The Scottish Government has appointed the members to its economic delivery board, which is tasked with ensuring Scotland has a competitive business landscape.
Announced on May 24, 2022, the 12 person board brings skills from business, academia, trade unions and the third sector to the delivery board. Technology is the largest sector for inward investment in Scotland.
The board is part of the National Economic Strategy, which was released in March 2022. This board replaces the Enterprise and Skills Strategic Board. There are five key priorities in the economic strategy that the new board will be advising on; these include stimulating entrepreneurship, opening new markets, increasing productivity, developing skills for the decade ahead and equal opportunities.
Economy Secretary Kate Forbes and co-chair of the committee said of the board: “They will bring their vast knowledge, credibility and connections across the business community and expertise in delivering major initiatives to help shape the vital changes required to help transform our economy.”
The technology sector and close collaboration with Scotland’s public sector is seen as vital to the national economy. ScotlandIS research released in April 2022 indicates some success, with increased growth in technology employment post-pandemic, with cybersecurity being the largest growth area, followed by data analytics, artificial intelligence (AI) and the Internet of Things (IoT).
Co-chair Barry White added: “In its work, the board must always remember that companies, workers, and entrepreneurs have a choice where they locate and invest. To grow the economy, to achieve net-zero and to improve opportunities, we need them to want to choose Scotland.”
The new board has an enhanced remit, the Scottish Government said, stating that the board has a “remit to hold all partners to account for delivery of the commitments in the National Strategy.”
The members of the economic delivery board are:
- Ewan Aitken - Chief Executive of Cyrenians
- Colette Cohen - CEO of The Net Zero Technology Centre
- Audrey Cumberford - Principal and Chief Executive of Edinburgh College
- Gillian Docherty - Chief Commercial Officer of University of Strathclyde
- Roz Foyer - General Secretary of Scottish Trade Union Congress
- Uzma Khan - Vice Principal Economic Development and Innovation, and Deputy Chief Operating Officer of University of Glasgow
- Sir Simon Lister - Managing Director of BAE Systems Naval Ships
- Jamie McGowan - Managing Director of Essence of Harris
- Douglas Millican - CEO of Scottish Water
- Nora Senior - Executive Chair UK Regions/Ireland of Weber Shandwick
- Ellis Watson - Former Chief Executive of DC Thomson Media Group
