For the first time in over two years, the Scottish Business Growth Group reconvened in Edinburgh today, bringing together both the UK and Scottish governments with business leaders to
explore ways to accelerate Scotland’s economic growth.
The meeting was jointly chaired by Scottish Secretary Ian Murray and Scotland’s Minister for Business Richard Lochhead. It included officials from both governments, business representatives, and the Scottish Trades Union Congress. The forum reflects the UK Government’s top priority of driving economic growth, as Murray emphasized in a speech at the University of Edinburgh in March, where he announced the group’s relaunch with a renewed focus on cross-sector and cross-government collaboration.
At the meeting, Murray provided updates on key UK Government initiatives and their implications for Scottish businesses. Topics included the Spending Review, Strategic Defence Review, new trade agreements with the EU, US, and India, and the forthcoming modern Industrial Strategy. He highlighted the opportunities these present for Scottish industries, particularly the supply chain.
Murray also called for deeper collaboration in new areas such as the defence sector, citing the potential for significant economic returns. While acknowledging existing successful partnerships between both governments and businesses, he stressed the need to build on that foundation.
As part of his broader Brand Scotland programme, Murray has been engaging with business groups to boost Scotland’s global presence. Last week, he announced a £100,000 grant from the Scotland Office to support a new international trade initiative led by the Scottish Chambers of Commerce. The funding will help promote Scottish goods and services abroad and attract foreign investment into the country.
