Scottish Council for Development and Industry
Encyclopedia
The Scottish Council for Development and Industry (SCDI), founded in 1931, is a non-governmental, membership organisation which aims to strengthen Scotland
’s economic competitiveness through influencing government and key stakeholders to create sustainable economic prosperity for Scotland.
SCDI has about 1,200 members across Scotland’s manufacturing
and service sectors, universities and colleges
, local government and enterprise networks, trade association
s and professional bodies, arts organisation
s, churches
and trade unions.
The Scottish Council for Development and Industry is an independent and inclusive economic
development network which seeks to influence and inspire Government and key stakeholders
with our ambitious vision to create sustainable economic growth for Scotland.
SCDI Values
, Chairman and Chief Executive
SCDI is led by the following committees:
SCDI also has three regional committees:
SCDI policy is directed by its membership of leaders from across civic Scotland.
for Scotland.
SCDI's primary policy-making body is the Executive. This committee consists of representatives from across the constituencies that make up SCDI's membership.
The views of SCDI members are reflected in the development of SCDI's policy positions. Since its policy positions represent the consensus view of SCDI's diverse Scotland-wide membership, SCDI's policy output carries substantial weight. As a result, SCDI is well regarded contributor to political debate in Scotland and beyond.
Over a number of years, SCDI's policy priorities have focused on six key areas:
SCDI produces approximately 30-40 policy papers each year. These include responses to government consultations, detailed analyses of government policies, proactive agenda-setting and thought leadership
.
in Westminster and to feed into the development of political party manifesto
s in the run-up to the 2011 Scottish Parliamentary election.
The Blueprint presented a long-term vision for Scotland's future success under three headings:
A table of short term (5 year) and long term (10 year) priorities was presented in the Executive Summary
to the Blueprint for Scotland:
s. Almost 370 trade missions have been organised since then, to more than 50 markets worldwide involving over 6,000 participants.
SCDI trade visits support companies to visit an export market, focussing on growth markets for Scottish exports across the World.
A large number of organisations join trade visits, ranging from sole traders, SMEs, large organisations, universities and colleges.
After-visit analysis of the 2010 Toronto
trade visit showed that the programme brought more than £1m of new orders into Scottish companies.
The leading figures involved in organising the first meeting were the Earl of Elgin
, Sir Henry Keith (former Provost of Hamilton and Unionist MP) and William Watson of Glasgow (organiser of Scottish Trades Development Association). It was attended by representatives of the Burghs and Counties, Industry, Commerce and Banking, Trade Unions and prominent individuals, who felt the common need to aid their industry and their country. It was a response to a crucial, immediate situation, and this is stressed in the Constitution
:
“It will be the duty of the Council to examine and consider impartially the industrial, commercial and economic problems with which the country is faced for the time being; to endeavour to arrive at a solution of these problems and where necessary, to obtain from Parliament such legislation as may be required to give effect to the conclusions reached by the Council”.
On 23rd July 1931, Lord Elgin, who was now President and Sir Henry Keith, Vice-Chairman of the Executive, invited Sir James Lithgow
to become Chairman of the Executive. This was a boost to the morale of the Council and to its financial situation, as in December 1931, Lithgow donated £1,800 to the funds to meet the salary of the Secretary (W C Kirkwood) for three years. It was also at this time that the Scottish Development Council undertook to rent its first office in the premises of the Institution of Engineers and Shipbuilders
, 39 Elmbank Street, Glasgow. Previous to this, meetings had been held in Lanarkshire House in Ingram Street and in the City Chambers of Glasgow
and Edinburgh.
The first sub-committees were set up in December 1931 and the topics covered shows the area over which the Development Council hoped to spread its influence. Committees on Agriculture, Rating and Taxation, Textiles, Electrical developments, Chemical industries and the Fishing industry were formed.
An Economic Committee, Chaired by Sir Steven Bilsland was formed by the Council in collaboration with the Scottish Office in the early 1930s as an economic action group to explore and promote the new regional policies of the thirties. By 1938, it already had to its credit the establishment of the trading estate at Hillington
.
, Mr Tom Johnston. The greater part of expanded wartime production requirements had been supplied by the creation of a new capacity in the South and the Midlands of England, while productive space in Scotland was increasingly devoted to storage uses. Mr Johnston set up the Council on Industry to give advice in relation to this and the other economic and industrial problems created by wartime conditions. At this time, it had no constitution, no funds and no salaried staff.
The Council’s composition consisted of four members each from the Convention of Royal Burghs, the Association of County Councils in Scotland, the Scottish Chambers of Commerce and the Scottish Trades Union Congress
General Council, while banking interests were represented by one member only. The Scottish Development Council was represented by four members and its General Manager, W C Kirkwood, acted as a Joint Secretary to the Scottish Council on Industry.
In addition to the above, the Regional Offices of the Ministry of Labour and National Service
, the Ministry of Works and Buildings, the Ministry of Aircraft Production, the Ministry of Supply
, the Admiralty
and the Factory and Storage Control attended meetings by invitation.
Some of the principal matters that engaged the attention of the Council on Industry were:
The Council also undertook investigations into Light Engineering, Plastics, Food Preservation and Fine Chemicals and appropriate firms were approached with a view to interesting them in new items to produce after the war.
