Tag: investment

Improving cardiac arrest survival rates

Funding to strengthen emergency response and tackle health inequalities

At least a thousand additional defibrillators and targeted support will be rolled out to improve cardiac arrest survival rates in communities with the poorest outcomes.

First Minister John Swinney announced a £2.5 million investment to improve community capacity to respond to cardiac arrests through the purchase of 1,000 – 1,250 additional defibrillators over three years.

The funding will also support:

  • new Cardiac Arrest Rescue (CARe) Zones to strengthen the community response to cardiac arrests, such as increased CPR training in schools. Areas facing the greatest inequalities will be prioritised.
  • creation of first responder networks that can respond to emergencies quickly in remote areas
  • promotion and increased uptake of the GoodSAM app, supported by the Scottish Ambulance Service, which alerts registered users to nearby cardiac arrests so they can provide first response.

Around 3,700 people experience a cardiac arrest outside hospital every year and defibrillators can help restart the heart before emergency services arrive. The additional defibrillators will be placed in areas where data shows they are most needed.

The First Minister met Scottish Ambulance Service staff and cardiac arrest survivor John Sinclair, who received CPR from a responder using the GoodSAM app.

Mr Swinney said: “Surviving a cardiac arrest often depends on what happens in the minutes before an ambulance arrives.

“That is why we are investing £2.5 million to deliver more defibrillators into communities, strengthen local response networks and ensure more people have the skills and confidence to act.

“Survival rates following out-of-hospital cardiac arrest have increased since 2015 thanks to the work of Save a Life partners in training more than one million people in CPR skills and improving defibrillation rates. We can and must, however, do more – and this investment will deliver targeted support in the areas that need it most.

“We will work towards ensuring there is a defibrillator within reach of every incident, using evidence to identify the best locations and modes of delivery. We are determined to build a Scotland where everyone, regardless of where they live, has the best possible chance of surviving a cardiac arrest and can live healthier, longer lives.”

Chair of Save a Life for Scotland Dr Gareth Clegg said: “This £2.5 million investment is a transformative step for communities across Scotland.

“By expanding access to defibrillators in the places they are most needed, we are giving many more people the chance to survive cardiac arrest and return home to their families.

“This funding will allow the University of Edinburgh to work in close partnership with the Scottish Ambulance Service, councils, emergency services, schools and third-sector organisations to ensure defibrillators are not only more numerous, but more equitably and strategically deployed in communities that are ready to use them.”

Save a Life for Scotland is funded by the Scottish Government, Police Scotland, St John Scotland, Scottish Ambulance Service, Scottish Fire and Rescue Service.

Head Teacher Leadership Academies

Joint funding to help next generation flourish

Hundreds of school leaders will benefit from extra training opportunities to further develop their leadership skills, helping to improve job satisfaction and bring benefits to the schools where they work.

The Scottish Government is contributing £400,000 to the Head Teacher Leadership Academy (HTLA), run by Columba 1400, with the Hunter Foundation matching this with an additional £400,000.

The total investment will enable up to 280 school leaders to strengthen their own development and enhance outcomes for pupils, staff and communities. The HTLA focuses on how school heads see themselves as social leaders.

Education Secretary Jenny Gilruth met with head teachers and deputy head teachers who have taken part in the HTLA during a visit to Royal High School in Barnton, where she formerly taught.

Ms Gilruth said: “As a former teacher, I have seen first-hand the pivotal role that head teachers and deputy heads have at the heart of schools and across the wider community.  

“They help drive up standards in classrooms, and this has resulted in clear improvements in attainment nationally and better futures for children and young people. They also provide invaluable support to teachers and staff in their schools, improving the working environment and ensuring everyone feels valued and able to be at their best in the classroom.

“The Head Teacher Leadership Academies are a proven success and I know that participation will ensure heads and deputy heads will get the time and support to reflect on their values and strengthen leadership, enabling them to create lasting change in their schools and communities.

“This investment is part of the Scottish Government’s wider support for the teaching profession, which also includes the recently-launched ‘Teaching Makes People’ recruitment campaign.”

Sir Tom Hunter said: “School leaders are the secret sauce to Scotland’s future, enabling the next generation to flourish and that’s precisely why we should invest in their values based leadership.

