Latest news with #KateForbes
The Herald Scotland
3 days ago
- Business
- The Herald Scotland
One million crossings made over city bridge since opening
It towers over an area that, for at least 2,000 years, had a huge importance as a location where it was possible to ford the Clyde. One of the longest opening pedestrian/cycle bridges in Europe, the Govan - Partick Bridge has a width of six metres and two spans. The moving span, which weighs 650 tonnes, is 99 metres long and uses the South Pier (at Water Row) as its access; and the fixed span, which weighs 45 tonnes and is 15.7 metres long. The crossing is also a central part of the active travel route between the University of Glasgow's campus at Gilmorehill and the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital. READ MORE: New figures released by Glasgow City Council show that, since the public opening last September, there have been more than 820,000 crossings of the bridge by pedestrians, and over 185,000 cyclist crossings. Councillor Susan Aitken, Leader of Glasgow City Council and Chair of the Glasgow City Region Cabinet, said: 'With the City Deal we're quite literally building bridges between our communities along the Clyde. "Our expectations that the Govan-Partick Bridge would reconnect these historic communities have been exceeded with these fantastic figures. It's quickly become a key landmark in the city and a tremendously well-used travel route and will be critical to the continuing regeneration of our riverside and its surrounding communities in the years to come.' Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes, said: 'It is impressive to see the impact this bridge has made for communities across the River Clyde. As well as improving access to jobs and visitor attractions, it has opened up travel between the University of Glasgow's West End and Queen Elizabeth Hospital campuses for pedestrians and cyclists. The Govan - Partick Bridge is one of the longest opening pedestrian/cycle bridges in Europe (Image: Colin Mearns/Herald) "Construction was funded through the Glasgow City Region Deal, which we have supported with £520 million. This investment aims to create 29,000 jobs in the Greater Glasgow region by boosting housing, transport, business growth and research opportunities to improve outcomes for patients.' UK Government Scotland Office Minister Kirsty McNeill said: "A fantastic one million crossings in less than nine months is clear proof that this magnificent bridge across Glasgow's beloved Clyde has quickly become a cherished and vital piece of infrastructure for pedestrians and cyclists. It is also a powerful reminder of how vital it is to bring people and places together. "Part funded with more than £12 million UK Government investment, re-establishing this historic connection between Govan and Partick is boosting the economy, bonding communities and supporting redevelopment. This is our Plan for Change in action, working with partners to deliver economic growth and a decade of national renewal."
Scotsman
4 days ago
- Business
- Scotsman
Grangemouth boost as chemicals maker uses grant to create 38 jobs
'Grangemouth is an important strategic location for Syngenta, and we are keen to further invest into new facilities at the site' – Pete Waddington, head of UK manufacturing Sign up to our Scotsman Money newsletter, covering all you need to know to help manage your money. Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... A specialty chemicals maker and agricultural life sciences company based in Grangemouth is to create 38 jobs as it expands production. Syngenta has been awarded £2.2 million from Scottish Enterprise towards the £14.7m growth project, which will also safeguard 14 existing roles. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The firm, which employs more than 370 people at its Grangemouth facility, specialises in crop protection and seed breeding for the agriculture sector. Its site expansion will create a dedicated manufacturing facility for its Seedcare product range, which helps growers safeguard high-value seeds against disease, pests and other environmental stresses. Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes visiting chemical manufacturer Syngenta Grangemouth. Picture: Sandy Young/ The project and investment were secured for Scotland following competition with other international locations. The grant was announced during a visit to the company by Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes, joined by Scottish Enterprise managing director for innovation and investment, Jane Martin. The news is also a boost for a town that has been hit by plant closures and job losses of late. Syngenta is part of the so-called Grangemouth cluster - a concentration of industry and infrastructure, spanning sectors such as fine chemicals, pharmaceuticals, logistics and general manufacturing. Pete Waddington, head of UK manufacturing at Syngenta, said: 'Grangemouth is an important strategic location for Syngenta, and we are keen to further invest into new facilities at the site. The specialty chemical cluster is also an asset for Scotland with a skilled workforce, strong logistics position, and proven track record of delivery.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Forbes said: 'Syngenta's expansion at Grangemouth is great news and I am grateful to the company for its significant contribution to the Grangemouth Future Industry Board. 'I am proud of the investment we are able to make through Scottish Enterprise, as part of the Scottish Government's commitment to shaping a sustainable future for the chemicals sector.' Martin added: 'This latest project from Syngenta is a fantastic example of the type of ambitious, world-leading specialty chemicals innovation we want to see happening here at Grangemouth.