The Council paid close attention to the future of Prestwick Airport, the Highlands and Islands
, the Forth Road Bridge
project and to the desire for the retention and if possible the expansion of the Admiralty Establishments in Scotland. It instigated Committees to investigate the White Fish Industry
, the Crofter Woollen Industry, Transport and the Tourist Industry, among others. Like the Development Council the Council on Industry stressed the importance of export trade, the development of the chemical and electrical industries, research facilities and a publicity and travel Bureau for Scotland in London.
It was agreed by both bodies that it would be desirable, in order to avoid confusion and the possible overlapping of functions, that there should be a single authoritative body in Scotland to which the Secretary of State could look for advice and the general public for guidance and help, on questions of industry, employment and development. The then Secretary of State, Joseph Westwood
, agreed with this and also endorsed that the reconstituted Scottish Council would be much enhanced if it could derive its revenue entirely from voluntary sources, thereby retaining freedom of action and effectiveness.
The amalgamation of these two bodies on the 3rd June 1946, under the Chairmanship of Lord Bilsland
- then Sir Steven Bilsland - had as its objectives the combination of the functions of the two original Councils. On the one hand, to continue to analyse the industrial situation, and to act in the light of that analysis so as to create more employment opportunities. On the other hand to make representations to Government on matters affecting the progress of industry in Scotland.
The subject matter of the Council’s work has always been fundamentally industrial. In particular the Council has occupied itself with matters of policy and practice relating to technology, trade development, communications and the environment within which industry operates. This policy was made clear by the work of the Scottish Council right from the beginning.
They also set up committees to deal with public relations, export trade and tourism. The latter, a continuation of one set up in 1944 by the Scottish Council on Industry, under the Chairmanship of Dr Honeyman, highlighted the opportunity for the growth of tourism in Scotland and recommended that the Secretary of State for Scotland should create a suitable organisation to promote and co-ordinate growth in that area. The result was the immediate appointment of the Scottish Tourist Board.
In 1939 there had appeared the “Industrial Map of Scotland”, whose author C A Oakley, compiled an index, accompanied by maps, which listed the 2,500 manufacturing companies then employing 50 or more people in Scotland. It was the first guide of its kind.
In 1947/48, the Scottish Council, knowing that electronic engineering capacity would be vital to the future of Scotland, was casting around for ways of establishing its presence. It worked in two ways:
Firstly they aimed to bring in, from outside of Scotland, companies which were fully equipped with technological knowledge and with market connections. In 1948, the Council embarked upon a planned campaign to attract companies from the United States. This was the first time a European country had adopted such a course, and the Council followed it up with the appointment of a committee in New York in 1949 to support the programme. Holland followed a similar course in 1952.
At this period, American industry was ready to consider overseas investment, encouraged as it was by an international dollar shortage. Results followed swiftly with the arrival of NCR
in 1947 (who doubled the size of their factory in 1952), Honeywell
in 1949, and also IBM
and Burroughs.
In this campaign, the Council’s object was not primarily to create employment. It was deliberately to fill the gaps in electronics, instrument and associated engineering in Scotland. The new plants were in the main associated with production and selling rather than with research and development, and the Council believed that a proportion would develop technological roots.
The second route to be followed was that of defence research and development, however, since, apart from Ferranti
there was no research and development capacity in Scotland, few contracts came and there was no growth of capacity. To overcome this the Scottish Electronics Group was formed. Ferranti agreed to `mother’ the group and accept defence contracts which would be undertaken by Scottish companies interested in diversifying into electronics and light engineering. The Ministry of Supply agreed to channel some contracts on this basis, and to build a new laboratory for Ferranti Ltd as the centre of the scheme - a lab was opened by the Duke of Edinburgh
in 1953.
in Bellahouston Park
, Glasgow and a further £100 from Scottish Industrial Estates Ltd to promote interest in the newly opened Hillington Industrial Estate.
The London office and Committee were dissolved at the beginning of the Second World War but re-started life with a donation of £500 from the Scottish Tourist Board in 1948.
Throughout the years, the Council shared offices with the Scottish Tourist Board, the Scottish Development Agency, the New Towns Corporation and British Caledonian Airways
.
The London Committee continues to play a role in SCDI’s work, providing regular interface and debate with London-based members, national bodies and the Westminster Parliament
.
The aim of the Clubs is to involve young people in science, technology, engineering and maths, by encouraging them to exercise their creative and innovative skills supported by appropriate local companies. In this way, young engineers and scientists develop their skills in problem-solving through working as a team. Clubs adopt a hands-on approach to projects in science; electrical, electronic, mechanical, robotics and civil engineering; and a wide range of technology applications.
Over 450 Young Engineers and Science Clubs now operate across Scotland with a membership of 6,500 girls and boys.
More than 500 school pupils showcase their project work undertaken throughout the year and participate in a series of hands-on Technology Challenges, competing to win the Best Young Engineers Club trophy.
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
’s economic competitiveness through influencing government and key stakeholders to create sustainable economic prosperity for Scotland.
