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Celebrating one year of the Scottish Business Pledge.

The Scottish Government will “listen carefully to business and search for constructive ideas about how it can support economic growth,” an audience of around 70 businesses has heard in Edinburgh yesterday.

Cabinet Secretary for the Economy Keith Brown and Business Minister Paul Wheelhouse answered questions at a business breakfast celebrating the first anniversary of the Scottish Business Pledge in Microsoft’s Edinburgh headquarters.

The Pledge is a voluntary code that helps companies to build better and more successful businesses, boosting productivity, recognising fairness and increasing diversity.

Mr Brown announced a number of key Scottish Business Pledge milestones.

• The launch of a refreshed website – focusing on how the Pledge has helped Scottish companies become more productive
• Leisure company URBN Fitness became the 250th company to make the Pledge

Mr Brown said yesterday:

“My appointment as a dedicated Cabinet Secretary for the Economy should send a clear signal of this Government’s focus on stimulating growth, protecting and creating jobs and promoting Scotland as a great place to do business. We will listen carefully to businesses and search for constructive ideas about how they can support economic growth.

“The response to the Business Pledge, Living Wage Accreditation and the work of the Fair Work Convention are proof positive that many dynamic and responsible businesses across Scotland share our ambition.

“I am happy to be here today to mark the first anniversary of the initiative and to confirm the 250th business to make a commitment to the Pledge, from URBN Fitness based here in Edinburgh.

“The Pledge remains focused on boosting business success, growth and productivity and is an important part of this government’s approach to working with business to make Scotland a more productive and fairer country. I would urge you all to revisit the website and read about what Pledge companies have already achieved.”

Notes To Editors

Scottish Business Pledge has nine components: paying the living wage; not using exploitative zero hours contracts; supporting progressive workforce engagement; investing in youth; making progress on diversity and gender balance; pursuing international business opportunities; playing an active role in the community; commitment to prompt payment; committing to an innovative programme.

The relaunched website can be viewed at: www.scottishbusinesspledge.scot/