Public Knowledge

• E7: Scotland's Psyche; Risk, Failure & The Need for Courage; Rediscovering Patience & Perseverance

  #Scotland #MalcolmRobertson #business #politics #innovation #culture #energytransition #narrative #entrepreneurship #publiclife #economy #courage #patience #perseverance #investment #educateyourselfIn this episode, I'm talking with Malcolm Robertson - someone who is immersed in the Scottish business, media and political scene but who doesn't often appear in the public eye himself.Malcolm is one of my all time favourite people that I've met since embarking on this journey, because he not only provides a unique perspective on Scotland's economy and politics... He's also willing to go places that others find uncomfortable... to talk about the culture, spirit and mindset at the heart of our public life, and how we can transform it. Anyone who knows me, knows how pre-occupied I am with this - so you'll understand why I love talking with him so much!So expect less facts and figures in this episode but more of an inquiry into the pioneering spirit and culture of Scotland's past, where that spirit is bubbling up in the present and how we can unlock it for the bright future that is within our grasp. Enjoy!-------Timecodes:00:00 Intro03:08 From Tenacity to Timidity...& Back Again05:50 Scottish Innovation & Interplay with Politics09:09 Risk, Failure, and the Need for Courage15:07 The New Brand Scotland... With the Old Perseverance19:35 Patience & Lifting Our Sights24:11 Short-Termism Affecting Third Sector28:46 Over-reliance on Government & Taking Radical Responsibility33:34 The Diminishing Scottish Business Media37:06 Creating a Supportive Business Environment42:29 Who Can We Learn From? English Mayors & Scottish Islanders46:36 Transformational Opportunities for Scotland50:02 Personal Psyche; Impact on National Psyche59:14 Public Knowledge & Changing the Story------Malcolm Robertson is Founding Partner at Charlotte Street Partners - Scotland’s leading communications and public affairs agency. He also chair the board of trustees of Street Soccer Scotland and the Scotland advisory board of Unicef UK. You can find out more about Malcolm here: https://www.charlottestreetpartners.com/people/malcolm-robertson-charlotte-street-partners/-----Instagram:    / public_knowledge_pod  TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@public_knowle...Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/publicknowle...Linkedin: public_knowledge_pod

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• E6: Scotland Economy; The Only Competition with England that Counts; Stereotypes Holding Us Back?

  #money #scotland #economy #jobs #energytransition #globaltrends #growth #educateyourself #educate #business #investment _____The most important Scotland-England rivalry you’ve probably NEVER heard of… is the one that matters most for the health of the Scottish Finances!Join me in Part 2 of this interview with Professor Graeme Roy - where we unpack:* The largely unknown financial formula that puts us in direct competition with England;* How Scottish stereotypes could be holding our economy back; and* The need to move beyond a Westminster focus and scrutinise Scottish Government decision making...If you’re curious about getting under the skin of the real, and really very important story, of Scotland’s changing economic fortunes and how they will impact us all, then this episode is for you!_____Chapters00:00 Introduction01:22 Shades of Economic Growth04:30 Link: Economic Growth & Public Services06:17 Where Scotland-England Rivalry GETS REAL09:47 Tax Revenue Growth: Impact on Scottish Budget11:07 The Importance of High-Quality Jobs14:52 Scotland's Dynamic & Evolving Economy19:48 Stories Matter: Mythbusting is Critical to Scotland's Future Economy21:20 Improving What Scotland DOES Control25:35 Where is the Vibrancy, the New Ideas, the Challenge?_____Graeme Roy is Chair of the Scottish Fiscal Commission, Scotland’s official independent economic and fiscal forecaster, and Professor of Economics, Deputy Head of the College of Social Sciences and Assistant Vice Principal at the University of Glasgow.He was previously Director of the Fraser of Allander Institute at the University of Strathclyde and a former Senior Civil Servant in the Scottish Government, where he was Head of the First Minister’s Policy Unit.His research focus is on economic policy and devolution. He is a regular commentator on the Scottish economy, including a column for The Herald newspaper.He is a past independent adviser to the Scottish Parliament’s Economy, Jobs and Fair Work Committee, and a former member of the UK Government’s Scottish Business Taskforce and the Scottish Government’s National Economic Transformation Council.Outside of university, Graeme is a board member of Stirling Community Enterprise a social enterprise based in the Raploch area that supports community-based training and employment.In 2023, Graeme was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh (RSE). In 2024, he was awarded the Adam Smith Prize by the RSE for his “substantial contribution to public policy and public life in Scotland”.You can find out more about Graeme’s work here: https://www.gla.ac.uk/schools/business/staff/graemeroy/#biography_____Instagram:    / public_knowledge_pod  TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@public_knowle...Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/publicknowle...

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• E5: Scotland's Economy; The Forgotten Story; Global & UK Context; Grand Challenges & Opportunities

