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1. STRATEGIC CONTEXT
"It is time to build on the underlying economic logic
that links the environment, resource productivity,
innovation and competitiveness."
Michael E Porter and Claas van der Linde1
A Partnership for a Better Scotland2 sets economic growth as the Scottish Executive's top
priority and puts sustainable development at the heart of
everything we do. Our commitment to sustainable economic
development is unequivocal, and this strategy sets out a
robust framework within which we can deliver strong growth
levels and associated employment while also reducing our
impact on the environment around us.
A Partnership for a Better
Scotland "Growing the economy is our top
priority." "
We will make this growth
sustainable, in particular taking advantage
of Scotland's resources to grow our
renewable energy industries." "We will work with business to
develop and implement a green jobs
strategy." "We will create significant
opportunities for new products manufactured
from waste." |
The Framework for Economic Development in Scotland (
FEDS)
3 sets out our vision of a Scotland where the quality of
life of our people is raised through increasing the
economic opportunities for all on a socially and
environmentally sustainable basis.
FEDS' principal objectives include economic
growth and sustainable development. It highlights the need
to improve productivity in order to achieve these and other
objectives.
A Smart, Successful Scotland4 focuses on the priorities within
FEDS which relate to enterprise and business
growth. It is our enterprise strategy for Scotland, and
highlights the need for sustainability to be at the heart
of enterprise and competitiveness. It also provides
strategic guidance to the Enterprise Networks - Scottish
Enterprise and Highlands & Islands Enterprise - our
main economic development bodies.
This green jobs strategy complements and adds to
A Smart, Successful Scotland (
SSS),
and will have a similar function in that it will be our
green enterprise strategy for Scotland and provide
strategic guidance for the Enterprise Networks. It supports
our commitment to sustainable development in
SSS and also takes into account the other crosscutting
themes in
SSS, namely closing the gap in economic opportunities
5 and promoting equal opportunities, enabling all
communities to benefit. We intend the green jobs strategy
to be a strategy for the medium to long term and will
ensure it remains relevant and reflects changing
circumstances.
The
UK Sustainable
Development Framework
6 sets out the common sustainable development vision and
priorities of the
UK Government and
the devolved administrations. It places a priority on
efforts to secure more sustainable production and
consumption by acting more efficiently and reducing our
consumption of non renewable resources.
Sustainable
products, sustainable practice
Highland Electroplaters is part of the Highland
Metals Group, based in Dyce. We specialise in finishing
products to provide corrosion protection and surface
enhancements. These processes extend the life of a
range of products used by both onshore and offshore
companies, thus reducing their use of raw
materials.
As a Group we are committed to continuously
improving our energy use and have developed an energy
management system, which includes half hourly
monitoring of our electricity consumption. We have
reduced our consumption significantly by improved
housekeeping, in conjunction with improved process
management and control systems. In each of the last two
years we have achieved a 27 per cent increase in
measured output without increasing energy use,
improving both our productivity levels and
profitability.
David Dawson, Managing Director,
Highland Electroplaters, Dyce
There is clear compatibility between the
UK Sustainable
Development Framework and
A Smart, Successful Scotland. Improved resource
efficiency can make businesses more productive. In
addition, the commitment to sustainability presents
business opportunities that can contribute to growth. That
is what we mean by a green economy and green jobs.
This strategy therefore focuses on two broad areas of
activity where Scotland can build on its strengths:
resource
efficiency
and
new business
opportunities.
In delivering this strategy we intend to adapt existing
budgets to reflect the increased emphasis on sustainable
economic development. By maximising the effectiveness of
existing spend we expect to be able to take forward most of
the work identified in this strategy within existing
resources. In addition, we have set up a new green jobs
fund totalling £22 million over three years.
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