CEO Lena C. Wilson | Founded 1991 | |
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Profiles | ||
Scottish Enterprise is Scotland’s main economic development agency, and aims to deliver a significant, lasting effect on the Scottish economy through identifying and exploiting the best opportunities for economic growth.
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Scottish Enterprise supports ambitious Scottish companies to compete within the global marketplace, and helps to build Scotland’s globally competitive sectors. The organisation also works with a range of partners in the public and private sectors to attract new investment to Scotland and to help create a world-class business environment.
Support for companies of all sizes is wide ranging and includes dedicated advice on exporting, innovation, organisation and leadership development and manufacturing, as well as providing investment and grants. Through Scottish Enterprise’s networks, companies and organisations have access to offices and services around the world, as well as partners including trade bodies and international business organisations.
History
Scottish Enterprise started operations on 1 April 1991 under the Enterprise and New Towns (Scotland) Act 1990. That act merged the former Scottish Development Agency [SDA], created in 1975 and the Scottish Training Agency to form one integrated body.
On 1 April 2008, the skills function of Scottish Enterprise moved out of the organisation to the newly formed Skills Development Scotland.
Structure
With around 1,100 staff based in 14 offices across the UK and a further 29 overseas, Scottish Enterprise’s expertise lies in the strength of its global industry networks to support Scotland’s business interests worldwide.
Scottish Enterprise’s 'Executive Leadership Team' consists of senior management and is responsible for the day-to-day running of the organisation.
Current membership is as follows
The Chairperson of the Scottish Enterprise Board is Bob Keiller.
Finances
Scottish Enterprise is a non-departmental public body of the Scottish Government, although it also raises part of its budget from other sources such as property rental and disposal of assets. The Resource Budget for 2015/16 amounts to £256 million.
Partners
Scottish Enterprise works with a range of other local, national and international strategic partners, from industry and the public sector to help deliver its wider range of services and sector-specific support across international trade, innovation, investment and inclusive growth.
These include:
Scottish Enterprise’s international trade services are supported by Scottish Development International, the international arm of Scotland’s enterprise agencies.
Scottish Development International is also responsible for delivering the Scottish Government’s inward investment targets.
The Scottish Investment Bank
Scottish Enterprise’s investment arm, the Scottish Investment Bank (SIB), operates across Scotland in partnership with Highlands and Islands Enterprise.
SIB aims to increase the supply of finance and help more Scottish SMEs with growth and export potential to access it.