New Deal for Business Minutes - Pre-Budget Discussion: December 2024

Attendees and apologies

• Dr Poonam Malik, Co Chair, New Deal for Business (NDBG)
• Katie Miller, Confederation of British Industry (CBI)
• Colin Borland and Stacey Dingwall, Federation of Small Businesses (FSB)
• Catherine McWilliam, Institute of Directors (IoD)
• Nathalie Agnew, Muckle Media
• Barry White, NSET Delivery Board Co Chair
• Karen Meechan, ScotlandIS
• David Lonsdale, Scottish Retail Consortium
• Charandeep Singh, Scottish Chambers of Commerce (SCC)
• Iain Baxter, Scotland Food and Drink
• Elspeth Hendry, Business in the Community Scotland
• Marc Crothall, Scottish Tourism Alliance (STA)
• Sandy Begbie, Scottish Financial Enterprise (SFE)
• James Fowlie, COSLA
• Sara Thiam, Prosper
• Kate Forbes MSP, Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Gaelic
• SG officials

Apologies

• Mairi Spowage, Fraser of Allander
• Nora Senior, Co-Chair of ILG Chairs Roundtable

Items and actions

Welcome and opening remarks

The Deputy First Minister (DFM) welcomed and thanked all for their time, written representations and valuable engagement to support developing the budget. The confidential nature of the discussion was stressed by DFM before going on to confirm that she had endeavored to deliver as many of the collective asks from the business organisations as possible. She acknowledged that some asks had not been achievable.  

DFM confirmed that the budget centers on delivering the First Minister’s priories to eradicate child poverty, grow the economy, support Scotland’s public services, and tackle the climate crisis. The budget aims to provide the building block for Scotland’s future, where everyone benefits from change. Stressing again the need to respect confidentiality ahead of the statement, she highlighted that it is an economy focused budget with a substantial package of capital investment across rural and urban areas, targeting most sectors including renewable energy, housing, tourism, and culture. 

DFM assured members that the business voice has been heard throughout the budget process and stressed that her aims in budget discussions were; to ensure it is an intensely local budget; no surprises for business and; deliver on many of the collective business asks. 

Questions and comments

All members welcomed the openness of DFM and particularly her endeavors to ensure that there are no surprises for the business community in the announcement. Members sought detail of specific support for SMEs, investment in skills, apprenticeships, universities and colleges, as well as export support.

Reflections from DFM

Whilst respecting the confidential nature of the budget detail, DFM confirmed that the budget includes strong measures to support innovation, skills and international connectivity.

Officials undertook to distribute an economy factsheet to some members following the Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Local Government budget statement to parliament and confirmed that members reaction to the statement will be consolidated and issued to ministers.

Closing

In closing the discussion DFM reflected that there will be the opportunity to have a detailed discussion on the budget announcement at the meeting of the Group on 12 December. She thanked members for their insightful contributions and reassured then that the business voice has been listened to throughout the budget process.