Eight new members have been appointed to an advisory group, with the aim of growing Scotland’s exports and delivering on the objectives of ‘A Trading Nation’.
Since the launch of the plan in 2019, progress has been made by increasing investment in businesses to export from Scotland and expanding international networks to increase the reach and value of Scotland’s trade with the rest of the world.
Exports have shown signs of strengthening during 2021, compared with 2019, with onshore goods exports decreasing by only 1%. In comparison, the UK as a whole saw an 8% decrease.
The Trade Board will help identify ways Scotland can return to an export growth trajectory, delivering plans set out in the recent National Strategy for Economic Transformation, through the development and delivery of Sector Export Plans on Technology, Life Sciences, Renewables and Hydrogen.
The role and remit of the board is also to advise on long-term strategic, economic and environmental issues which may impact the target of exports making up 25% of GDP by 2029.
The new members, appointed by Trade Minister Ivan McKee, will join four continuing members on the group. They will all meet for the first time today.
McKee said: “I am absolutely determined that the Scottish Government in partnership with business do all we can to boost export growth and realise international market and sector opportunities by delivering on the aims we set out in A Trading Nation back in 2019.
“Expanding our exports is absolutely essential in the wake of Brexit and the damaging effects on our economy of being taken out of the European single market, which is around seven times larger than the UK market alone.”
New members of the board are:
David Currie, group chief executive, Proserv
Currie has more than 35 years’ experience in the energy sector. He is currently the group CEO of Proserv, after initially joining the business in May 2018.
Gillian Docherty OBE, chief commercial officer, University of Strathclyde
Formerly of IBM, Docherty is chief commercial officer at the University of Strathclyde. She has responsibility for innovation and industry engagement, research and knowledge exchange services, marketing and development.
Simon Forrest, chief executive, Nova Innovation
Forrest co-founded Nova Innovation in 2010 and has over 30 years’ industrial experience, having worked in the energy sector with Scottish Power and Wood Mackenzie.
Richard Knox, managing director, Verlume
Knox is passionate about the commercial adoption of renewable technology and leads Verlume’s overall business strategy and execution.
Dr Sarah Lynagh, chief executive, Fios Genomic
Lynagh leads Edinburgh-based contract research organisation Fios Genomics, which started as a university spin-out and provides an range of bioinformatics data analysis services to pharmaceutical companies, contract research organisations and academia.
Gary White, senior director, Strategic Site Solutions
White is part of IQVIA leadership team in European Strategic Site Solutions, whose remit is to deliver solutions across the region to better engage with clinical research sites.
Marcus Pickering, co-founder and director, Pickerings Gin
With business partners of over 18 years, Pickering managed a large restoration project in Edinburgh, transforming a 2.5 acre university campus into one of the largest arts venues in Europe.
James Varga, chief executive, DirectID
Varga founded The ID Co in 2011. DirectID is a credit and risk platform which provides insights based on bank data that help customers make better credit decisions.
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