Business & Digital

Reflection on

Business and Digital Unit Business & Digital Economics (LK, CW, RD) Access to Finance and Small Business Survey Digital Economy Business Survey Business Statistics (MC, DC, MS, SD) Core Business statistics Innovation Trade Statistics (GM, RB) GCS Developing other export and import analysis

Project Related Survey Improvements Review and develop sources used in Global Connections Survey Change to Whisky data to bring in line with HMRC, Scottish Whisky Association and SG Rural Policy Improved presentation and for publication Increased amount of country information Core Business Project manage collection and processing of Global Connections Survey Returns Statistical Support on trade statistics Quarterly Ministerial briefing on HMRC Regional Trade Statistics FOI-PQ-Comms-MACS Trade Statistics

Project Related Growth Sector Briefings now publicly available Measurement framework for Scotland Can Do Increased the coverage of Growth Sector database including BERD data Life Sciences Cluster analysis – setting a new baseline position, lots of work with Scottish Enterprise with results published on the Growth Sector Statistics Database. Working with SE, HIE and VS Core Business Statistical publications (BERD, GERD, BIS, SABS) Growth Sectors database Statistical support on business and enterprise statistics TTWA profiles and Cities briefing FOI-PQ-Comms-MACS Business and Enterprise Statistics

Project Related Business – Supporting the development of reindustrialising Scotland in 2014 and SES in 2015 – City deals – Economic Commission for Glasgow City Deal – Tourism (Homecoming 2014 evaluation, marketing measurement, advice on use of statistics) Digital – Digital economy measurement framework – Boost to the internet module of ONS Opinions and Lifestyle Survey – Analysis on the measures of digital participation – Digital Economy Business Survey published Core Business Sectoral trends industry and local authority economic profiles Monthly narrative on SME access to finance Lead analyst for SHS internet questions Two National Indicators (Improve digital infrastructure, widen use of internet) Support to Business and Digital Directorates Business and Digital Economics

Plans for 2015/16

Trade Stats – Develop survey material to improve engagement with business and also develop a form of electronic data collection. – Develop the use of administrative sources available to us for higher and further education and energy. – Use the Annual Business Survey( which asks about exporting and value of services exports) to identify exporters and validate survey returns – Engage with business and associated Industry organisations where necessary – Include a new question asking about government advice and assistance to export in response to the Wilson Review on Exporting – Work with ONS to develop measure of number of exporters from Scottish Annual Business Survey responses – Support development of trade strategy Plans for the Coming Year

Business and Enterprise Stats – Businesses in Scotland Revise back the unregistered businesses estimates to take account of the latest APS data consider whether urban/rural and local authority area (or regions) breakdowns of unregistered businesses would be feasible Increased interest in business statistics by urban/rural – SABS Looking to introduce standard errors for local authority area estimates ONS will be testing questions to capture regional capital expenditure – Innovation/R&D Analysis of the UK Innovation Survey 2013, and planning for 2015 survey boost looking to get a better handle on GERD funders (we currently have data on performers but not funders) Plans for the Coming Year

Business and Digital Economics – Access to Finance Publication – Small Business Survey Publication – followed by topic reports – Work on Business Development Bank – Supporting City Deals work – Supporting Business Pledge Work – Developing Digital Economy Maturity Index – Work looking at the “foundational economy” – working with STUC Plans for the Coming Year