New plans released by Scottish Enterprise are aiming to boost the country’s green economic recovery after Covid-19.

The country’s national economic development agency will spend £400 million over the next year on “activities to safeguard and create jobs for communities across Scotland”.

Scottish Enterprise said that its focus will be to build on signs of recovery and accelerate growth for Scotland after statistics indicated that the country’s economy may not return to pre-pandemic levels until 2024.

A new business plan covering 2021/22 predicts that the adoption of new technologies and skills could add more than £25bn to the Scottish economy over the next 10 years, with sectors such as digital and low carbon being “key to the future of Scotland’s economy”.

The plan suggests that firms should “demonstrate their commitment to net-zero and fair work as part of accessing Scottish Enterprise support”.

Commenting on the green economy plan, Linda Hanna, interim chief executive of Scottish Enterprise said: “There is no doubt that the events of the past year have created significant challenges for our economy.

“Alongside our partners, we have been working hard to respond to the needs of Scottish businesses, while at the same time, focusing on the long-term goals of a greener and fairer successful Scottish economy.

“As we continue to feel the impact from the pandemic and Brexit, Scotland’s unemployment levels are expected to rise. That’s why our plan for the year focuses on working with businesses and industry to safeguard and create jobs. Good jobs, green jobs and jobs that can improve the health and wealth of the nation simultaneously.”

A green economic recovery is being seen as one of the most important areas of development for helping Scotland recover from the effects of Covid-19. The Scottish Government has already pledged support for green projects over the next few years.

In September 2020, Holyrood invited private investors to participate in the first release of the Green Investment Portfolio, a collection of market-ready low carbon, eco-friendly and recycling projects to help Scotland transition to a net-zero economy by 2045.

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Additionally, a report from December last year coordinated by Skills Development Scotland was published outlining how Scotland’s workforce can develop the skills necessary for a future net-zero economy.

The Climate Emergency Skills Action Plan identified a series of “priority areas” that will help to capitalise on job opportunities that may emerge from the net-zero transition.

Hanna continued: “Jobs for the future are equally as important as those for today. We have an opportunity to reshape our economy so that post-pandemic Scotland flourishes with industries that are globally competitive and sustainable for generations to come.

“Our plan aims to help harness the economic potential of digital, net-zero, health and advanced manufacturing and we will be doing all we can to maximise opportunities like COP26, both in terms of accelerating our transition to a net-zero economy and in opening up global market opportunities for Scottish businesses.

“We know there are challenging times ahead. Scotland’s economy may not return to pre-pandemic levels until 2024 but now is the time to look to the future with hope and ambition as we grow a fairer, greener Scotland for all.”