CBI launches plan for Scottish recovery

The UK's largest business organisation set out on Monday its agenda for a recovery plan for the Scottish economy in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.

David Sapsted

22 June 2020

In a letter to Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, Dame Carolyn Fairbairn, director-general of the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) and the Tracy Black, the organisation's Scotland director, said jobs - and, particularly, training for young people - and investment must be put at the heart of recovery plans.The letter said: "The Covid-19 crisis has created an unprecedented challenge and rightly led to a relentless focus on health. Business recognises that will remain the case for some time and we will all need to adapt to new ways of living with Covid-19, at least until a vaccine is found. But this must not stop all of us from implementing an ambitious recovery plan for the Scottish economy."Amidst all the uncertainty, one thing is clear: Scotland and the rest of the UK will only build back better through a market-driven plan that supports sustainable growth."Dynamic enterprise is the only way to fulfil our potential, deliver a return to growth and enable sustainable public spending. It is also our opportunity to get ahead in an increasingly competitive global economy."
The letter emphasises that the number one priority must be job creation, with the emphasis on skills training and opportunities, especially for young people.Specific proposals include the expansion of existing upskilling and retraining programmes to increase the speed at which people can move between roles and sectors to match changing demands.There is also a call for greater investment in the green economy, not only to create new jobs but in the interests of a more sustainable future. Measures proposed include retro-fitting all homes with a high standard of energy efficiency, and expanding the deployment of electric vehicle charging networks through fast-track planning and funding.Additionally, support should be stepped up for further business investment in low carbon infrastructure projects, including wind power and energy from waste sites, says the letter, adding that further investment in Scotland's digital infrastructure should be undertaken as a matter of urgency.Ms Black commented: “This unprecedented crisis demands an unprecedented response to get the economy back on track. The Scottish economy was already struggling before Covid-19 hit, and now every single bit of growth matters for people’s jobs and livelihoods. “While we live with the virus, any recovery plan must continue to prioritise health as well as the impact on the economy. Urgent interventions are required to create jobs, especially for young people, and investment.
“Speed is of the essence – we know the dangers of long-term unemployment and the impact it has on individuals and communities. That’s why we’re calling for the recovery plan to prioritise jobs and training to support getting people back to work as quickly as possible.“Ultimately, business and government must find new, innovative ways of working together to support the recovery in the short-term and lay the foundations for a more competitive and sustainable future for the Scottish economy.”