Government staff based in Glasgow will work alongside employees from Scottish Enterprise and Skills Development Scotland in a move designed to help deliver improved services, better joint working and savings worth up to £2m a year.

Around 450 government staff will move from their existing city centre offices to Atlantic Quay, where both Scottish Enterprise and Skills Development Scotland will be headquartered.

The plans also see around 100 staff from Scottish Enterprise and Scottish Development International (SDI) based in the building, with the bulk of Scottish Enterprise's other staff moving out to existing premises, and around 100 employees from Skills Development Scotland will also be based at Atlantic Quay.

Announcing the plans, Cabinet Secretary for Finance and Sustainable Growth John Swinney said:: “Our Enterprise Network reforms are designed to deliver more streamlined, better targeted, more effective and more efficient business support. And our Skills Strategy also looks to create more cohesive structures for individuals and employers alike.

“The changes I am announcing today will help deliver on both counts, bringing together the Scottish Government in Glasgow, and HQ functions of SE and SDS.

“Locating the corporate headquarters teams of SE and SDS with SDI and Scottish Government staff under the same roof will ensure more effective joint working towards this Government's aim of increased sustainable economic growth. It will also, with effect from next year, save the taxpayer up to £2 million per annum in rent and rates. 

“This move also helps SE to relocate the bulk of their existing HQ-based staff closer to customers, delivering on a key theme of our reforms.

“This is much more than simply shuffling a few staff between desks. It sends out the clear signal that we are serious about making business support - and government services more generally - more effective, focused and efficient.”

Swinney said the moves should be completed by next April, and the next stage is to find alternative occupiers for Meridian Court and the Europa Building where the bulk of Glasgow-based Scottish Government staff are currently located. 

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