Tag: Douglas Alexander MP

UK Government launches new £140 million Scottish Local Growth Fund

Scotland Office launches new UK Government £140m Scottish Local Growth Fund,  where decisions will be made locally – not from far away.

The UK Government believes Scottish regions should play a greater role in delivering economic prosperity, & is backing them to do that.

The five regions are:

EDINBURGH & SOUTH EAST – £37.8 million

GLASGOW CITY REGION – £60.9 million

TAY CITIES REGION – £19.5 million

AYRSHIRE – £11.8 million

FORTH VALLEY REGION – £9.8 million

Launched today [Thursday 8 January] by Scottish Secretary Douglas Alexander, the Local Growth Fund will help drive economic prosperity across Scotland.

The five regions’ allocations from the programme over the next three years (26/27 – 28/29) are:

  • Glasgow City: £60.9 million 
  • Edinburgh & South East: £37.8 million
  • Tay Cities: £19.5 million
  • Ayrshire: £11.8 million
  • Forth Valley Region: £9.8 million

The programme will fund regional projects which will drive economic growth.

That might mean projects like infrastructure investment, business support, or skills development – projects which will make a real difference in terms of skilled jobs and people’s prosperity.

Secretary of State for Scotland Douglas Alexander said: “The UK Government is today backing regional economies across Scotland with £140 million of new investment. 

“This new investment will allow local leaders to decide how best to use the funding, which could include projects to improve infrastructure, business support or skills development. The UK Government will now work with local partners to develop investment plans tailored to each region.

“By investing in local areas, reducing child poverty, and bringing down inflation, the UK Government is focused on delivering material change to people across the country – boosting living standards and improving public services.”

Further information on the Local Growth Fund

The LGF programme is subject to full business case clearance by MHCLG and HMT, and further details on the delivery of the LGF, including investment themes will be set out later in Q1 of 2026.

The new Scottish LGF will provide targeted funding to boost economic growth and improve living standards by investing in the regions that contain the areas with the lowest Real Disposable Household Income (RDHI) per capita. 

Funding has been allocated at regional level, via Regional Economic Partnerships (REPs), to enable strategic decision-making and maximum growth impact. Allocations have been allocated across the five eligible REPs in proportion to their population.

REPs are collaborations between local government, the private sector, education and skills providers, enterprise and skills agencies and the third sector to deliver economic prosperity across Scotland’s regions. 

The detailed allocation methodology for the LGF is available at:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/local-growth-fund-scotland-allocation-methodology

Made in Scotland Roadshow: Scottish businesses ‘sell to the world’

£42 million of export finance deals brokered with Scottish businesses over the last six months

  • £42 million of export finance deals brokered with Scottish businesses since July
  • Boosting Scottish exports plays a vital role in growing the economy, a key part of the Plan for Change
  • Companies from a range of sectors including food and drink and offshore wind are benefitting from credit guarantees and insurance

Businesses behind Scotland’s most emblematic exports have been able to grow thanks to £42 million in UK Export Finance (UKEF) deals brokered so far since the summer.

Enabling companies such as Ferguson Whisky and manufacturer of fire and rescue vehicles Emergency One, which the government of Iraq has contracted to replace some of its fleet of fire engines, to expand to markets abroad helps to grow the economy and create jobs, delivering on the Plan for Change. 

The latest Scottish business to benefit from support is Aberdeen-based First Tech – one of many offshore services firms in Scotland driving the energy transition and making the country a world-renowned centre of engineering skills. Scotland’s marine economy generated around £4.9 billion in 2022.

UKEF is renewing a £12 million support package delivered with Virgin Money for First Tech subsidiary First Subsea, allowing it to continue its growth into the offshore wind market and provide UK-made products like cable protections systems, bend restrictor products or heavy lift connectors, across the globe.

Minister Douglas Alexander will join UKEF representatives today at the ‘Made in Scotland’ roadshow, where he will encourage Scottish businesses to take advantage of the opportunities to sell abroad and hear first-hand about the support UKEF has provided.

Minister for Trade Policy Douglas Alexander said: “Growing the economy is a key part of this UK Government’s Plan for Change, and we recognise the importance of boosting Scottish exports in achieving this.

“We’re working hard to ensure that Scottish businesses have the support they need to sell to the world and grow, and the help that UK Export Finance provides is a crucial part of this.”

Martin Suttie, First Tech Ltd Chairman said: “First Tech is very proud to be at the forefront of the energy transition story with our continued expertise in oil and gas being a launchpad to make meaningful developments in both the fixed and floating offshore wind market through First Subsea and also First Marine Solutions. 

“Floating wind technology enables almost every country in the world to integrate floating wind renewable energy into their energy mix. 

“It is therefore vitally important that the industry continues to develop and prove large scale commercial developments if we are going to genuinely change the energy mix around the globe. The First Tech Group is excited to play an important part in making this transition happen.”

UKEF is the UK government’s export credit agency, providing credit guarantees and insurance helping smaller businesses to overcome financial barriers to exporting.  

Export credit is an integral part of the government trade support being promoted at the first ‘Made in Scotland, Sold to the World’ trade fair of 2025. 

In 2021, Scotland’s exports were worth £50.1 billion, of which the majority – £33.5 billion – were goods.

UKEF’s specialised trade finance offer sits alongside other sources of support from public organisations like the Export Support Service, UK Export Academy and British Business Bank, which can offer more general access to finance.