Kate Forbes

The Short Life Working Group on Economic and Social Opportunities for Gaelic will have representation from a range of sectors with experience of working and living in Gaelic communities.

Iseabail Mactaggart will chair the group which will help deliver on the ambitions of the new 10 year National Strategy for Economic Transformation, which sets out Scotland’s aim to have one of the most successful and thriving economies in the world and ensuring all of Scotland benefits from investment in the skills and industries of the future.

Economy secretary Kate Forbes launched the new group during a visit to open the Galson Estate Business Centre on the Isle of Lewis. She said: “As a speaker of language I know how much Gaelic is a vital part of Scotland’s cultural identity, and our aim is to create a secure future for Gaelic by supporting those who speak the language.

“We want to inspire and enable everyone across Scotland to contribute to, and benefit from, a more prosperous, productive and internationally competitive economy, working in a culture that rewards and celebrates innovation and initiative.”

She added: “Scotland must be a country where economic opportunities are distributed fairly across our regions, cities and towns and our rural and island communities. We need people to be at the very heart of an economy that works for everyone, no matter where they live, what community they’re part of or what their aims and objectives are, so they can share in our national success.

“The group’s expertise will be hugely valuable in identifying economic opportunities which will help strengthen our Gaelic communities across Scotland and I am looking forward to hearing their recommendations.”

Iseabail Mactaggart commented: “Gaelic-speaking communities across Scotland have a long history of being resourceful and innovative in outlook, and that has created impact within these communities and beyond. I’m looking forward to exploring approaches and listening to a wide range of ideas and expertise, so that with the group members we articulate useful recommendations that will create meaningful impact and build on valuable work to date.

“We aim to identify economic and social opportunities that will see Gaelic strengthened, and with that Gaelic-speaking communities, and equally, we aim to suggest initiatives that will support economic and social outcomes in these communities, and with that, the language.”