SCDI has about 1,200 members across Scotland’s manufacturing
Manufacturing
Manufacturing is the use of machines, tools and labor to produce goods for use or sale. The term may refer to a range of human activity, from handicraft to high tech, but is most commonly applied to industrial production, in which raw materials are transformed into finished goods on a large scale...
and service sectors, universities and colleges
Education in Scotland
Scotland has a long history of universal provision of public education, and the Scottish education system is distinctly different from the other countries of the United Kingdom...
, local government and enterprise networks, trade association
Trade association
A trade association, also known as an industry trade group, business association or sector association, is an organization founded and funded by businesses that operate in a specific industry...
s and professional bodies, arts organisation
Scottish Arts Council
The Scottish Arts Council is a Scottish public body that distributes funding from the Scottish Government, and is the leading national organisation for the funding, development and promotion of the arts in Scotland...
s, churches
Religion in Scotland
Christianity is the largest religion in Scotland. At the 2001 census 65% of the Scottish population was Christian. The Church of Scotland, often known as The Kirk, is recognised in law as the national church of Scotland. It is not an established church and is independent of state control. However,...
and trade unions.
Mission and Values
SCDI MissionThe Scottish Council for Development and Industry is an independent and inclusive economic
development network which seeks to influence and inspire Government and key stakeholders
with our ambitious vision to create sustainable economic growth for Scotland.
SCDI Values
- Forward thinking
- Influential
- Inclusive
- Quality
- Integrity
- Financially responsible
Structure
SCDI's lead officers are the PresidentPresident
A president is a leader of an organization, company, trade union, university, or country.Etymologically, a president is one who presides, who sits in leadership...
, Chairman and Chief Executive
Chief executive officer
A chief executive officer , managing director , Executive Director for non-profit organizations, or chief executive is the highest-ranking corporate officer or administrator in charge of total management of an organization...
- Chairman: Robert Armour
- Chief Executive: Dr Lesley Sawers
SCDI is led by the following committees:
- SCDI Board - the strategic leadership for the organisation
- SCDI Executive - the lead body for SCDI policy development
SCDI also has three regional committees:
- Highlands and IslandsHighlands and IslandsThe Highlands and Islands of Scotland are broadly the Scottish Highlands plus Orkney, Shetland and the Hebrides.The Highlands and Islands are sometimes defined as the area to which the Crofters' Act of 1886 applied...
Committee - North East Committee
- LondonLondonLondon is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
Committee
SCDI policy is directed by its membership of leaders from across civic Scotland.
Policy Overview
As a policy-focused organisation, SCDI's work revolves around the achievement of its policy objective - sustainable economic prosperityProsperity
Prosperity is the state of flourishing, thriving, good fortune and/or successful social status. Prosperity often encompasses wealth but also includes others factors which are independent of wealth to varying degrees, such as happiness and health....
for Scotland.
SCDI's primary policy-making body is the Executive. This committee consists of representatives from across the constituencies that make up SCDI's membership.
The views of SCDI members are reflected in the development of SCDI's policy positions. Since its policy positions represent the consensus view of SCDI's diverse Scotland-wide membership, SCDI's policy output carries substantial weight. As a result, SCDI is well regarded contributor to political debate in Scotland and beyond.
Over a number of years, SCDI's policy priorities have focused on six key areas:
- EconomyEconomyAn economy consists of the economic system of a country or other area; the labor, capital and land resources; and the manufacturing, trade, distribution, and consumption of goods and services of that area...
- Energy and SustainabilitySustainabilitySustainability is the capacity to endure. For humans, sustainability is the long-term maintenance of well being, which has environmental, economic, and social dimensions, and encompasses the concept of union, an interdependent relationship and mutual responsible position with all living and non...
- Connectivity
- Skills and ProductivityProductivityProductivity is a measure of the efficiency of production. Productivity is a ratio of what is produced to what is required to produce it. Usually this ratio is in the form of an average, expressing the total output divided by the total input...
- Global Ambitions
- Scotland's Future
SCDI produces approximately 30-40 policy papers each year. These include responses to government consultations, detailed analyses of government policies, proactive agenda-setting and thought leadership
Thought leader
Thought leader is business jargon for an entity that is recognized for having innovative ideas.The term was coined in 1994 by Joel Kurtzman, editor-in-chief of the Booz Allen Hamilton magazine, Strategy & Business. "Thought leader" was used to designate interview subjects for that magazine who had...
.
Blueprint for Scotland
Following extensive membership consultation, SCDI launched its 'Blueprint for Scotland' in June 2010. This document was produced to influence the legislative agenda of the new Conservative-Liberal Democrat Coalition GovernmentUnited Kingdom coalition government (2010–present)
The ConservativeLiberal Democrat coalition is the present Government of the United Kingdom, formed after the 2010 general election. The Conservative Party and the Liberal Democrats entered into discussions which culminated in the 2010 coalition agreement, setting out a programme for government...
in Westminster and to feed into the development of political party manifesto
Manifesto
A manifesto is a public declaration of principles and intentions, often political in nature. Manifestos relating to religious belief are generally referred to as creeds. Manifestos may also be life stance-related.-Etymology:...
s in the run-up to the 2011 Scottish Parliamentary election.
