrepreneurial activity in every sector of our economy

“If we get this culture change right we will see more start-ups and more scale-ups on a par with comparable economies, maximising the new opportunities that will arise over the next 10 years and, crucially, that entrepreneurial mindset.”

She added: “The Scottish Government is committed to providing clear and decisive leadership to achieve this goal, while ensuring the voice of business is heard at the heart of government. We need to ensure we redesign services from the perspective of their users and whilst big talk about delivery might not capture the headlines, it is the delivery that is absolutely critical.

“I look forward to continuing these discussions and working with industry to deliver the ambitious National Strategy for Economic Transformation. The strategy gives us the focus and impetus to build on our strengths by doubling down on the work that is producing results and by pulling together to realise our ambitions of a fairer, wealthier and greener economy.”