Scotsman
4 days ago
- Business
- Scotsman
Why SNP's reaction to Scotland's 'disappointing' growth figures should worry us all
Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... As new figures revealed that Scotland's economy grew by significantly less than the UK's, Economy Secretary Kate Forbes called for 'decisive action' by the UK Government. This is, of course, another way of saying it's Labour's fault – that it is they, not the SNP, who need to act – a contention that is, at the very least, open to question. In the first three months of the year, Scotland's gross domestic product is estimated to have increased by 0.4 per cent. This compares poorly to 0.7 per cent for the UK as a whole, but is an improvement on the last three months of 2024 when Scotland's growth was an anaemic 0.1 per cent. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Kevin Brown, a savings specialist at Scottish Friendly, told Scottish Financial News that the figures were 'disappointing but not disastrous', adding that it 'certainly isn't a signal to panic'. The governments of Keir Starmer and John Swinney need to have a proper working relationship (Picture: Andy Buchanan/WPA Pool) | Getty Images Working together 'absolutely essential' The return of Forbes to the government last year does appear to have provided it with a greater focus on the economy. However, her complaint that the Scottish Government had only 'limited powers' also smacked of blame-shifting. It would be better if she concentrated on utilising the powers that she has and considering whether SNP policies are helping or harming the economy. In contrast, Labour's Scotland Office minister, Kirsty McNeill, struck a constructive tone, saying it was 'absolutely essential that both governments work together to deliver better jobs, wages and opportunities'. The need for governments of all sizes to collaborate on ways to improve the economy was stressed by Colin Borland of the Federation of Small Businesses, who said 'confidence remains fragile – with more small businesses still expecting things to get worse before they get better – so it needs to be nurtured... growth needs to be everyone's top priority'. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad
The National
4 days ago
- Business
- The National
As many benefits as possible should be made universal
I would prefer more careful decisions about which benefits were needed and making as many of them as possible universal, with a fairer tax system being used to recover money from those whose income is above the threshold selected. READ MORE: Kate Forbes urges Westminster action as Scotland's economy shrinks The Government should be giving serious consideration to Universal Basic Income as a way of reducing the poverty problem in this country, giving everyone at least the bare minimum necessary to live decently and enabling them to make decisions much more freely about their role in society: which job to take or go for, becoming more entrepreneurial and having the opportunity to participate more easily and more fully in the life of their communities. Bob Gillespie Glasgow
Scotsman
4 days ago
- Business
- Scotsman
Businesses demand action to boost growth as Scotland falls behind UK as a whole
Economy shrinks in February and March with GDP growth for first quarter sluggish, new Scottish Government data reveals Sign up to our Politics newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Business leaders have called for growth to be the 'top priority' at Holyrood and Westminster after it emerged Scotland's economy shrank in February and March and has fallen behind the UK as a whole. Data published by the Scottish Government reveals GDP fell 0.2 per cent in March, following a similar drop of 0.2 per cent in February, prompting Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes to demand 'decisive action' from the UK Government. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The figures also reveal that over the first three months of this year, growth increased 0.4 per cent in Scotland - below the 0.7 per cent recorded for the UK as a whole over the same period. The governments of Keir Starmer and John Swinney need to have a proper working relationship (Picture: Andy Buchanan/WPA Pool) | Getty Images Ms Forbes insisted Labour ministers need to 'counter the damaging economic impacts of Brexit' and also reverse the recent hike in employer national insurance contributions. She said the Scottish Government has only 'limited powers' over the economy. Scotland Office minister Kirsty McNeill insisted it is 'absolutely essential' that both the Scottish and UK governments 'work together to deliver better jobs, wages and opportunities for the people of Scotland'. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Firms 'expect situation to get worse' Her call was echoed by Colin Borland, director of devolved nations at the Federation of Small Businesses, who warned that most small firms expected the situation to deteriorate further. Mr Borland said: 'We saw the first signs of confidence starting to return among small business owners in Scotland during the first quarter, after our Small Business Index (SBI) hit a four-year low at the end of last year. However, that returning confidence remains fragile – with more small businesses still expecting things to get worse before they get better – so it needs to be nurtured. 