CBI Scotland has urged the incoming Scottish Government to place economic growth at the heart of its programme for government, warning that Scotland is in a “race against time” to address a challenging fiscal shortfall.
The call came ahead of CBI Scotland’s annual business lunch in Edinburgh on 22 May 2026, where keynote speakers included First Minister John Swinney MSP, entrepreneur and founder of The Hunter Foundation Sir Tom Hunter, and SSE Chief Executive and CBI Scotland Chair Martin Pibworth. The event was sponsored by CMS.
The organisation has set out a five-point plan for the new parliament, covering business rates reform, planning reform, skills and apprenticeship levy reform, closing the tax and regulatory gap with the rest of the UK, and committing to transformative infrastructure projects such as full rail electrification and the Clyde Metro.
Michelle Ferguson OBE, CBI Scotland Director, said: “Our message to the new Scottish Government, and to new and returning MSPs, is a simple one: against a backdrop of rising costs and global volatility, growth really is the ‘only game in town’ – so it’s time to roll up our sleeves and get on with it.”
Ferguson said urgency was paramount, adding: “That means using every lever available to boost productivity and unlock vital investment. Business stands ready to play its part, but urgency is key. We can’t afford to sit on our hands, or we risk a worsening fiscal position and the potential for great commercial opportunities to slip through our fingers.”
Despite the challenges, Ferguson struck an optimistic note: “Yet, for all of the challenges that Scotland faces, the country stands on edge of huge opportunity – there aren’t many small economies that can boast our talent, innovation and knowhow. By backing our people and businesses, we can turn that economic promise into the kind of tangible, on the ground, delivery that can transform lives and communities across the country.”
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She also pointed to the importance of emerging industries, saying: “Realising that potential doesn’t just mean doubling down on legacy strengths. It means being clear eyed about the opportunities of the future and staking our claim in the innovative, high value industries that are powering global growth – areas like AI, life sciences and the energy transition.”
CBI Scotland represents 850 members, comprising 1,200 separate registered companies and 150,000 trade association members across the UK.
