Latest news with #OurScottishFuture
The Herald Scotland
4 days ago
- Business
- The Herald Scotland
Gordon Brown: Here is how to create 300,000 Scots jobs in 10 years
A new report to be published this week by the think tank Our Scottish Future lays bare this challenge. We could create 300,000 good jobs over the next ten years – and be in the lead in areas as advanced as precision medicine, quantum computing, carbon capture and storage, and even video games. Go to Dundee and you'll find the most advanced video games technologies that rival Grand Theft Auto and which had their origins in the city. Read more Go to Aberdeen and you'll find them developing wind and wave power and hydrogen to complement the world leadership we enjoyed in North Sea oil and gas. Come to Glasgow and the city that was once home to shipbuilding and steel is now at the centre of the world life science industry, with academic, clinical and commercial expertise from drug discovery to the most up-to-date personalised medicine based on DNA, and remarkable advanced manufacturing. And look at Edinburgh, where not only is fintech moving forward, but the city has had for 60 years a lead in artificial intelligence and is home to some of the most advanced computers in the world. But to convert our ideas and innovations into jobs, we have to invest in the future – in research, in education, and most of all, in people. For every £1 we spend on research in our world-class universities, we get back just £1.46 in business investment. That's half what the UK delivers. Across the OECD, it's more than triple. And look at the skills gap. We turn out a higher share of graduates than in most countries in the world – but too many well qualified Scottish university leavers end up working in non graduate jobs. This is not just a shortfall hurting our economic growth. It's indicative of the fact that we in Scotland are squandering our potential. The report, Innovation Nation, pulls no punches. It says what many of us already know: the system isn't working. We have the talent, the research, and the ambition. We have the capability - and the need - to deliver inclusive economic growth, creating hundreds of thousands of new jobs through exciting growth sectors such as life sciences, advanced manufacturing, and green energy. What we don't have is the leadership and joined-up thinking to make it count. Former Prime Minister Gordon Brown (Image: free) That's why this week in Glasgow Our Scottish future is bringing together some of the brightest minds in the world of innovation and technology. With us is Kate Bingham who pioneered the vaccine task force that saved thousands of job of lives. Kasim Kutay who heads one of most Europe's most innovative bioscience groups, Novo Nordisk. Michael Spence, the Nobel Prize winner who's the expert on AI. Jim Rowan who has headed not only Volvo but BlackBerry and Dyson in his time, pioneering the development of manufacturing from his Scottish engineering genius. And we have David Sainsbury the author of Windows of Opportunity and Britain's most successful science minister who has spent a lifetime arguing for the importance of innovate clusters to growth. We have Chris van der Kyl who has himself set up a large number of innovative companies from his base in Dundee. And we will have key investors from the public and private sectors and other economic experts. What's more we will have trade minister Douglas Alexander and Scottish labour leader and Anas Sarwar at an event to be introduced by the SNP Lord Provost of Glasgow. Read more For as we will show late in the week it is not too late to steer a new direction. A real industrial strategy. Innovation hubs in our great cities. Local authorities, UK and Scottish governments working together to drive real change in local areas across Scotland. And support for the businesses that want to grow, scale, and stay in Scotland. These recommendations represent a win-win for Scotland, where we raise the roof and lift the floor – creating good jobs, tackling poverty, and building a fairer, greener, more dynamic Scotland. We have a choice. Stick with the status quo, with patchy growth and missed opportunities. Or take bold action, seize the initiative, and once again lead the world in science, in enterprise, and in building a better society. Let's take that chance. Let's build Scotland's future together – and become the innovation nation we were always meant to be. Gordon Brown was Britain's Labour Prime Minster from 2007-2010
Times
6 days ago
- Business
- Times
We must create the jobs of tomorrow: failure is not an option
