‘Getting the Right Change: A Retail Strategy for Scotland’ outlines how the Scottish Government, business leaders and trade unions can work together to grow businesses and the economy, improve wellbeing and address inequality, and support progress towards climate change targets.
Retail is the largest private sector employer in Scotland, comprising more than 15,500 businesses employing more than 240,000 people.
Actions outlined in the Strategy include:
- 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.
- Developing and promoting a Fair 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 reskilling or upskilling as jobs change, for example due to technology like self-scan checkouts and online ordering systems.
Public Finance Minister Tom Arthur commented: “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 fulfil its potential.
“It has been developed in collaboration with business, trade unions, academia and the public sector.
“It builds on the National Strategy for Economic Transformation and Covid Recovery Strategy – setting out a shared vision for retail to achieve inclusive economic growth and play its part in creating a fairer, greener Scotland.
“The retail strategy builds on the strengths of the sector – so that it is successful, resilient, sustainable and profitable to the benefit of all of Scotland.
“We want to support innovation and entrepreneurship, and seize opportunities from new technology and markets, to boost productivity and grow businesses.
“In this way, our retailers can benefit from and contribute to the bold programme of actions that will transform our economy over the next decade.”
The full Retail Strategy is available on the Scottish Government website.