'That requires all levels of government from Westminster and Holyrood through to local councils to keep a clear focus on the impact of their policies on small businesses. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'Growth needs to be everyone's top priority. At a UK level, that includes looking again at the parts of the Employment Rights Bill that threaten to put smaller employers off taking a chance on hiring new recruits and removing barriers to business finance. 'For the Scottish Government and local authorities, it means delivering on promises to carefully assess the small business impact before adopting new regulations, taxes or policies.' For the period January to March, Scotland's services sector – which makes up the bulk of the economy – grew by 0.5 per cent, while the production sector grew by 0.3 per cent. The construction sector was flat with 0 per cent growth recorded, while the agriculture, forestry and fishing sector contracted 0.4 per cent. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Looking at March alone, output in the services sector was flat at 0% growth, while the production sector shrank by 1.6 per cent. However the construction sector expanded by 0.3 per cent. Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes | PA Mr Forbes, who has responsibility for the economy within the Scottish Government, stressed the figures for the first quarter of 2025 are 'encouraging' when compared to the 0.1 per cent growth recorded over October to December 2024, and said they show quarterly growth 'getting stronger'. She added: 'In the face of ongoing global challenges, dynamic steps are being taken to grow and transform Scotland's economy. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'We are pursuing new investment, building export potential and supporting innovation. Last week the First Minister announced that US green aircraft engine developer ZeroAvia is to establish a new manufacturing base in Scotland, creating around 350 jobs. 'Meanwhile, our Programme for Government includes a six-point export plan to help businesses tap into new markets and increase sales.' 'Limited' powers for Scottish ministers But she added the Scottish Government's 'limited' powers mean 'decisive action' is needed from the UK Government to 'counter the damaging economic impacts of Brexit and tackle the economic uncertainty currently being felt by business, workers and families'. This action from Westminster must include reversing the 'damaging decision to increase employers' national insurance contributions', the Deputy First Minister insisted. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Ms McNeill made clear however that 'Scotland's growth must not lag behind the rest of the UK'. She said: 'The UK government ended austerity in Scotland with a record £50 billion block grant in 25-26 for the Scottish Government to spend on public services. 'Meanwhile our Brand Scotland trade missions are promoting Scotland's goods and services on the world stage to encourage further growth and investment, and our forthcoming industrial and trade strategies will create opportunities for people right across the UK.' Scotland Office minister Kirsty McNeill | PA She also said the UK Government's Plan for Change is 'working by kick-starting economic growth and putting more money in people's pockets'. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Ms McNeill added: 'There's been an annual pay rise of around £1,400 for up to 220,000 Scottish workers and an end to zero-hours contracts for nearly 80,000 Scots thanks to our ground-breaking Employment Rights Bill.' READ MORE: Why a Fair Banking Act would create a more inclusive economy Scottish Conservative shadow cabinet secretary for finance and local government Craig Hoy said governments in both Edinburgh and London were to blame for Scotland falling behind the UK as a whole. He said: 'Growth across the UK has been badly hit by Labour's disastrous budget and their National Insurance tax rise. But under the SNP Scotland is lagging behind even those sluggish figures. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'Two left-wing governments to blame' 'Thanks to the SNP's higher tax rate, excessive regulations and failure to pass on rates relief, Scottish businesses are at a disadvantage. Thanks to the policies of two left-wing governments, economic growth has stalled, while Scottish firms and households are paying more to get less.' Kevin Brown, Savings Specialist at Scottish Friendly, said: 'March's GDP figures show Scotland trailing the wider UK, which is disappointing but not disastrous, and certainly isn't a signal to panic. 'The gap between Scotland and the UK isn't huge, and with the right conditions – stable inflation, improved consumer confidence, and no escalation in global trade tensions – growth could quickly pick up.