The Blueprint presented a long-term vision for Scotland's future success under three headings:
- An outward and enterprising nation
- Maximising Scotland's assets
- Realising the potential of our people
A table of short term (5 year) and long term (10 year) priorities was presented in the Executive Summary
Executive summary
An executive summary, sometimes known as a management summary, is a short document or section of a document, produced for business purposes, that summarizes a longer report or proposal or a group of related reports, in such a way that readers can rapidly become acquainted with a large body of...
to the Blueprint for Scotland:
An Outward and Enterprising Nation - Priorities
| Short Term (5 years) | Long Term (10 years) |
|---|---|
| Broaden the business base of Scottish exporters and establish a network of Scottish Trade Centres | Double the value of Scotland’s exports |
| Managed restoration of public finances to ensure public sector net debt falls as a share of GDP, but ensuring we support capital spending, R&D and skills | Return public spending growth to be in-line with the GDP growth trend in the long term |
| Restore the strength, reputation and competitiveness of Scotland’s financial sector and its support for higher business investment and manufacturing | More balanced and sustainable growth across business sectors, with manufacturing a stable or growing share of GDP, and support for new world-class financial services headquartered in Scotland |
| Strengthen the Scottish Parliament Scottish Parliament The Scottish Parliament is the devolved national, unicameral legislature of Scotland, located in the Holyrood area of the capital, Edinburgh. The Parliament, informally referred to as "Holyrood", is a democratically elected body comprising 129 members known as Members of the Scottish Parliament... ’s responsibility for tax and spending decisions which promote sustainable economic growth. Increase the supply of skilled people for the Scottish economy |
Increase sustainable economic growth and supply of skills |
Maximising Scotland's Assets - Priorities
| Short Term (5 years) | Long Term (10 years) |
|---|---|
| Begin construction of offshore wind Offshore wind power Offshore wind power refers to the construction of wind farms in bodies of water to generate electricity from wind. Better wind speeds are available offshore compared to on land, so offshore wind power’s contribution in terms of electricity supplied is higher.... , CCS Carbon capture and storage Carbon capture and storage , alternatively referred to as carbon capture and sequestration, is a technology to prevent large quantities of from being released into the atmosphere from the use of fossil fuel in power generation and other industries. It is often regarded as a means of mitigating... , marine energy Marine energy Marine energy or marine power refers to the energy carried by ocean waves, tides, salinity, and ocean temperature differences. The movement of water in the world’s oceans creates a vast store of kinetic energy, or energy in motion... parks and new onshore and offshore grids, with Scottish supply chain Supply chain A supply chain is a system of organizations, people, technology, activities, information and resources involved in moving a product or service from supplier to customer. Supply chain activities transform natural resources, raw materials and components into a finished product that is delivered to... s |
Meet 2020 renewable energy, climate change and green economy Green economy A green economy is one that results in improved human well-being and social equity, while significantly reducing environmental risks and ecological scarcities - United Nations Environment Programme... / ‘green-collar’ jobs targets. Transform every Scottish city into a low carbon city. Create low carbon zones around renewable power stations, CCS infrastructure and water resources to attract new industry to Scotland |
| Phase out supplementary corporation tax on the North Sea oil and gas industry North Sea oil North Sea oil is a mixture of hydrocarbons, comprising liquid oil and natural gas, produced from oil reservoirs beneath the North Sea.In the oil industry, the term "North Sea" often includes areas such as the Norwegian Sea and the area known as "West of Shetland", "the Atlantic Frontier" or "the... |
UK oil and gas to supply 60% of the UK demand for oil and 25% of its gas. Establish Aberdeen as the world’s leading energy services hub |
| Support the market-led roll-out of high-speed broadband Broadband Internet access Broadband Internet access, often shortened to just "broadband", is a high data rate, low-latency connection to the Internet— typically contrasted with dial-up access using a 56 kbit/s modem or satellite Internet with inherently high latency.... with public funding for the areas where the market will not deliver. Establish Scotland as a first-choice location for green data centres Data center A data center is a facility used to house computer systems and associated components, such as telecommunications and storage systems... and build outsourcing Outsourcing Outsourcing is the process of contracting a business function to someone else.-Overview:The term outsourcing is used inconsistently but usually involves the contracting out of a business function - commonly one previously performed in-house - to an external provider... excellence within Scotland supported by technology |
Full wire Scotland to high-speed broadband, and transform business practices to achieve world-leading productivity growth performance. Create new ‘distributed cities’ in the Highlands and Islands Highlands and Islands The Highlands and Islands of Scotland are broadly the Scottish Highlands plus Orkney, Shetland and the Hebrides.The Highlands and Islands are sometimes defined as the area to which the Crofters' Act of 1886 applied... and southern Scotland |
| Grow Scotland’s international air route network, including direct flights to China China Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture... and India India India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world... |
Commence construction of high-speed rail High-speed rail High-speed rail is a type of passenger rail transport that operates significantly faster than the normal speed of rail traffic. Specific definitions by the European Union include for upgraded track and or faster for new track, whilst in the United States, the U.S... in Scotland |
Realising the Potential of our People - Priorities
| Short Term (5 years) | Long Term (10 years) |
|---|---|
| Independent review of university and college funding in Scotland to maintain international competitiveness Competitiveness Competitiveness is a comparative concept of the ability and performance of a firm, sub-sector or country to sell and supply goods and/or services in a given market... |
Focus more resources on centres of excellence |
| Refocus innovation schemes, create a single Office of Higher Education Technology Transfer and ring-fence 0.5% of the procurement Procurement Procurement is the acquisition of goods or services. It is favourable that the goods/services are appropriate and that they are procured at the best possible cost to meet the needs of the purchaser in terms of quality and quantity, time, and location... budget to stimulate innovation Innovation Innovation is the creation of better or more effective products, processes, technologies, or ideas that are accepted by markets, governments, and society... across the economy |
Increase business R&D to at least the UK average of 1.08% of GDP |
| Deliver a transformational skills syllabus and prioritise places in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) subjects | Maintain high employment levels and reduce economic inactivity, re/up-skill workforce and deliver skills for priority industries |
International Trade Visits
Since 1960, SCDI has worked to develop Scotland's international business links, organising a programme of global trade missionTrade mission
Trade mission is an international trip by government officials and businesspeople that is organized by agencies of national or provincial governments for purpose of exploring international business opportunities. Business people who attend trade missions are typically introduced both to important...
