Entrepreneur and philanthropist Sir Tom Hunter has called Scotland's new economic strategy “a long wish list with no magic wand to deliver it”, which he added was neither market tested nor pragmatic.
Earlier today, Finance Secretary Kate Forbes launched the long-awaited 10-year plan, which includes more than 70 actions across the five key themes: entrepreneurial people and culture; new market opportunities; productive businesses and regions; skilled workforce; a fairer and more equal society; and a culture of delivery.
Hunter responded that he would have focussed far more attention on asking the customer what is needed - consulting with the people that are going to generate the jobs and economic prosperity.
“We need a far more focussed approach to economic delivery and one single body with absolute authority and responsibility for that delivery; with no one checking their own homework.
“We also need to tackle the various elephants in the room,” he went on, making the argument that while Scotland has 579,400 public sector employees, Denmark 338,000 and is credited with being the second happiest place on earth.
Hunter added that Scotland has 400,000 more of a population, but 75% of their output per person.
“And were Scotland a business would we have 32 subsidiaries? Our agencies such as Scottish Enterprise - which incidentally should be taken out of political control - must readjust to the future needs of business and be fit for purpose and our ambition be far greater - the Scottish National Investment Bank is vastly undercapitalised for its purpose if it is to achieve it.”
Hunter continued: “To be clear, I admire Kate Forbes and I believe she sees the opportunities, but in politics multiple interests tend to prevail as is apparent here.
“What we need is a business led economic growth strategy where we turbo charge scale-ups; the only entities that move the economic dial and greater support for early stage high growth businesses.
“Let business and government genuinely come together, agree targets, timescales, budgets and responsibilities and get on with it,” he concluded.
Last April, a Hunter Foundation report called for inclusive debate across political parties, trade unions, businesses, the third sector and the media, to determine a new economic strategy for Scotland.
It stated that radical and ambitious policy changes are required if Scotland’s economic performance is to be transformed within the next 15 years.
Don't miss the latest headlines with our twice-daily newsletter - sign up here for free.
