The aftermath of the general election offers the Scottish and UK governments a “golden opportunity” to set politics aside and co-ordinate their activity to help business succeed.
That was the assertion yesterday from Scottish Chambers of Commerce (SCC) chief executive Liz Cameron as she called for the next UK government to build an industrial strategy that will deliver the skills Scotland’s companies need.
Ms Cameron said creating a strategy that integrated the needs of the UK and and Scotland was a “crucial task” for the party that gains power in the June 8 vote.
In January Theresa May launched proposals for the UK’s new post-Brexit industrial strategy. Plans announced included a £556million boost for the “northern powerhouse” in England, a series of “sector deals” and a new focus on science, technology, engineering an innovation in education.
Ms Cameron said: “All of the political parties going into the general election talk about a new industrial strategy as a key part of their economic agenda for the next parliament.
“If this is pursued on a UK basis, then it is vital that it takes full account of the devolved settlement and that action is co-ordinated by the Scottish and UK governments to ensure that Scottish firms can take full advantage of a national focus on the key drivers of business success.”
The SCC chief called for a strategy that sets out measures to improve infrastructure and connectivity, widen access to key skills and talents and identify actions to “incentivise and reward positive behaviours.”
She continued: “Scotland and the UK continue to lag behind competitor nations in terms of our productivity and we need to restore a focus on ongoing work-based learning and re-skilling of older workers in order to ensure that our businesses have access to the talents they need to grow and succeed. This is particularly important, given the demographics of low unemployment and an aging workforce.
“Once this general election has been decided, there exists a golden opportunity for the Scottish and UK governments to co-ordinate their activity as never before, putting politics to one side and focusing on how to build the success of our businesses.”