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Meeting of the Parliament 11 September 2013

11 Sep 2013 · S4 · Meeting of the Parliament

Item of business

Enterprise Networks

Marra, Jenny Lab North East Scotland Watch on SPTV

We need to examine the impact that the reforms have had on workers and business and we believe that now is the right time for a pulse-check.

As well as noting the increased turnover and jobs growth for businesses that are account managed by Scottish Enterprise, the evaluation that was published on Monday also noted that more than 300 companies have been stuck in transition between business gateway and Scottish Enterprise’s account-managed process, having been unable to access the intensive support to be able to grow. Although Monday’s report concluded that the pipeline is not working as effectively as it could be, it could not say whether the problem lay with the kind of companies that are being put forward or the kind of support that they were being offered. A Government review of its 2007 reforms could help to clarify such identified areas for improvement and make it easier for the right businesses to get the right support.

Our enterprise agencies provide a powerful combination of support for business and support for workers. Although the creation of Skills Development Scotland removed the skills function from Scottish Enterprise, the move was designed to bring even greater focus to providing workers with the knowledge and ability that our industries require. The modern apprenticeship scheme, in particular, was designed to allow the Government to deliver on its youth employment strategy and opportunities for all commitment. However, we know from a report published last week by the Equality and Human Rights Commission that those opportunities could be more equitable. The report concluded that less than 0.5 per cent of modern apprenticeship schemes are being taken up by disabled people in Scotland, despite the fact that 8 per cent of 16 to 24-year-olds have a disability, and that less than 2 per cent of modern apprenticeships are being taken up by ethnic minorities, despite the fact that 4 per cent of 16 to 24-year-olds in Scotland are from an ethnic minority background. Finally, it concluded that there is no evidence of women entering traditionally male apprenticeships, despite the many more males who are taking up traditionally female apprenticeships.

Such analysis is important because it shows whose skills we are developing and the kind of labour force we are building. The modern apprenticeship scheme is just one example of our enterprise agencies, our local authorities and our businesses working in partnership to deliver on key Government pledges, and we believe that a review of that partnership working, in which lessons can be learned from good practice, could lead to a workforce where opportunities are available for every person.

That recommendation was reinforced in a 2011 Economy, Energy and Tourism Committee report on the purpose of our enterprise networks, which stated:

“It is of critical importance at this early stage of economic recovery and for the future that industry is able to articulate its needs and receive a joined up skills response, based on local, regional and national mapping of need.”

Presiding Officer, can you tell me whether I have seven or nine minutes?

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Meeting of the Parliament 11 September 2013

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