Scotland's economy has been in the doldrums for over a decade. Sluggish growth, flat productivity, stagnant incomes, with increasing economic inactivity, poverty and inequality. No wonder we lack the tax revenue growing public services need. There is a route out of this, if over the next ten years we have the vision, determination and organisation to build our economy on the jobs of tomorrow. The jobs of tomorrow will come from the science of today. From developing steam power to cloning Dolly the sheep, Scotland has often led the world in this. Today we have more of the world's top universities than any other small nation, doing truly world-leading research, but fail to capitalise properly on this excellence. We attract research funding, but not enough of the investment that turns it into jobs. Every £1 of public R&D in Scotland generates only £1.46 of business investment. In the UKit is double that. Across the OECD, it is three times higher. A report by the economist Dan Turner for Our Scottish Future, to be published at a conference later this week at Glasgow University, sets out a plan to move from failure to success. The ingredients of success are simple to state, but hard to do. Start from a world-class research base, and be clear on our strengths: we excel in medicine and bio-science, are talented in technology and advanced manufacturing, and have great potential to transform our energy economy. Governments must make Scotland an even more attractive place for the best researchers, including from countries where academic freedom is under threat. • How the Scottish economy performed in 2024 — in charts There is no time for political games. The UK and Scottish governments must align themselves on a single industrial strategy. Place is critical: different regions must build clusters around their different strengths. Aberdeen for energy transition. Glasgow, Edinburgh and Dundee for bioscience and technology. The city region deals involving both governments should be strengthened to make this happen more quickly, with more local leadership. Research is hard and building businesses from it takes time, with support at each stage: from initiation, through growth and finally into major business successes. Scotland is quite good at early stage investments, but promising businesses become attracted to clusters elsewhere. Capital investment is available, from pension funds encouraged by the government to invest in Britain. But it must be alongside public money. As companies grow, the other resources they need — quality infrastructure, skilled staff, sometimes regulatory change — must be co-ordinated in each city region, as in the most successful economic clusters in the world. Scotland has the potential but needs commitment from governments, private investors, universities and others to make each place succeed. Otherwise we fail as an economy and ultimately as a country. We cannot afford that. Professor Jim Gallagher is the chairman of Our Scottish Future
STV News
12-05-2025
- Business
- STV News
‘Year of service' would help young Scots gain skills - Gordon Brown's think tank
A 'year of service' programme should be introduced to help young Scots gain skills for the workforce, a report from Gordon Brown's think tank recommends. The report, commissioned by Our Scottish Future, also calls for a new Scottish careers service and reforms to employability programmes. It says that despite having Europe's most highly-educated population, Scotland still lags behind London and the South East for productivity. Too many Scots are 'underemployed', the report says, while 17% of the economically inactive population want to work. Authored by the Social Market Foundation, it recommends an overhaul of the 'fragmented' skills funding system, as well as a scheme similar to the UK 'year of service' pilot project which launched in 2022. It says: 'A Scottish service year would learn from these approaches. Young people aged 16 to 24 would be offered placements that have clear social benefit, lasting up to a year. 'Hours per week would be flexible, depending on the circumstances of the participant, but most would be full time, and paid at least at the national living wage.' Roles would be in areas of public need such as social care, home refitting and renewable energy. Jim Gallagher, chairman of Our Scottish Future, said: 'We've got great people, great ideas, and some industries that have massive potential for growth. 'Somehow, that is not yet leading to everyone being in a good job that makes the most of their talents. 'We need skills and employability policies that support industry and give people the best opportunities for success.' Jamie Gollings, an author of the report, said: 'Exciting new initiatives like a Scottish careers service, devolving welfare policy and introducing a Scottish year of service have the potential to make a real, tangible impact. 'Across the world, sluggish growth is the challenge of our time. 'By taking the practical measures this report proposes, and learning from best practice in both Westminster and Holyrood, Scotland has the potential to show the world how to achieve sustained long-term growth, and provide Scots with the good jobs and quality of life they deserve.' Our Scottish Future was set up by former prime minister Mr Brown, to push for 'positive and radical change in Scotland, accelerated by a reformed UK'. A Scottish Government spokeswoman said: 'The First Minister has been clear that one of his key priorities is to grow the economy and we have been taking the necessary steps to do this. 