Promoting sustainable growth, supporting businesses and tackling skills shortages will be central to Scotland’s economic recovery.
The 2021/22 Programme for Government outlines how the SNP Government will help people into fair work by investing £500 million to create high quality jobs and improve skills, whilst driving the green industrial revolution.
This year this includes up to:
£70 million for the Young Persons Guarantee
£20 million for the National Transition Training Fund supporting sectors hardest hit by the pandemic
£20 million to help the long term unemployed access and sustain fair work.
To maximise Scotland’s economic potential, £100 million will be invested in research and development, targeting companies developing the innovative technologies of the future. A new £20 million Rural Entrepreneur Fund will help ensure growth is spread across the country, while the small business bonus scheme, fresh start relief and business growth accelerator are all to continue for the lifetime of this parliament.
Kenneth Gibson MSP said:
“We must look beyond recovery and achieve a sustainable transformation, which is why this Programme for Government provides targeted investment to equip Scotland with the skills and technologies needed to achieve net zero, through secure and satisfying jobs paying a fair wage.
“While the global pandemic and Brexit continue to pose significant challenges, Scotland’s economy is beginning to recover, creating new opportunities to do things differently.
“Together with the 10-year National Strategy for Economic Transformation, due to be published this autumn, will help Scotland maximise its economic potential and build a fairer, greener and more prosperous country for us all.”
The SNP Government will:
Create a new National Infrastructure Company and invest £33 billion in infrastructure, bolstering supply chains
Invest the first £200 million, of £1 billion, this financial year in the Scottish National Investment Bank to build its portfolio
Launch a new £50 million National Challenge Competition this Autumn, to support projects with the greatest potential to transform Scotland’s economy
Provide £100 million to improve the digital capabilities of business
Invest up to £20 million this year furthering our No One Left Behind ambitions and providing support to those facing long-term unemployment
Identify initial projects for the Green Growth Accelerator this year, marking an important first step to unlocking up to £200 million of public sector investment and incentivising local authorities to deliver low carbon infrastructure
Introduce a Community Wealth Building Bill to help create and protect jobs and enable greater community and third sector ownership of assets make the first payments from the £100 million Green Jobs Fund. ENDS
