05 October 2007
A major shake-up of the economic development agency Scottish Enterprise has been announced by Finance Secretary John Swinney.
In a statement to the Scottish Parliament last week, he gave details of a restructuring programme that will result in the creation of five regional operations. These will replace the existing 21 Scottish Enterprise and Highlands & Islands Enterprise local offices, managed by local enterprise companies.
Some enterprise functions, including local business support and local regeneration, will be transferred to local authorities.
As part of the reforms, most skills and training functions will be transferred from the enterprise networks to a single skills body.
An increasing number of the staff of Scottish Enterprise, which has its headquarters in Glasgow, will be located around different parts of Scotland.
Swinney said a forum including all interested parties would be set up to provide 'clear ministerial leadership' and promote greater integration and collaboration.
In its election manifesto, the Scottish National Party pledged to reform Scottish Enterprise.
Swinney told the Parliament: 'The proposals we have set out will reinvigorate the enterprise networks – re-energising them towards a shared goal… of delivering increased and sustainable economic growth.'
PFoct2007
