With a highly educated workforce, lower operating costs and growing specialisms in fintech and green finance, Scotland can help power growth, writes Alastair King as he attends Scotland’s first Global Investment Summit

The Scottish writer Tobias Smollett once described Edinburgh as a “hotbed of genius”. From penicillin to the telephone to the steam engine, Scottish inventions have changed the course of global history. While we celebrate that rich heritage, I believe some of Scotland’s biggest successes are yet to come – provided we encourage capital to flow to the right places.

The United Kingdom’s economy showed no growth in July and, like the rest of the country, Scotland needs to unlock new capital to power its vital scale-up economy. I am pleased to see reports that the Treasury is considering a measure to exempt investors from the 0.5 per cent tax on buying the shares of newly-listed companies to boost British competitiveness – something I have been calling for. However, we can – and should – be doing more to support innovation. That is why, today, I am in Edinburgh attending Scotland’s first Global Investment Summit. It is an event........

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