RECENTLY I’ve been lucky enough to work on a series of articles that feature dramatic tales of bravery, ingenuity, family love, financial loss and redemption. But because the resulting stories appear on the business rather than the news pages, many readers probably miss out on the interest and inspiration they provide.
My work on the Herald Entrepreneur series has given me access to and understanding of a diverse array of business sectors, from digital and tech start-ups to the construction and property industries, from film and media to life sciences, fashion, fitness, education and hospitality.
The businesspeople I’ve spoken to come from every strata of society and academic background, every gender, sexuality, ethnicity and age bracket. Most of their stories contain hardship and struggle, whether that meant persuading others to believe in them and their product when they were penniless, or the early mistakes that cost them dear.
What all the subjects have in common, however, is sheer determination. Other recurrent attributes include the ability to approach problem solving as a positive and, just as important, a propensity for having faith in the future, even when the situation looks very bleak. All came through challenging times and now have thriving businesses that contribute to the Scottish economy, not only in terms of profits, taxes and jobs, but also ideas.
I thought of the experiences of these impressive Scottish entrepreneurs while listening to the First Minister’s recent speech on the economy, specifically the bits around how Scotland must be capable of designing and producing the products of the future. Announcing £45m for research and development, she also pledged additional help for key industries including manufacturing, energy and financial technology, for graduate entrepreneurs, and support for expanding companies seeking access to finance streams.
I’m not sure what my interviewees made of this pitch, but my reaction was a mix of reassurance and frustration: about bloody time, Ms Sturgeon.
Indeed it is high time Ms Sturgeon and her Government moved far more of their focus towards innovation and entrepreneurship, for without it the Scottish economy is doomed to linger in a perpetual purgatory between contraction and public sector reliance, whether we end up independent or not.
There has been much talk over the last few weeks about where the independence movement should go from here, and as someone who is sympathetic to the cause - never more so now that Scotland faces being dragged out of the European Union - I believe a far more aspirational case is needed, one that has a buoyant economy of ideas at its heart. Basing the case on opposition to the Tories is only going to take the SNP so far, especially since it is unlikely to win round many voters in the affluent areas that voted No in the 2014 independence referendum.
Surely the only way to prevail in another indyref, and ultimately the only way to make a real go of independence, is to ensure that people from every geographical area, academic background and socio-economic group feel invested in the idea. And for me, that’s where the aspirational, creative bit comes in.
I’ve always believed a successful independent Scotland would need not only more entrepreneurs, but a different immigration policy to the one currently pursued by the UK Government to help create them. Ms Sturgeon has made it clear she agrees, and I look forward to hearing more about how she will make this happen when she lays out her plan for Government tomorrow.
We need Scotland to be a place where people from all over the world come to pursue their dreams, where entrepreneurs are queuing up bring their ideas. But it also needs to be a place where they believe that the infrastructure is in place to help them make this happen.
Governments don’t make entrepreneurs – in fact, they are often viewed in the business sector as standing in the way. With this in mind, a Scottish Government that is truly supportive of an ideas economy could be both a vote winner and an economic driver that helps progress social policy. Demonstrable success could even persuade naysayers towards the independence cause.
My American partner enjoys many things about Scotland, but he also constantly scratches his head at what he describes as our unambitious approach to ideas, innovation and development, believing it results in a culture of negativity.
No matter what you think of the politics of the United States, you cannot deny the “can do” spirit that still pervades there, deep in the soul of its people; it’s one of things I love most about my partner. We could surely do with a lot more of it here, especially if we are to become independent.
How you create and foster such positivity is more difficult, of course, and I don’t doubt that in a Scottish context Government has an important role to play. Over to you, First Minister.
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