“The results are phenomenal and that’s why I’d like to see every head and deputy head teacher in Scotland go through the Columba 1400 Head Teacher Leadership Academies.”

Marie Clare Tully, Chief Executive of Columba 1400, said: “This investment allows us to reach even more Head Teachers and Deputy Head Teachers across Scotland.

“It is a privilege to be alongside school leaders as they pause, reflect and reconnect with their values. We see each and every day how this experience contributes to creating the conditions for cultural change through values-based leadership. 

“We are grateful to the Scottish Government for their re-investment and to The Hunter Foundation for their continued support and their belief in what is possible.”

Columba 1400 is a Scottish charity founded in 1997 and opened in 2000, dedicated to helping young people, especially those from tough realities, and the key adults in their lives discover their leadership potential through values-based leadership academies.

The Head Teachers’ Leadership Academy equips senior professionals in education with the confidence, resilience, and skills they need to create lasting change in their school and communities. 

Boost for towns in southern Scotland

£20 million investment to create jobs and drive growth

Efforts to regenerate nine towns in the south of Scotland have taken a major step forward with the publication of proposals developed by volunteer-led teams.

Town teams are now refining their ideas and preparing business cases ahead of final funding decisions as part of a £20 million Scottish Government investment. Proposals under consideration range from a promenade and indoor family attractions in Stranraer to a town centre regeneration project providing social housing and retail space in Galashiels.

On a visit to Galashiels town centre ahead of the Convention of the South of Scotland, Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes toured MacArts, a music and arts venue being considered for funding. She said: “These proposals are an important step forward for towns across the south of Scotland.

“Local volunteers have worked hard to develop these plans and this £20 million investment aims to create hundreds of jobs, attract thousands of visitors and generate tens of millions of pounds for the Borderlands economy.

“Galashiels’ revitalisation over the past decade demonstrates the benefits of giving communities the tools and resources to shape their own future. In addition to this, as part of our draft Budget for 2026-27 we have allocated £47 million towards community-led regeneration across Scotland.”

Laurence Reid, Director of MacArts, said: “It’s exciting to see so much ambition for Galashiels and towns across the south of Scotland, building on the work of the Town Teams and local people as well as the success of the Borders Railway and the Great Tapestry of Scotland Museum.

“This potential funding could be the catalyst for future investment, helping secure the future of a vibrant world-class cultural hub in the Scottish Borders.”

M Core invest almost £5m in the regeneration of The Centre, Livingston

RANKED THE MOST ATTRACTIVE SHOPPING CENTRE IN SCOTLAND

M Core, owners of The Centre, Livingston invests almost £5m on the regeneration of the shopping centre, which includes launching a new leisure hub later this year and a new sustainability programme which includes reusing pallets for planters and bug hotels.

Since acquiring The Centre, Livingston less than two years ago, M Core has delivered a comprehensive ‘repositioning’ of the shopping centre, which is one of Scotland’s largest retail destinations, spanning 1m sq. ft. and attracting 15.4m visitors a year.

The regeneration programme has focused on strengthening its retail, leisure and social offer while ensuring long-term sustainability for the local community.

In 2025 the shopping centre welcomed various new brands, including Wingstop, a 90-seater Starbucks, Sostrene Grene, MINISO and Flying Tiger, with more new openings in the pipeline this year and expansions, including JD Sports, which will be tripling in size and launching in the spring.

Sustainability has been central to the regeneration programme which includes replacing a section of the roof using a 100% recyclable membrane and improved recycling systems, which have all contributed to lower consumption and reduced carbon emissions. 

Further improvements are underway with the phased replacement of the Building Management System which will monitor and control all lights, heating and cooling systems more effectively to help reduce its carbon footprint. Delivery pallets have also been recycled to build planters and bug hotels.

In recognition of the significant transformation at The Centre, Livingston, the company, which is one of Europe’s leading property collectives, has been named a finalist in the Regeneration Project of the Year category at the 13th Scottish Property Awards, which takes place in Glasgow next month.

M Core has also been announced as the leading Investment Manager in Scotland in the Going Shopping 2026 report by Trevor Wood Associates, with The Centre, Livingston ranked the most attractive shopping centre in Scotland.

Simon Eatough, Director at LCP, part of M Core and Asset Manager to The Centre, Livingston said: “Our regeneration programme is well under way at The Centre, Livingston with even more exciting plans afoot.