s. Almost 370 trade missions have been organised since then, to more than 50 markets worldwide involving over 6,000 participants.
SCDI trade visits support companies to visit an export market, focussing on growth markets for Scottish exports across the World.
A large number of organisations join trade visits, ranging from sole traders, SMEs, large organisations, universities and colleges.
After-visit analysis of the 2010 Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
trade visit showed that the programme brought more than £1m of new orders into Scottish companies.
2011-12 Trade Visit Programme
| Market | Date |
|---|---|
| India India India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world... : Delhi Delhi Delhi , officially National Capital Territory of Delhi , is the largest metropolis by area and the second-largest by population in India, next to Mumbai. It is the eighth largest metropolis in the world by population with 16,753,265 inhabitants in the Territory at the 2011 Census... and Mumbai Mumbai Mumbai , formerly known as Bombay in English, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is the most populous city in India, and the fourth most populous city in the world, with a total metropolitan area population of approximately 20.5 million... |
17-21 October 2011 |
| Brazil Brazil Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people... : Sao Paulo São Paulo São Paulo is the largest city in Brazil, the largest city in the southern hemisphere and South America, and the world's seventh largest city by population. The metropolis is anchor to the São Paulo metropolitan area, ranked as the second-most populous metropolitan area in the Americas and among... and Rio de Janeiro Rio de Janeiro Rio de Janeiro , commonly referred to simply as Rio, is the capital city of the State of Rio de Janeiro, the second largest city of Brazil, and the third largest metropolitan area and agglomeration in South America, boasting approximately 6.3 million people within the city proper, making it the 6th... |
28 November - 2 December 2011 |
| China China Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture... : Hong Kong Hong Kong Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour... and Southern China |
7-13 December 2011 |
| UAE and Qatar Qatar Qatar , also known as the State of Qatar or locally Dawlat Qaṭar, is a sovereign Arab state, located in the Middle East, occupying the small Qatar Peninsula on the northeasterly coast of the much larger Arabian Peninsula. Its sole land border is with Saudi Arabia to the south, with the rest of its... : Dubai Dubai Dubai is a city and emirate in the United Arab Emirates . The emirate is located south of the Persian Gulf on the Arabian Peninsula and has the largest population with the second-largest land territory by area of all the emirates, after Abu Dhabi... and Doha Doha Doha is the capital city of the state of Qatar. Located on the Persian Gulf, it had a population of 998,651 in 2008, and is also one of the municipalities of Qatar... |
5-9 February 2012 |
SCDI Events
SCDI runs approximately 100 events each year involving senior business and civic leaders, politicians, and major international thought leaders.Flagship Events
- SCDI Forum - held annually in St Andrews in March. This major event in the Scottish calendar has gathered together Scotland's key leaders and influencers to debate the future of the Scottish economy since 1970.
- Annual Dinner and International Awards - an annual celebration of Scotland's international and exporting success, held in Glasgow each November. The 2010 dinner was addressed by former Major of New York, Rudi Giuliani. The 2011 dinner was addressed by former General Secretary of the United Nations, Kofi AnnanKofi AnnanKofi Atta Annan is a Ghanaian diplomat who served as the seventh Secretary-General of the UN from 1 January 1997 to 31 December 2006...
.
- Annual Lecture - held in Aberdeen in January each year.
- Highlands and Islands Annual Dinner and Awards - recognising business excellence in the Highlands and Islands each September.
