S C O T T I S H G OV E R N M E N T
RETAIL SUPPORT PLAN
Government sets out new retail sector support plan
The Scottish Government is seeking to upskill retail sector staff and improve working conditions, as part of a newly published strategy to better support retailers in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.
D
eveloped in partnership with the Scottish Retail Consortium (SRC) the Getting the Right Change: A Retail Strategy for Scotland plan outlines a number of actions to be taken by the Scottish Government, business leaders and trade unions in a bid to grow businesses, improve wellbeing and address inequality. These include:
● Promoting town and city centres and local businesses while supporting ways to re-purpose vacant retail units. ● Harnessing opportunities in the National Strategy for Economic Transformation that will directly support the retail sector, like actions to grow businesses, boost productivity and support
● Developing and promoting a Fair
entrepreneurship.
Work Agreement that retailers can voluntarily sign up to, to improve fair work conditions across the sector and contribute to reduction of in-work poverty. ● Working with Skills Development Scotland and other partners on a Skills Audit and Action Plan, to support retail re-skilling or
A new Industry Leadership Group will also be established to drive delivery of the retail strategy, co-chaired by Public Finance Minister Tom Arthur. Commenting on the strategy, Arthur said: “As we have seen during the pandemic, our retailers have played and continue to play a vital role in creatively supporting our communities.
up-skilling as jobs change, for example due to technology like self-scan checkouts and online ordering systems. ● Developing a Just Transition Plan for Retail to protect jobs and contribute to net zero emissions by 2045 through developing local supply chains, reuse of materials and sustainable travel choices by staff and customers.
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“Our retail strategy sets out actions to support the sector to rebuild from the effects of the pandemic, address longer-term challenges and maximise opportunities to fulfill its potential. “We want to support innovation and entrepreneurship, and seize opportunities from new technology and markets, to boost productivity and grow businesses. SRC chairman John Brodie MBE added: “Retail is Scotland’s largest private sector employer and this more strategic and collaborative approach to supporting and nurturing the growth of the industry should help it flourish and fulfill its potential over the decade ahead. “This will benefit retailers and the millions of customers they serve in Scotland, as well as the supply chain and broader economic ecosystem that retail touches, and help drive forward Scotland’s economy.”
