EUKN - United Kingdom - Measuring progress towards a smart, successful Scotland: 2005

Measuring progress towards a smart, successful Scotland: 2005 - UK

Introduction

Reviews progress in the twelve priority areas identified in the Scottish Executive’s enterprise strategy for Scotland – "A smart, successful Scotland" (SSS).

Description

Assesses the progress in one lead measure and two supporting measures for each of the priority areas in the strategy. Looks at the overall progress in prosperity, using the measure of GDP per head of population, and sustainability, measured using carbon dioxide emissions. Examines progress in:

growing business;
creating more e-business;
increased research and commercialisation;
global success in key sectors;
digital connectivity;
involvement in global markets;
globally attractive location;
choosing to live and work in Scotland;
improving the operation of the labour market;
experiences of young people;
narrowing the gap in unemployment;
improving demand for high quality in-work training.

Background information

"A smart, successful Scotland" (SSS), first published in 2001 and updated in 2004, is both Scotland’s enterprise strategy and the Scottish Executive's strategic direction to the Enterprise Networks. The Joint Performance Team (JPT), which commissioned the report, comprises senior officials from the Scottish Executive, Highlands & Islands Enterprise and Scottish Enterprise, and was established in 2001 to monitor progress towards achieving the ambitions for the Scottish economy identified in SSS. Progress is assessed annually. The aspiration is to move towards the top quartile of OECD countries for each measure.

Methodology

The approach adopted by the JPT was to develop progress measures for each of the twelve SSS priority areas. In order to monitor progress in an international context, Scotland's performance is benchmarked against the thirty member countries of the OECD, with the aspiration to be ‘world class'. These progress measures are intended to add to the strategic direction of SSS. Describes performance in relation to twelve priority areas, and overall progress in prosperity. Compares Scotland’s performance with that of OECD members and looks at changes for lead indicators since 1999. Draws on data from a range of sources including the Scottish Executive, the Office of National Statistics and the OECD.

Conclusions

Finds that progress is weakest on the growing business measures while global connections measures have improved. Skills and learning measures show the strongest progress, but issues remain to be resolved to address the problems of the not in employment, education or training (NEET) group. There is evidence that Scotland has been progressing against the OECD competition and the UK benchmark on a number of economic indicators.

Contact info

Scottish Executive
Joint Performance Team, tel. +44 (0)131 556 8400

Publication date

01/10/2005

Project finished

Researcher

Training and Employment Research Unit, University of Glasgow

Article info
ISBN: 0755948874

A smart, successful Scotland (PDF, Eng, 505 KB)

Document type

research

Themes

Urban Policy > Economy knowledge & employment > Urban economy

Keywords

Competitiveness