- London Dinner - an annual gathering of Scottish interests, businesses and politicians in London
Other Events
An active events calendar is maintained throughout the year:- Influencers' dinners programme
- Meet the politician series
- Membership networking events
- Election hustingHustingA husting originally referred to a physical platform from which representatives presented their views or cast votes before a parliamentary or other election body...
s - Membership consultations
- Business seminars
History
The Scottish Council for Development and Industry in its current form was created in 1946 by the amalgamation of two earlier bodies, the Scottish Development Council and the Scottish Council on Industry.Scottish Development Council
The Scottish Development Council was established on 8 May 1931. At that time Scotland was experiencing the worst effects of the depression, and the then-called Scottish National Development Council was created to analyse the courses of the collapse which had occurred and to find and apply solutions.The leading figures involved in organising the first meeting were the Earl of Elgin
Edward Bruce, 10th Earl of Elgin
Edward James Bruce, 10th Earl of Elgin, 14th Earl of Kincardine, KT, CMG, TD, JP was the son of Victor Alexander Bruce, 9th Earl of Elgin who became Assistant Private Secretary to the Secretary State for the Colonies and a director of the Royal Bank of ScotlandOn 5 January 1921, he married...
, Sir Henry Keith (former Provost of Hamilton and Unionist MP) and William Watson of Glasgow (organiser of Scottish Trades Development Association). It was attended by representatives of the Burghs and Counties, Industry, Commerce and Banking, Trade Unions and prominent individuals, who felt the common need to aid their industry and their country. It was a response to a crucial, immediate situation, and this is stressed in the Constitution
Constitution
A constitution is a set of fundamental principles or established precedents according to which a state or other organization is governed. These rules together make up, i.e. constitute, what the entity is...
:
“It will be the duty of the Council to examine and consider impartially the industrial, commercial and economic problems with which the country is faced for the time being; to endeavour to arrive at a solution of these problems and where necessary, to obtain from Parliament such legislation as may be required to give effect to the conclusions reached by the Council”.
On 23rd July 1931, Lord Elgin, who was now President and Sir Henry Keith, Vice-Chairman of the Executive, invited Sir James Lithgow
Sir James Lithgow, 1st Baronet
Sir James Lithgow, 1st Baronet CB GBE MC TD was a Scottish industrialist who played a major role in restructuring the British shipbuilding and steelmaking industries in the 1930s in addition to playing an important role in formulating public policy and supervising wartime production.-Early...
to become Chairman of the Executive. This was a boost to the morale of the Council and to its financial situation, as in December 1931, Lithgow donated £1,800 to the funds to meet the salary of the Secretary (W C Kirkwood) for three years. It was also at this time that the Scottish Development Council undertook to rent its first office in the premises of the Institution of Engineers and Shipbuilders
Institution of Engineers and Shipbuilders in Scotland
The Institution of Engineers and Shipbuilders in Scotland is a professional body for engineers and shipbuilders in Scotland.-Founding:The inaugural meeting of the Institution of Engineers in Scotland was held on 1 May 1857...
, 39 Elmbank Street, Glasgow. Previous to this, meetings had been held in Lanarkshire House in Ingram Street and in the City Chambers of Glasgow
Glasgow City Chambers
The City Chambers in Glasgow, Scotland has functioned as the headquarters of Glasgow City Council since 1996, and of preceding forms of civic government in the city since 1889, located on the eastern side of the city's George Square...
and Edinburgh.
The first sub-committees were set up in December 1931 and the topics covered shows the area over which the Development Council hoped to spread its influence. Committees on Agriculture, Rating and Taxation, Textiles, Electrical developments, Chemical industries and the Fishing industry were formed.
An Economic Committee, Chaired by Sir Steven Bilsland was formed by the Council in collaboration with the Scottish Office in the early 1930s as an economic action group to explore and promote the new regional policies of the thirties. By 1938, it already had to its credit the establishment of the trading estate at Hillington
Hillington, Glasgow
Hillington is a residential suburb and an industrial estate on the southwestern edge of the Scottish city of Glasgow. Whilst the residential area is wholly within Glasgow, the greater part of the industrial estate falls under the jurisdiction of neighbouring Renfrew, although for business...
.
The Scottish Council on Industry
The Scottish Council on Industry was created in 1942 on the initiative of the then Secretary of State for ScotlandSecretary of State for Scotland
The Secretary of State for Scotland is the principal minister of Her Majesty's Government in the United Kingdom with responsibilities for Scotland. He heads the Scotland Office , a government department based in London and Edinburgh. The post was created soon after the Union of the Crowns, but was...
, Mr Tom Johnston. The greater part of expanded wartime production requirements had been supplied by the creation of a new capacity in the South and the Midlands of England, while productive space in Scotland was increasingly devoted to storage uses. Mr Johnston set up the Council on Industry to give advice in relation to this and the other economic and industrial problems created by wartime conditions. At this time, it had no constitution, no funds and no salaried staff.
The Council’s composition consisted of four members each from the Convention of Royal Burghs, the Association of County Councils in Scotland, the Scottish Chambers of Commerce and the Scottish Trades Union Congress
Scottish Trades Union Congress
The Scottish Trades Union Congress is the co-ordinating body of trade unions, and local Trades Councils, in Scotland. With 39 affiliated unions as of 2007, the STUC represents around 630,000 trade unionists....
General Council, while banking interests were represented by one member only. The Scottish Development Council was represented by four members and its General Manager, W C Kirkwood, acted as a Joint Secretary to the Scottish Council on Industry.
In addition to the above, the Regional Offices of the Ministry of Labour and National Service
Ministry of Labour
The Ministry of Labour was a British civil service department established by the New Ministries and Secretaries Act 1916. It was renamed the Employment Department in 1988, and finally abolished in 1995...
