Dr Poonam Malik: Scottish Government's New Deal for Business
The New Deal for Business Group (NDBG), set up to examine how government and business can better work together, has published its progress report including recommendations for the First Minister, who has accepted the recommendations in full.
Dr Poonam Malik, University of Strathclyde's Head of Investments, who Co-Chairs the NDBG has discussed her plans for Scottish business going forward.
“I have long held the belief that an economy can only reach its full potential when its government and businesses are aligned and working in partnership towards collective goals. If Scotland is to be the most attractive destination to do business with, then we need successful businesses and for that to happen we need to reframe and co-design how businesses, industry and government co-exist happily”.
“During the course of the NDBG work, we engaged with a range of stakeholders and at the five subgroups - coupled their views with representatives from the wider business community and industries to provide advice and lived experiences. A common theme which emerged from the subgroups is that businesses must be included at an earlier stage in the policy-making process, so that they can help shape legislation that affects them from the beginning.”
“That is a new ‘culture’ that we must look to implement as soon as possible. We want to keep the momentum of this work going and while we need action across all the recommendations, we have identified ten key actions that will focus our minds on the major tasks at hand. This includes looking to see the return of the Independent Regulatory Review Group to work with industry and government on a renewed remit to advise Ministers.”
“There is an opportunity for Scotland to take a leading position in addressing business engagement and becoming the best small innovative nation to do business with, and the most attractive destination globally, for inward and capital investments. If we get this right, Scotland can start reaping the benefits of a motivated, innovative business sector and a committed government working together to deliver a Wellbeing Economy that is thriving sustainably leading to our happy and healthy futures.”
You can find the full piece by Dr Malik in the Scottish Government Economy Newsletter.