Scottish Government

Scotland will respond to the ongoing global economic uncertainty by highlighting its economic strengths and making clear it is open for business, Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes has said. Speaking ahead of a trade and investment visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Ms Forbes promised the Scott

Scottish Business Minister Richard Lochhead has embarked on a visit to China and Japan to strengthen economic, social, and cultural links, reinforcing that Scotland is open for business. During the trip, he will engage with government officials, potential investors, and key companies. The Minis

Scotland's First Minister, John Swinney, has highlighted Scotch whisky's role as a "passport to attract international investment" during a visit to New York. Concluding a trip focused on promoting Scottish trade, Mr Swinney chaired a roundtable discussion with representatives from the Scotch Whisky

The employer National Insurance increase, which came into effect yesterday, will have a significant impact on public services and cause economic damage for business, Finance Secretary Shona Robison has said. The estimated cost to organisations delivering public services in Scotland is over £70

Scotland’s known public sector procurement spend in 2022-23 delivered an estimated 120,000 full-time equivalent jobs and £7.5 billion to Scottish GDP, according to new figures. The sixth annual report on procurement activity in Scotland shows that known procurement spend generated an est

A bill designed to create jobs and drive economic growth across Scotland by promoting investment in communities has been published. The Community Wealth Building Bill is the first of its kind "in the world" and would require councils, National Health Service boards and other public bodies to take fo

People struggling with council tax arrears will have access to "enhanced advice" through the expansion of a Citizens Advice Scotland project. Backed by an additional £2.2 million in Scottish government funding, the project provides tailored support to affected households and works with local a

The Scottish Government is hosting a major investment event in Edinburgh today aimed at unlocking new private investment in the country’s rapidly growing offshore wind industry. More than 100 stakeholders, including investors and developers, will attend the Global Offshore Wind Investment Foru

Techscaler, the Scottish Government’s startup support programme run by CodeBase, will be showcasing some of Scotland’s most promising early stage startups at a London investor event this week. The Techscaler London Investor Showcase takes place at Scotland House London on Wednesday 12 Ma

The Scottish and UK governments have signed a £70 million investment programme with Argyll and Bute Council to deliver vital economic growth for the area. The 10 year Rural Growth Deal (RGD) for Argyll and Bute will see the Scottish and UK governments each contributing £25m to the progra

The Scottish Government is exploring plans to grant local councils the power to impose a levy on cruise ship passengers. While a nationwide cruise ship tax has been ruled out, a consultation has been launched to gather views on whether councils should have the option to introduce such a charge. &nbs

Scotland has secured over £850 million in investment over the past four months, driven by strong interest in its burgeoning energy transition sector. The total is boosted today by the Scottish National Investment Bank’s (SNIB) announcement of £6.7m for Subsea Micropiles, which is d

Scotland’s focused global trading strategy is producing tangible results, Business Minister Richard Lochhead has told an audience of Scottish exporters. The Scottish Government’s sector-specific export plans target action on areas of strength, such as renewable energy, technology, life s

Bruce Cartwright CA, CEO of ICAS, has responded to Holyrood's approval of The Scottish Government's 2025-26 Budget, describing it as a "short-term fix" lacking a long-term tax strategy and a clear reform roadmap for public services. The budget includes £21.7 billion for health and social care,

A new report, the Gender Export Gap, has revealed that Scotland could boost its economy by billions of pounds if women-led businesses exported at the same rate as those led by men. The report estimates a potential increase in trade of between £3.4 billion and £10.3bn over two years. From