, the Ministry of Works and Buildings, the Ministry of Aircraft Production, the Ministry of Supply
Ministry of Supply
The Ministry of Supply was a department of the UK Government formed in 1939 to co-ordinate the supply of equipment to all three British armed forces, headed by the Minister of Supply. There was, however, a separate ministry responsible for aircraft production and the Admiralty retained...
, the Admiralty
Admiralty
The Admiralty was formerly the authority in the Kingdom of England, and later in the United Kingdom, responsible for the command of the Royal Navy...
and the Factory and Storage Control attended meetings by invitation.
Some of the principal matters that engaged the attention of the Council on Industry were:
- Ensuring that Scotland’s productive capacity was fully used in the war effort.
- Safeguarding Scotland’s position in relation to the concentration of industry.
- Transport difficulties as they affected Scotland.
- Post war problems generally in relation to Scotland.
- The provision of additional Industrial Estates and modern factories in Scotland.
The Council also undertook investigations into Light Engineering, Plastics, Food Preservation and Fine Chemicals and appropriate firms were approached with a view to interesting them in new items to produce after the war.
The Council paid close attention to the future of Prestwick Airport, the Highlands and Islands
Highlands and Islands
The Highlands and Islands of Scotland are broadly the Scottish Highlands plus Orkney, Shetland and the Hebrides.The Highlands and Islands are sometimes defined as the area to which the Crofters' Act of 1886 applied...
, the Forth Road Bridge
Forth Road Bridge
The Forth Road Bridge is a suspension bridge in east central Scotland. The bridge, opened in 1964, spans the Firth of Forth, connecting the capital city Edinburgh, at South Queensferry, to Fife, at North Queensferry...
project and to the desire for the retention and if possible the expansion of the Admiralty Establishments in Scotland. It instigated Committees to investigate the White Fish Industry
Whitefish (fisheries term)
Whitefish or white fish is a fisheries term referring to several species of demersal fish with fins, particularly cod , whiting , and haddock , but also hake , pollock , or others...
, the Crofter Woollen Industry, Transport and the Tourist Industry, among others. Like the Development Council the Council on Industry stressed the importance of export trade, the development of the chemical and electrical industries, research facilities and a publicity and travel Bureau for Scotland in London.
Merger
During the war the Scottish Development Council was seen as a constituent part of the Scottish Council on Industry, although many of the members of the Development Council considered the Council on Industry as a temporary body that was necessary only to deal with wartime issues. In 1945 the Council on Industry felt that it still had much to do in the post-war period and therefore wanted to expand its organisation, raising the funds for this from the Scottish public, particularly from the local authorities.It was agreed by both bodies that it would be desirable, in order to avoid confusion and the possible overlapping of functions, that there should be a single authoritative body in Scotland to which the Secretary of State could look for advice and the general public for guidance and help, on questions of industry, employment and development. The then Secretary of State, Joseph Westwood
Joseph Westwood
Joseph Westwood was a Scottish Labour politician.Educated at Buckhaven Higher Grade School, he worked as a draper's apprentice, messenger boy and miner...
, agreed with this and also endorsed that the reconstituted Scottish Council would be much enhanced if it could derive its revenue entirely from voluntary sources, thereby retaining freedom of action and effectiveness.
The amalgamation of these two bodies on the 3rd June 1946, under the Chairmanship of Lord Bilsland
Baron Bilsland
Baron Bilsland, of Kinrara in the County of Inverness, was a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. It was created on 31 January 1950 for Sir Steven Bilsland, 2nd Baronet, head of Bilsland Brothers Ltd, bankers, of Glasgow. The titles became extinct on his death on 10 December 1970...
- then Sir Steven Bilsland - had as its objectives the combination of the functions of the two original Councils. On the one hand, to continue to analyse the industrial situation, and to act in the light of that analysis so as to create more employment opportunities. On the other hand to make representations to Government on matters affecting the progress of industry in Scotland.
The subject matter of the Council’s work has always been fundamentally industrial. In particular the Council has occupied itself with matters of policy and practice relating to technology, trade development, communications and the environment within which industry operates. This policy was made clear by the work of the Scottish Council right from the beginning.
Post-War
In the immediate post-war period, the Scottish Council was the only agency in Scotland actively engaged in industrial promotion. In the course of the first year, panels and committees of the Council investigated many industries, including light and medium engineering, chemicals, building materials and plastics. Their aims were to ensure the greater utilisation of Scottish raw materials, to make recommendations for further industrial development and to stimulate action on the recommendations. In addition, a New Industries Panel was set up to consider which UK companies should be approached with a view to setting up a Scottish plant, “having in mind that the principal need in Scotland is for new industries which will employ men”.They also set up committees to deal with public relations, export trade and tourism. The latter, a continuation of one set up in 1944 by the Scottish Council on Industry, under the Chairmanship of Dr Honeyman, highlighted the opportunity for the growth of tourism in Scotland and recommended that the Secretary of State for Scotland should create a suitable organisation to promote and co-ordinate growth in that area. The result was the immediate appointment of the Scottish Tourist Board.
