Yesterday, the Scottish government published its much trailed National Strategy for Economic Transformation setting out how the government, public bodies, third sector and businesses can use current economic powers to deliver transformation in the coming decade. Finance Secretary Kate Forbes, addressing a room of businesspeople at the launch in Dundee, said that the strategy would “ensure Scotland is indeed a fairer, wealthier and greener nation by 2032 because we took the decisions required to transform our economy as we emerged from the pandemic.”
 
The strategy sets out how, over the next ten years, the Scottish government aims to deliver economic growth that significantly outperforms the last decade, so that the Scottish economy is more prosperous, more productive, and more internationally competitive.
 
With a heady mix of green and net zero ambitions, reducing poverty by creating a ‘wellbeing economy’ and creating a Scotland recognised as one of the best countries in the world to start and to grow a business, the plan certainly doesn’t lack ambition.
 
So how was it received? Lukewarm. The STUC were quick off the mark, describing it as “more a strategy for economic status quo than economic transformation” while Scottish business titan Sir Tom Hunter said it was “a long wish list with no magic wand to deliver it, which I do not believe is market-tested nor pragmatic.”
 
Others were more positive. The Scottish Council for Development and Industry welcomed the strategy’s “focus on increasing innovation and enterprise” and said “the emphasis on delivering collaboratively is right.” Sandy Begbie, the chief executive of Scottish Financial Enterprise, said “It’s encouraging to see entrepreneurial growth as a core focus of the strategy, something that we have been calling for. The key now is to deliver.”
 
And that’s the point, delivery. The Scottish government is often criticised for being great at setting up ‘advisory panels’ and ‘consultations’, but less effective when it comes to delivery and outcomes. But a plan must surely be welcome, especially after the challenging couple of years business has faced.
 
The government wants to create a fairer, wealthier and greener Scotland, recognising that it’s through a strong successful economy that we can best lift living standards. That means getting behind business and ensuring government promotes, rather than gets in the way, of its success. 
 
Forbes said “as a country we will be judged on the outcomes we deliver, not the strategy we write. Words and intentions matter, but only actions deliver change.”
 
The country and the Scottish government will be judged. We need the outcomes to meet the ambition.