A new group established the Scottish Government will involve businesses at an early stage of policy development in bid to deepen links with the private sector.

The group met for the first time this week with a focus on economic conditions and performance, ensuring the best environment to do business, and a transition to a wellbeing economy. Dr Poonam Malik, Head of Investments at the University of Strathclyde, will co-chair the New Deal for Business Group alongside Wellbeing Economy Secretary, Neil Gray.

However, NFUS President Martin Kennedy questioned what role the agriculture sector would play in the new organisation. “The views of Scottish agriculture, the wider rural economy and our food and drink sector must play a major part in this new group’s discussions and ambitions and we will be writing to Wellbeing Economy Minister Neil Gray to establish what part this group will play in driving forward sectors crucial to our economic future.

“We need clarity on how the rural voice will be represented on this group and certainty that rural interests will be at the table as they are key to Scotland’s green economy and green growth. We recognise the need for developing a new deal for business. On its own, the Scottish agricultural industry is made up of 17,500 farming and crofting businesses; employing 65,000 people and has a collective turnover in excess of £3.5bn.

Mr Kennedy highlighted the agriculture sector as 'the cornerstone of a food and drink industry that has grown to become Scotland’s biggest manufacturing sector, comprising of thousands of businesses reliant on our primary producers providing the raw materials'.

The group has a number of key aims including improving the development and implementation of regulation, establishing a consultative sub-group to advise on further enhancements to the Non-Domestic Rates system. Other aims are demonstrating how business contributes to a wellbeing economy and collating and sharing data and evidence across sectors to dictate the response to emerging opportunities and changes in the business climate.

Mr Kennedy continued: “While NFU Scotland is at the heart of discussions on future agricultural policy and food production, early engagement with our industry on wider policy development is crucial, not least as our members diversify into the likes of renewable energy, retail and agritourism.

“It is in everyone’s interests that any policy is effective and proportionate and any unintended consequences of policy change on businesses, big and small, are identified and addressed at the earliest opportunity.”

Mr Gray said the group would deepen the relationship between government and business by engaging and communicating and 'actively working together to achieve common goals and align Scottish Government policy with business'.