In 1939 there had appeared the “Industrial Map of Scotland”, whose author C A Oakley, compiled an index, accompanied by maps, which listed the 2,500 manufacturing companies then employing 50 or more people in Scotland. It was the first guide of its kind.
In 1947/48, the Scottish Council, knowing that electronic engineering capacity would be vital to the future of Scotland, was casting around for ways of establishing its presence. It worked in two ways:
Firstly they aimed to bring in, from outside of Scotland, companies which were fully equipped with technological knowledge and with market connections. In 1948, the Council embarked upon a planned campaign to attract companies from the United States. This was the first time a European country had adopted such a course, and the Council followed it up with the appointment of a committee in New York in 1949 to support the programme. Holland followed a similar course in 1952.
At this period, American industry was ready to consider overseas investment, encouraged as it was by an international dollar shortage. Results followed swiftly with the arrival of NCR
NCR Corporation
NCR Corporation is an American technology company specializing in kiosk products for the retail, financial, travel, healthcare, food service, entertainment, gaming and public sector industries. Its main products are self-service kiosks, point-of-sale terminals, automated teller machines, check...
in 1947 (who doubled the size of their factory in 1952), Honeywell
Honeywell
Honeywell International, Inc. is a major conglomerate company that produces a variety of consumer products, engineering services, and aerospace systems for a wide variety of customers, from private consumers to major corporations and governments....
in 1949, and also IBM
IBM
International Business Machines Corporation or IBM is an American multinational technology and consulting corporation headquartered in Armonk, New York, United States. IBM manufactures and sells computer hardware and software, and it offers infrastructure, hosting and consulting services in areas...
and Burroughs.
In this campaign, the Council’s object was not primarily to create employment. It was deliberately to fill the gaps in electronics, instrument and associated engineering in Scotland. The new plants were in the main associated with production and selling rather than with research and development, and the Council believed that a proportion would develop technological roots.
The second route to be followed was that of defence research and development, however, since, apart from Ferranti
Ferranti
Ferranti or Ferranti International plc was a UK electrical engineering and equipment firm that operated for over a century from 1885 until it went bankrupt in 1993. Known primarily for defence electronics, the Company was once a constituent of the FTSE 100 Index but ceased trading in 1993.The...
there was no research and development capacity in Scotland, few contracts came and there was no growth of capacity. To overcome this the Scottish Electronics Group was formed. Ferranti agreed to `mother’ the group and accept defence contracts which would be undertaken by Scottish companies interested in diversifying into electronics and light engineering. The Ministry of Supply agreed to channel some contracts on this basis, and to build a new laboratory for Ferranti Ltd as the centre of the scheme - a lab was opened by the Duke of Edinburgh
Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh
Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh is the husband of Elizabeth II. He is the United Kingdom's longest-serving consort and the oldest serving spouse of a reigning British monarch....
in 1953.
SCDI London
SCDI’s London Committee first convened in 1932, one year after the Scottish Development Council was formed. In the 1930’s the London Committee was awarded £400 to publicise the Great Empire ExhibitionEmpire Exhibition, Scotland 1938
Empire Exhibition, Scotland 1938 was an international exposition held at Bellahouston Park in Glasgow, from May to December 1938....
in Bellahouston Park
Bellahouston Park
Bellahouston Park is a public park in the South Side of Glasgow, Scotland, between the areas of Mosspark, Craigton, Ibrox, and Dumbreck, covering an area of . It is based around Ibrox hill in the centre, with commanding views over most of the city, exceptions being views to the east that are...
, Glasgow and a further £100 from Scottish Industrial Estates Ltd to promote interest in the newly opened Hillington Industrial Estate.
The London office and Committee were dissolved at the beginning of the Second World War but re-started life with a donation of £500 from the Scottish Tourist Board in 1948.
Throughout the years, the Council shared offices with the Scottish Tourist Board, the Scottish Development Agency, the New Towns Corporation and British Caledonian Airways
British Caledonian
British Caledonian was a private, British independentindependent from government-owned corporations airline, operating out of Gatwick Airport in the 1970s and 1980s...
.
The London Committee continues to play a role in SCDI’s work, providing regular interface and debate with London-based members, national bodies and the Westminster Parliament
Parliament of the United Kingdom
The Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the supreme legislative body in the United Kingdom, British Crown dependencies and British overseas territories, located in London...
.
Young Engineers and Science Clubs
Since 1987, The Scottish Council for Development and Industry has pioneered the development of Young Engineers & Science Clubs throughout Scotland, hosted by schools and further education colleges.The aim of the Clubs is to involve young people in science, technology, engineering and maths, by encouraging them to exercise their creative and innovative skills supported by appropriate local companies. In this way, young engineers and scientists develop their skills in problem-solving through working as a team. Clubs adopt a hands-on approach to projects in science; electrical, electronic, mechanical, robotics and civil engineering; and a wide range of technology applications.
Over 450 Young Engineers and Science Clubs now operate across Scotland with a membership of 6,500 girls and boys.
Celebration of Engineering and Science
In June each year, Young Engineers and Science Clubs from across Scotland gather in Glasgow for a celebration of engineering and science.More than 500 school pupils showcase their project work undertaken throughout the year and participate in a series of hands-on Technology Challenges, competing to win the Best Young Engineers Club trophy.