Meeting of the Parliament 02 June 2015
I express my pleasure at having the opportunity to take part in this important debate this afternoon.
The Scotland can do framework was launched to set out areas of priority in which the Scottish Government can act to see that Scotland becomes a world-leading and innovative nation for business. It is only right that we commend the work of the stakeholders who have contributed to the framework so far. The many issues that have been raised should further instruct the Scottish Government as it sets out to achieve the aims of the report.
It is clear to me that underpinning the need for further innovation and entrepreneurship is the importance of staying part of the European Union. As part of the EU’s smart specialisation platform, Scotland is able to promote focus on areas within the country that provide unique competitive advantage. Given the distinctive nature of some of our Scottish businesses, that is crucial in allowing those companies to flourish in the global marketplace.
Scotland has always had a tradition of innovation and skill in business. As a nation, we have produced world-class entrepreneurs, scientists and engineers, and we can lay claim to having invented the modern world. Those past achievements should rightly be celebrated but, more important, current successes such as the development of next-generation prosthetic limbs by Touch Bionics and hybrid buses by Alexander Dennis are at the forefront of research and development in the world today. Equally important is the recognition that it will be that kind of research and development that will provide Scotland with a 21st century economy and deliver employment in areas that are not yet created.
Nevertheless, there are many challenges to be overcome if Scotland is to reach its full potential. Skills for growth, sales and technology were all identified by the Scottish Government’s report as being underdeveloped; so, too, was the securing of appropriate finance for many growing businesses. I therefore welcome the involvement of organisations such as Interface, which has introduced over 1,800 businesses to academic partners over the past few years. I also welcome the work of Scotland’s universities, which work with 19,000 Scottish businesses every year, although I acknowledge that that work must be built on.
I believe that Scotland’s attitude to entrepreneurship must evolve. We require further inclusion of entrepreneurship in schools, further education and across society to increase awareness of the opportunities that starting a business can provide. We need to see an increase in collaboration between our public, private and third sectors, strengthening each sector as we move towards a high-skill, high-wage economy. Crucially, we need to ensure that people from all walks of life are encouraged to become entrepreneurs and start their own businesses.
I welcome the opportunity to have this debate about the future of Scottish business, and I commend the Government on its efforts so far, although I acknowledge that there is still much work to be done. We need to see continued increases in research and development funding, further financial support for growing businesses and the provision of adequate places, particularly in further education, for training and upskilling the entrepreneurs of the future.
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