At the Scottish Chambers of Commerce annual dinner in Glasgow last night, November 30th, the cabinet secretary said he was committed to strengthening the partnership with business and consulting on policy.

This comes amid prolonged dissatisfaction from members of the Scottish business community with how the Scottish government interacts with the business environment.

“The voice of business is not just being listened to, it is being put at the heart of government,” stated Gray. “We have published an implementation plan on recommendations deriving from the New Deal Group and I am very conscious that, to keep earning your trust, I must deliver on it.

“This will not provide a solution to all policy issues or stop differences of opinion, but I hope it will ensure that we operate on the basis of no surprises. Our policy should be informed by your expertise and your business planning should be informed by clear, early signals of policy.”

The government’s New Deal for Business Group was created earlier this year as a forum between government and business leaders on how Scottish companies can be supported better, not least through policy.

The recommendations from the New Deal Group included having business voices involved in policy development, assessing the impact of regulations on business in different ways, and keeping non-domestic rates reforms under review.

The New Deal Group itself is one recent measure to help with the reconciliation of the fractured Scottish business-government relationship.

The Fraser of Allander Institute’s Scottish Business Monitor recently discovered that just 9% of companies agree that the Scottish government understands the business environment in Scotland.

Further, the research found that only 8% of businesses feel that the Scottish government engages effectively with the sector they work in, with 67% of firms disagreeing.

At an exclusive Scottish tech round roundtable event held in June, Peter Proud, the CEO and founder of Edinburgh-headquartered tech company Forrit, said that “There’s a real disconnect between government and business here in Scotland at the moment,” and “people like myself are drifting away […] because I don’t feel we’re being listened to.”

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Stephen Leckie, the president of Scottish Chambers of Commerce, urged politicians in attendance at last night’s event to focus on competitiveness, internationalisation, and sustainability to capture future economic growth.

Leckie said: “I’d call on all Governments to avoid policy decisions which create unintended consequences against the business community. I’d ask our leaders to stop taxing and disincentivising business growth and entrepreneurship. That’s why we need a long-term tax strategy and a clear policy agenda – laser-focused on business confidence and investment.”