The Government aims to ensure long-term sustainable economic growth. There are a range of policies in place aimed at helping to increase productivity levels.
This should create a business environment which actively encourages innovation, entrepreneurialism and high skill levels, helping to encourage the creation, growth and transformation of businesses.
Priorities to achieve economic growth
In its first year, the Scottish Government has set out plans to give Scotland a clear competitive edge as a place to do business.
Among the key proposals are:
- Refocusing and reforming the Enterprise Networks
- Reducing and removing business rates to give small and medium sized Scottish business a competitive tax position
- A Council of Economic Advisers
- Lighter and more effective regulation
- A commitment to creating new, vocational opportunities for young people to flourish personally in education and employment
- A freeze in council tax rates, moving towards legislation to scrap Council Tax and replace it with a local income tax based on ability to pay