  #money#scotland#economy #manufacturing #energytransition #globaltrends#growth#educateyourself#educate#business#investment _____Think Scotland’s economy is all about salmon, whisky and energy? Then think again! In part 1 of this interview with Professor Graeme Roy - we start demystifying the Scottish economy:Locating it in the wider global and UK context;Revealing a forgotten story of our economic fall and rise; andAsking what grand challenges and grand opportunities lie ahead of us.If you’re curious about getting under the skin of the real, and really very exciting story, of Scotland’s changing economic fortunes and how they will impact us all, then this episode is for you!_____Chapters00:00 Intro01:28 Scotland's Economy in a Global Context04:57 Scottish Manufacturing - Past & Future08:17 Scotland's Position within the UK Economy10:32 Grand Challenges Facing Scottish Economy13:51 Key Sectors of Economy - Present & Future16:37 Playing Catch Up? Scotland's Public Discourse19:19 Scotland's Economy - Falling Through the Cracks?_____Graeme Roy is Chair of the Scottish Fiscal Commission, Scotland’s official independent economic and fiscal forecaster, and Professor of Economics, Deputy Head of the College of Social Sciences and Assistant Vice Principal at the University of Glasgow.He was previously Director of the Fraser of Allander Institute at the University of Strathclyde and a former Senior Civil Servant in the Scottish Government, where he was Head of the First Minister’s Policy Unit.His research focus is on economic policy and devolution. He is a regular commentator on the Scottish economy, including a column for The Herald newspaper.He is a past independent adviser to the Scottish Parliament’s Economy, Jobs and Fair Work Committee, and a former member of the UK Government’s Scottish Business Taskforce and the Scottish Government’s National Economic Transformation Council.Outside of university, Graeme is a board member of Stirling Community Enterprise a social enterprise based in the Raploch area that supports community-based training and employment.In 2023, Graeme was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh (RSE). In 2024, he was awarded the Adam Smith Prize by the RSE for his “substantial contribution to public policy and public life in Scotland”.You can find out more about Graeme’s work here: https://www.gla.ac.uk/schools/business/staff/graemeroy/#biography_____Instagram:    / public_knowledge_pod  TikTok:https://www.tiktok.com/@public_knowle...Bluesky:https://bsky.app/profile/publicknowle...Linkedin:    / about  

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• E4: Scotland: NORTH SEA Money - Where'd It Go? Why Country is Creaking? How Does Scot BUDGET work?

  #northsea #oilandgas #money #scotland #economy #growth  #public #finance #barnett #fiscal #tax #revenue #spending #educateyourself #educate #business #investment  _____ Where does Scotland’s money come from, and why should you care? Part 2! In this episode of Public Knowledge, Professor Mairi Spowage gives us the answers! Speaking with Sepi Golzari-Munro in part 2 of her interview, she reveals: - The (known) truth about the North Sea oil and gas money (and what we might never know); - Why many of the services, networks and systems - essentially most of our national infrastructure - feels like it's creaking; and  - How the Scottish budgeting process - that determines how much money we have to invest in our nation - actually works.  If you’re curious about how taxes, government funding, and policies shape your everyday life, this episode is for you! _____ Chapters 00:00 Intro 01:26 North Sea Money - Where did it go? 04:50 More devolution; more dependence? 07:16 Who is accountable? 10:11 What About the Trade-Offs 12:38 Scottish Govt BUDGET - Process & Challenges 15:30 Borrowing Powers & Our Crumbling Infrastructure 17:35 Capital Spending & Long-Term Investment 21:05 Key Interventions for a Prosperous Future 22:55 What Should Be Public Knowledge? 23:54 Outro _____ Mairi Spowage is a Professor of Practice and Director of the Fraser of Allander Institute. Her areas of expertise include economic policy, economic statistics, national accounting, public sector finances, and economic and fiscal forecasting. She is regularly asked to give evidence on economic and fiscal matters at Parliamentary Committees, such as the Finance and Constitution Committee and the Economy, Jobs and Fair Work Committee.  Previously, Mairi was the Deputy Chief Executive of the Scottish Fiscal Commission and the Head of National Accounts at the Scottish Government, and has over 15 years of experience working in different areas of statistics and analysis, including transport, household surveys and performance measurement. More information about Mairi and her work can be found at: https://pureportal.strath.ac.uk/en/persons/mairi-spowage _____ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/public_knowledge_pod TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@public_knowledge_pod?_t=8sIhMOiLosj&_r=1 Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/publicknowledgepod.bsky.social Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/public-knowledge-pod/about

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• E3: Scotland's Money; The TRUTH Revealed - Part 1

  #money #scotland #economy #growth  #public #finance #barnett #fiscal  #tax #revenue #spending #educateyourself #educate #business #investment  _____ Where does Scotland’s money come from, and why should you care? Part 1! In this episode of Public Knowledge, Professor Mairi Spowage gives us the answers! Speaking with Sepi Golzari-Munro in part 1 of a two part interview, she reveals the truth about the money that flows into the Scottish Government's coffers, the famous Barnett Formula and the link between economic growth and public services. They explore the impact of tax on individual behaviour as well as business investment and where Scotland might need more money per person, than the rest of the UK. If you’re curious about how taxes, government funding, and policies shape your everyday life, this episode is for you! _____ Timecodes 00:00 Introduction 02:30 Why care about Public Finances?  05:30 Public Finances Health Check 07:20 Sources of Scotland's Public Finances 09:58 Income Tax in Scotland 11:12 Penny Wise; Pound Foolish? 14:19 Tax: Impact on Investment & Growth? 16:03 Mythbusting - No Growth/De-Growth 17:48 Direct Link: Growth & Public Services 19:08 'FISCAL' : WTF does it mean?! 20:19 Barnett Formula: History & Operation _____ Mairi Spowage is a Professor of Practice and Director of the Fraser of Allander Institute. Her areas of expertise include economic policy, economic statistics, national accounting, public sector finances, and economic and fiscal forecasting. She is regularly asked to give evidence on economic and fiscal matters at Parliamentary Committees, such as the Finance and Constitution Committee and the Economy, Jobs and Fair Work Committee.  Previously, Mairi was the Deputy Chief Executive of the Scottish Fiscal Commission and the Head of National Accounts at the Scottish Government, and has over 15 years of experience working in different areas of statistics and analysis, including transport, household surveys and performance measurement. More information about Mairi and her work can be found at: https://pureportal.strath.ac.uk/en/persons/mairi-spowage _____ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/public_knowledge_pod TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@public_knowledge_pod?_t=8sIhMOiLosj&_r=1 Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/publicknowledgepod.bsky.social Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/public-knowledge-pod/about

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