This new strategy document “sets the direction for the public sector – Scottish Government, enterprise bodies, VisitScotland and other key agencies – to work collaboratively with the private, academic and third sectors to accelerate growth and create jobs.” The Strategy focuses our actions on six Strategic Priorities which “will strengthen the recovery, drive sustainable growth and develop a more resilient and adaptable economy”. Five are the same as in the 2007 Strategy:

• Supportive Business Environment
• Learning, Skills and Well-being
• Infrastructure Development and Place
• Effective Government
• Equity.

There is also a new Strategic Priority

• Transition to a Low Carbon Economy.

Under ‘Equity’, key actions include:

• “A focus on preventative spend to tackle the social and health problems which prevent people from realising their potential;
• Supporting the development of an enterprising third sector in Scotland”.

“The third sector can, and does, change people’s lives. In particular, it strengthens community resilience and sense of well-being, and supports community engagement in the design and delivery of public services. It is the primary source of support for volunteering which not only helps deliver services that make communities stronger and support vulnerable people but builds skills and self-development that can improve employability prospects.”

Action to support this includes:

• “Supporting social enterprise … ensuring provision of support from start-up to business maturity through the Just Enterprise programme ..;
• Continuing to invest in those enterprising third sector organisations with the greatest potential to succeed; and
• Working with the public sector to ensure that the third sector is appropriately involved in the design and delivery of services that are focused on the needs of the user, continually improving and are focused on prevention.”