“Being recognised for our efforts to revitalise the shopping centre is a great achievement for everyone who has been involved in the regeneration programme.

“Our work at The Centre, Livingston is grounded in long-term investment, active management and close collaboration with our partners and community. 

“We’re very proud of the progress achieved so far and remain committed to ensuring The Centre, Livingston continues to thrive as a retail, dining and leisure destination for West Lothian and beyond.”

Tracy Gilbert welcomes £150m investment in Scottish Floating Wind 

“Major Vote of Confidence in UK Clean Energy Leadership”

Tracy Gilbert, MP for Edinburgh North and Leith and Chair of the Offshore Wind All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG), has welcomed the announcement of a £150 million public investment package into the Pentland Floating Offshore Wind Farm, a project set to support more than 1,000 jobs and accelerate the UK’s position as a global leader in floating wind.

The investment, jointly backed by GB Energy, the National Wealth Fund, and the Scottish National Investment Bank, marks one of the most significant early-stage commitments to floating offshore wind in the UK to date.

Tracy Gilbert MP said: “This £150 million investment is a major vote of confidence in Scotland’s floating offshore wind ambitions and in the UK’s ability to lead the world in this technology.

“The Pentland project demonstrates what can be achieved when GB Energy and our public finance institutions collaborate to support innovation, job creation, and long-term economic growth.

“As Chair of the Offshore Wind APPG, I’ll continue pushing for the infrastructure investment needed to unlock more projects like this, because the benefits for Scotland’s communities, workers, and supply chain are clear.”

Bridges, Not Boundaries

Neil Lal highlights the strategic value of trade and investment Between Scotland and India

In a statement releasedyesterday, Neil Lal, Chairman and President of The Indian Council of Scotland and United Kingdom, called for an ambitious deepening of trade and investment between Scotland and India, emphasising the clear economic and strategic benefits that such a partnership brings to both nations.

“As India continues its rise as a global economic powerhouse, Scotland must seize this moment to align our strengths, invest in shared opportunity, and build a modern partnership rooted in innovation, sustainability, and mutual prosperity,” said Mr. Lal.

India, now the fifth-largest economy in the world with a GDP exceeding $3.7 trillion, is projected to become the third-largest by 2030. In the year to March 2024, UK–India trade reached £36.3 billion, growing by over £10 billion in just three years. Scotland’s exports to India—currently valued at over £725 million—span sectors including renewable energy, education, technology, and food and drink, all primed for growth.

Key facts highlighted in Mr. Lal’s statement include:

Scotch whisky exports to India rose by 60% in 2023, with India becoming the largest market by volume.

Over 55,000 Indian students are currently studying in the UK, with increasing enrolment in Scottish universities.

India’s digital economy is projected to hit $1 trillion by 2030, offering partnership potential in fintech and AI.

Scotland’s world-leading renewable energy sector can support India’s target of 500 GW of non-fossil fuel capacity by 2030.

Mr. Lal also underscored the role of the Indian diaspora in Scotland, which contributes over £1 billion annually to the Scottish economy, describing them as “a vital bridge between our communities and our commercial futures.”

With the UK and India of a recent Free Trade Agreement (FTA), the opportunities for Scottish exporters and Indian investors alike are substantial. Mr. Lal called for both governments, business leaders, and civil society to “work together to ensure Scotland is at the heart of this historic agreement.”

Through his leadership of The Indian Council of Scotland and United Kingdom, Mr. Lal is actively engaging with public and private sector stakeholders to strengthen this bilateral relationship through business forums, trade missions, academic partnerships, and community-led diplomacy.

“The future of international trade is not about borders—it’s about building bridges. Let Scotland and India build one stronger than ever before,” Mr. Lal concluded.

Scotland gets £66 million transport boost as part of record Spending Review settlement

The Chancellor visited Paisley yesterday to announce £66 million of investment in Scottish transport

  • Chancellor Rachel Reeves announces millions for West of Scotland transport links and extra funding to explore upgrades to the A75.
  • Investment follows the Industrial Strategy which boosted Advanced Manufacturing clusters and the Spending Review which delivered a record settlement for Scottish public services.
  • Funding is part of Government’s plan to invest in the economy right across the UK.

