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Can the model of hubs be used in non-tech sectors?

Good morning, cabinet secretary. I want to ask about the pressures on businesses. You mentioned that inflation is at 10.5 per cent, and there are the high energy costs and labour costs that flow from that. What support has the Government put in place for businesses in the areas in which it has responsibility, given that businesses are looking for some form of certainty so that they can plan for the recession that is being forecast?

You touched on the small business bonus scheme. When it was introduced in 2008, roughly 60,000 premises benefited from the scheme; that figure is now more than 100,000. How is the scheme helping businesses in Scotland in financial terms?

I have a couple of quick questions in the same area.

Mark, you talked earlier about the lack of exemplars. In recent decades, we have lost large companies that were headquartered in Scotland, such as Scottish & Newcastle, Diageo, Bank of Scotland and so on. We have also talked about a lack of confidence. Has that been part of the impact of losing those large global headquarters?

Secondly, a lot of companies, including Skyscanner, have sold out instead of continuing to grow to be global companies. In respect of Skyscanner, was the reason for that a lack of financial support or a lack of senior staff, which you talked about earlier? Is there a barrier at a certain point that means that a Scottish company has no other option but to sell out in order to continue to grow?

Thirdly, university research depends a lot on public funds. Is there a need for intellectual property rights to be reviewed so that companies and entrepreneurs can harness that research and help to grow the economy?

For my last question, I come back to Clare Reid. You mentioned the issue of processing visas for skilled workers. Bearing in mind the picture that Fergus Mutch painted of the number of vacancies that probably cannot be filled from the UK population, can you highlight anything else that needs to change in the UK Government’s shortage occupation list that would help to alleviate the issues in the labour statistics?

I have a question about labour shortages. The UK is the only G7 country where economic growth is below pre-pandemic levels. Clare Reid and Fergus Mutch have both mentioned labour shortages and I am aware of a record 1.2 million vacancies across the UK.

I turn to Clare Reid first. Please explain in more detail the impact that labour shortages are having on the ability of businesses to deliver growth. Are there any sectors or occupations where that problem is particularly acute?

Stacey Dingwall, do you have any views on the impact of shortages on FSB members?

Carolyn Currie, are there any particular issues for women’s businesses in relation to labour shortages that have not already been highlighted?

Fergus, is there anything that you would like to see for your members that could be achieved through changes to the UK skilled worker visa system, or further guidance?