Our remit

Scottish Enterprise is Scotland's main economic development agency and we aim to deliver a significant, lasting effect on the Scottish economy. Our role is to help identify and exploit the best opportunities for economic growth.

That means opportunities to support Scottish companies to compete within the global marketplace; to help build globally competitive sectors; to attract new investment to Scotland; and to help create a world class business environment. Read our business plan here.

Measures included in our Business Plan for 2012-15:

• Increase the international sales of supported businesses by up to £1.7 billion.
• Work with 400 companies to increase innovation by developing new products or processes, that will generate additional turnover of up to £100 million
• Support up to 500 companies to significantly increase their efficiency, generating productivity benefits of around £75 million
• Secure up to £75 million of new business investment in research and development through its R&D and Smart grants
• Generate up to £250 million of capital investment by companies through our Regional Selective Assistance (RSA) grants
• Help up to 400 companies to improve their “financial readiness” by helping them to present an attractive investment proposition to potential funders
• Secure up to £75 million of private sector capital through the Scottish Investment Bank’s equity funds.

Key highlights in 2011/2012

In June 2012 Scottish Enterprise published a series of annual results which highlighted the impact its company support and industry growth activities had on Scotland's economy in 2011/12. Highlights included:

• Scottish Development International’s (SDI) international trade and investment activity created or safeguarded more than 7,000 Scottish jobs and helped more than 1,000 high potential Scottish companies target new global markets last year.
• SDI also worked with 190 companies on significant new international projects with a projected growth of £733million in sales over the next three years – almost double the £405million that was achieved through the same activity last year.
• SE has helped ambitious Scottish companies commit to investing over £59 million in new infrastructure and capital equipment, such as new machinery, which is expected to help create 882 new jobs and safeguard 360.
• Scottish Enterprise supported 165 Scottish manufacturers undertake 207 business efficiency projects over the past twelve months, generating £20 million productivity benefits for Scotland’s economy.
• 1600 companies that Scottish Enterprise worked generated a record combined turnover growth of £1.2 billion in the last year.
  
  

How we work

Scottish Enterprise works in partnership with other public sector bodies to meet the objectives of the Scottish Government’s economic strategy and deliver long-term sustainable growth.

The Scottish Enterprise board, including the chairman, is appointed by Scottish ministers for a fixed period. The board is mainly made up of experienced business people and continues to guide our activities.

Scottish Enterprise has established regional and industry advisory boards to ensure Scotland’s business community can play its part in influencing what Scottish Enterprise delivers.

Scottish Enterprise also has an International Advisory Board (IAB), which consists of senior business figures who are Scots or people with a strong affinity to Scotland. The IAB contributes international business advice and market development perspective to Scotland’s economic development drive.

Scottish Enterprise operates as a single organisation from the North East to the Borders. The North and West of Scotland, including all the islands, is the responsibility of the Highland and Islands Enterprise.

Through Scottish Development International (SDI), SE also has offices in the USA, Canada, Australia, Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, the United Arab Emirates, India, Japan, Korea, Singapore, Taiwan and China.

Lena Wilson took up the role of chief executive on 4 Nov 2009. Read biographies of our management team and board members on the Scottish Enterprise website or download photography of our key people.