Nation is 'losing out on talent overseas'

Published on Saturday 12 December 2009 13:31

THE Scottish Government's economic policy has been criticised for being far too insular by failing to attract and keep hold of talented individuals from overseas to balance homegrown skills.

Senior economist Professor Brian Ashcroft, of Strathclyde University's Fraser of Allander Institute, claimed that Scotland lags behind the rest of the UK and this is partly due to "a lack of social diversity in the workplace".

He made one exception: "A healthy ongoing intake of Chinese students, some of whom are staying in Scotland," but claimed this was as a result of the policy of the previous administration.

Ashcroft, who also sits on the Scottish Executive's industrial development advisory board (SIDAB), told a "skills" round table in Glasgow staged by Cisco: "We have to create a greater diversity, in terms of balancing the development of talent here in Scotland with that of people coming from abroad.

"This would benefit the country not only economically and culturally but also in terms of knowledge transfer."

Scotland required less homogeneity to grow the economy "with more people coming from outside and staying here to bring in new dimensions of thinking".

Ashcroft said there was no reason for anyone to feel threatened by such a change in policy, which would ultimately increase Scotland's competitiveness with the rest of the world.

Another round table attendee, Polly Purvis, executive director with ScotlandIS, the trade body representing the software, IT and creative technology businesses, uttered a note of caution to such a plan.

She said Scotland should develop the expertise of the indigenous population rather than just importing skills. "We have a lot of individuals here with bright ideas and we must not kill off this undoubted creativity that can be commercialised to the lasting benefit of the economy."