The investment will help workers access jobs in high growth sectors supercharged by the government’s modern Industrial Strategy and Spending Review.

The UK Government is boosting investment across Scotland through two investment zones and multiple industrial sites from the North East of Scotland Investment Zone to the Prestwick Aerospace Cluster.

This £66 million will work alongside these investments to fund three Scottish transport schemes and create direct links between towns and economic hubs in the West of Scotland.  

Renfrewshire Council will get £38.7 million to link Paisley town centre with Advanced Manufacturing Innovation District Scotland (AMIDS) and Glasgow Airport. New walking, cycling, bus and car links will be built so local people can benefit from the growth of high value manufacturing in Renfrewshire. 

Another £23.7 million will be given to North Ayrshire Council to upgrade the B714. This upgrade will see a much faster route between the Three Towns of Ardrossan, Saltcoats and Stevenston to Glasgow, and cut traffic in Kilwinning. The Chancellor prioritised finding this cash during last month’s Spending Review, which also saw billions invested in Scotland’s growth sectors.

Chancellor of the Exchequer, Rachel Reeves said: “We’re pledging billions to back Scottish jobs, industry and renewal – that’s why we’re investing in the major transport projects, including exploring upgrades to the A75, that local communities have been calling for.

“Whilst previous governments oversaw over a decade of decline of our transport infrastructure, we’re investing in Britain’s renewal. This £66 million investment is exactly what our Plan for Change is about, investing in what matters to you in the places that you live.”

Meanwhile, the Scottish Government will be given an extra £3.45 million to suggest upgrades to the A75 in Dumfries and Galloway.  The key road, which links the Cairnryan port serving Northern Ireland with the rest of the UK, is vital to UK connectivity and growing the economy.

This new money comes on top of the up-to-£5 million announced at the Chancellor’s Autumn Budget 2024. 

As part of a wider investment strategy in Scotland the Spending Review saw around £200 million committed to the Acorn Carbon Capture, Usage and Storage project, subject to business cases, and £8.3 billion confirmed for Great British Energy, strengthening Scotland’s position as the home of the UK’s clean energy revolution. 

A multi-decade, multi-billion project to secure jobs at HM Naval Base Clyde was also kickstarted with an initial £250 million investment.

Whilst in Scotland the Chancellor will also visit the Edinburgh Supercomputer, which will receive up to £750 million in UK Government funding, later on Friday. The funding, announced during the Chancellor’s Spending Review will ensure that Scotland becomes home to the UK’s most powerful Supercomputer, supporting Scottish research and development, and industry.

The Spending Review delivered a record settlement for Scottish public services, with the Scottish Government’s largest settlement, in real terms, since devolution in 1998. Scottish Government’s settlement is growing in real terms between 2024-25 and 2028-29. This translates into an average of £50.9 billion per year between 2026-27 and 2028-29.

Scotland Secretary, Ian Murray, said: “This £66 million investment in Scotland’s roads demonstrates the UK Government’s commitment to improving infrastructure and driving economic growth in all parts of the UK as part of our Plan for Change.

“This investment will make a real difference to people’s daily lives and to the local economies of the South of Scotland, Ayrshire and Renfrewshire.

“New road links will connect Paisley town centre with Glasgow Airport and the new advanced manufacturing innovation district, to boost high value manufacturing in Renfrewshire.

“The upgrade to the B714 will speed up journeys between Glasgow and the three towns of Ardrossan, Saltcoats and Stevenston, as well as cutting traffic in Kilwinning. And the A75 is strategically important just not within but beyond Scotland. Its upgrading is long overdue. I am pleased that the UK Government has stepped up to fund the delivery of the A75 feasibility study in full.

“This investment is yet another example of how the UK Government is building the foundations for a stronger, more prosperous future that benefits communities right across Scotland.

  • As strategic roads in Scotland are the Scottish Government’s responsibility, any future upgrades to the A75 will be funded from the Scottish Government’s block grant. 
  • The Ayrshire and Renfrewshire projects are part of a £378m UK-wide Levelling Up Fund cash boost, upgrading transport links across Britain, which were also announced yesterday.
  • Building work on the LUF projects will be able to start as final business cases are given the green light by the Department for Transport.

Marine Fund Scotland 2025-26 launched

Delivering Scotland’s ‘Blue Economy Vision’

Applications are now open for the fifth year of the Marine Fund Scotland.