'Ministers are engaging industries and employers across the country, and will continue to do so as we reform the skills system and introduce a new skills planning approach, which will enable targeted action to address national and regional skills requirements. 'We are also reviewing and improving school-age and adult careers support, including better information on career choices, job prospects and earnings.' She continued: 'Ministers have already indicated that they will be working closely with the Career Services Collaborative, which brings together careers service providers and to improve coherence of the careers offer for users. 'Recognising the need to address current skills needs while reforming the system, we are providing £185 million this year to support apprenticeships – and looking at how we secure maximum benefit from this investment, including how public funding is utilised.' Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
The National
12-05-2025
- Business
- The National
Gordon Brown think tank calls for 'year of service' for young Scots
Our Scottish Future commissioned a report which suggested this would help Scots gain skills before entering the workforce. It also called for a new Scottish careers service and reforms to employability programmes. Authored by the Social Market Foundation, the report says that despite having Europe's most highly-educated population, Scotland still lags behind London and the South East for productivity. READ MORE: How are Scottish parties set for Holyrood election? John Curtice's view Too many Scots are 'underemployed', it says, while 17% of the economically inactive population want to work. Recommendations include an overhaul of the 'fragmented' skills funding system, as well as a scheme similar to the UK 'year of service' pilot project which launched in 2022. It says: 'A Scottish service year would learn from these approaches. Young people aged 16 to 24 would be offered placements that have clear social benefit, lasting up to a year. 'Hours per week would be flexible, depending on the circumstances of the participant, but most would be full time, and paid at least at the national living wage.' (Image: NQ) Roles would be in areas of public need such as social care, home refitting and renewable energy. It comes as the Labour Home Secretary Yvette Cooper announced the UK Government is going to close the care worker visa route for overseas recruitment. Jim Gallagher, chairman of Our Scottish Future, said: 'We've got great people, great ideas, and some industries that have massive potential for growth. 'Somehow, that is not yet leading to everyone being in a good job that makes the most of their talents. 'We need skills and employability policies that support industry and give people the best opportunities for success.' READ MORE: Pope Leo calls for Gaza ceasefire in first Sunday blessing Jamie Gollings, an author of the report, said: 'Exciting new initiatives like a Scottish careers service, devolving welfare policy and introducing a Scottish year of service have the potential to make a real, tangible impact. 'Across the world, sluggish growth is the challenge of our time. 'By taking the practical measures this report proposes, and learning from best practice in both Westminster and Holyrood, Scotland has the potential to show the world how to achieve sustained long-term growth, and provide Scots with the good jobs and quality of life they deserve.' READ MORE: Labour closing care recruitment from abroad will be 'devastating' Our Scottish Future was set up by former prime minister Brown, to push for 'positive and radical change in Scotland, accelerated by a reformed UK'. The think tank was previously one of the groups 'named and shamed' for their secrecy over who funds them. It also faced calls to reveal who was behind a mysterious quarter of a million pounds donation given in 2020-21. In 2021, Our Scottish Future was accused of 'baselessly undermining confidence' in Scotland's Covid testing programme. Then-first minister Nicola Sturgeon would later dispute the methodology the group used. A Scottish Government spokeswoman said: 'The First Minister has been clear that one of his key priorities is to grow the economy and we have been taking the necessary steps to do this. 'Ministers are engaging industries and employers across the country, and will continue to do so as we reform the skills system and introduce a new skills planning approach, which will enable targeted action to address national and regional skills requirements. READ MORE: Pro-Palestine activists protest against Israel at Eurovision opening ceremony 'We are also reviewing and improving school-age and adult careers support, including better information on career choices, job prospects and earnings.' She continued: 'Ministers have already indicated that they will be working closely with the Career Services Collaborative, which brings together careers service providers and to improve coherence of the careers offer for users. 'Recognising the need to address current skills needs while reforming the system, we are providing £185 million this year to support apprenticeships – and looking at how we secure maximum benefit from this investment, including how public funding is utilised.'