The fund will make £14 million available in 2025-26 to help deliver Scotland’s Blue Economy Vision, transform the way the marine environment is used and how Scotland’s ‘blue’ resources are managed.

Eligible individuals, businesses, and organisations can apply for funding for new projects that will contribute to an innovative and sustainable marine economy, support coastal communities, and help Scotland reach net zero emissions.

Last year, a total of 67 projects received funding, with grants ranging from under £1,000 up to £1.6 million. These projects included the modernising of seafood processing facilities to reduce energy consumption and improve efficiency; the first Scottish facility to recycle mixed material from fishing and aquaculture nets and marine litter prevention; support for young fishers purchasing their first fishing vessel; and marine research and innovation to protect iconic wild salmon.

Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs, Land Reform and Islands Mairi Gougeon said: “Since 2021 the Marine Fund Scotland has awarded more than £55 million in grants to 330 projects, facilitating a total of £121 million of investment and supporting jobs and communities right around our coastline and throughout our islands. 

“I urge all those with ideas for projects to help marine industries to evolve and flourish to apply.

“We are backing Scotland’s marine economy, which is crucial to the economic, social and cultural fabric of our rural, coastal and island communities. They now need the UK government to do the same and to provide Scotland with its fair share of funding.

“The UK Government recently announced a new £360 million Fishing and Coastal Growth Fund, and I am calling for a fair share of the budget allocation to be devolved. This multi-year funding will be key to delivering benefits for the marine economy and environment, as well as supporting coastal communities, for years to come. 

“If this newly announced funding isn’t devolved to Scotland, it will duplicate the current funding programmes, causing stakeholder confusion and dilution of intended benefits.” 

Donna Fordyce Chief Executive of Seafood Scotland said: “The Marine Fund Scotland funding has been vital to not only retain existing markets for our premium Scottish seafood but to develop new markets to achieve the highest value for the industry.

“Funding also allowed Seafood Scotland to further develop the Seafood in Schools programme launching the Scottish Seafood Ambassador scheme and Teach the Teacher curriculum-linked educational resources.

“The aim is to increase consumption of our delicious seafood and highlight the sector as a career of choice; this is very relevant given the labour shortage the industry is currently facing.”

Blue Economy Vision

Information on eligibility and how to apply can be found at: 

https://www.gov.scot/isbn/9781836916017

Details of all projects that have received grant funding from the Marine Fund Scotland to date can be found here: 

https://www.gov.scot/policies/marine-and-fisheries-grants/grants-awarded/

Spending Review: Biggest boost to social and affordable housing investment in a generation

The Chancellor is today [WEDNESDAY 11 JUNE] expected to announce the biggest boost to social and affordable housing investment in a generation. 

As part of the Spending Review Rachel Reeves is expected to confirm £39 billion for a new Affordable Homes Programme over 10 years.  This will turbocharge the Plan for Change commitment to get Britain building and deliver the 1.5 million homes this country needs. 

This investment will be significantly higher than what the previous government spent on affordable housing. The last five year 2021-26 programme was only £11.5bn, averaging £2.3bn per year. 

This means the government will be spending almost double this on affordable housing investment by the end of this Parliament (£4bn in 2029/30). 

This is the first time in living memory that the government has set out a programme that provides ten years of certainty. This provides the sector with the confidence to deliver for now and the future, making it easier for those on low incomes to access a safe, high-quality home. 

This comes on top of a ten-year social rent settlement that will set a rent policy for social housing from 2026 that enables providers to borrow and invest in new and existing homes, while also protecting social housing tenants. This ten year settlement will see rents rise at CPI+1% from 2026, alongside a consultation to follow shortly on how to implement social rent convergence.  

It also builds on ambitious reforms to the planning system that the Government has already announced, which were judged by the OBR to add £6.8bn to the economy and boost housebuilding to its highest level in 40 years by 2029/30. 

A government spokesperson said:  “The Government is investing in Britain’s renewal, so working people are better off.

“We’re turning the tide against the unacceptable housing crisis in this country with the biggest boost to social and affordable housing investment in a generation, delivering on our Plan for Change commitment to get Britain building.” 

RACHEL REEVES: “WE ARE INVESTING IN BRITAIN’S RENEWAL”

  • Chancellor vows to ‘invest in Britain’s renewal’ as she lays out the Government’s Spending Review.
  • Reeves to announce the Government’s plans to invest in Britain’s security, health and economy to make working people better off. 
  • Billions of pounds of new capital investment will boost British business and create British jobs to kickstart economic growth and drive up living standards in line with the Plan for Change, including the biggest ever local transport investment in England’s city regions outside of London and the South East.

The Chancellor will today publish the Government’s Spending Review to ‘invest in Britain’s renewal’ as she vows to make all parts of the country better off.

Rachel Reeves will announce plans for billions of pounds of investment in projects across the United Kingdom that will create jobs, prosperity, and put more money in people’s pockets.

The Chancellor will say detailed spending plans come after the Autumn Budget and Spring Statement fixed the foundations of our economy to deliver stability, outlining: “The choices in this Spending Review are possible only because of the stability I have introduced and the choices I took in the Autumn.”

The Chancellor will confirm the Government’s commitment to delivering for every part of Britain, by announcing reforms that will guarantee towns and cities outside London and the South East can benefit from new investment. This will include the biggest ever local transport infrastructure investment in England’s city regions, which will truly connect people to opportunities that improve their quality of life, a key objective of the Government’s Plan for Change.

Ms Reeves is also expected to spell out the Government’s plans to invest in the British people’s priorities of security, health and economy.

The Spending Review comes on the back of the Government’s announcements in recent days to invest £15.6 billion in local transport projects, £86 billion to boost science and technology, and create ten thousand jobs by building Sizewell C Nuclear Power Station – which will drive forward Britain’s status as a clean energy superpower, as outlined in the Plan for Change. 

Speaking in the House of Commons, the Chancellor is expected to say: “This Government is renewing Britain. But I know too many people in too many parts of the country are yet to feel it. 

“This Government’s task – my task – and the purpose of this Spending Review – is to change that. To ensure that renewal is felt in people’s everyday lives, their jobs, their communities. 

“So that people can see a doctor when when they need one. Know that they are secure at work. And feel safe on their local high street.

“The priorities in this Spending Review are the priorities of working people. To invest in our country’s security, health and economy so working people all over our country are better off. That is what this Spending Review will deliver.”

She will add: “I have made my choices. In place of chaos, I choose stability. In place of decline, I choose investment. In place of retreat, I choose national renewal. 

“These are my choices. These are this Government’s choices. These are the British people’s choices.”

Swinney: Time to capitalise on a potential £100 billion offshore wind market

Showcasing Scotland’s investment proposition

The Scottish Government will host a major investment event in Edinburgh tomorrow (Monday 17th March) aimed at unlocking new private investment in the country’s rapidly growing offshore wind industry.

More than 100 stakeholders, including investors and developers, will attend the Global Offshore Wind Investment Forum, to be hosted by First Minister John Swinney.

The Forum is taking part following a Green Industrial Strategy commitment to raise the profile of Scotland as a destination for capital investment. The Strategy identified offshore wind as one of five priority areas for Scottish Government resources and investment.

The Scottish Government is investing up to £500 million over five years in the Scottish offshore wind supply chain to leverage an expected £1.5 billion of private investment.

Speaking ahead of the Forum, the First Minister said: “The growth and success of Scotland’s offshore wind industry is not only an ambition of my Government, it is a priority for me personally. Delivering on its promise will not only deliver our global climate obligations, but create significant new jobs and economic opportunities.

“History has shown that success stems from choosing the right time and place to capitalise on the next innovation of the era. We have already gained a significant first-mover advantage and laid the groundwork for success.

“Now we are poised to move to the next stage of development and growth and reap the rewards of what we estimate could be a £100 billion market.

“The Global Offshore Wind investment Forum is about “Team Scotland” showcasing the offer that Scotland’s offshore wind sector offers to global investors. We have a compelling story and a clear message that Scotland is open for business.”

Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes, Acting Cabinet Secretary for Net Zero and Energy Gillian Martin and Employment and Investment Minister Tom Arthur will also take part in the Forum, which has been delivered by Scottish Enterprise.

The UK Government will be represented and Highlands and Islands Enterprise, South of Scotland Enterprise and Scottish National Investment Bank will also take part in the event.