Scotland’s leading business organisation has urged the UK government to put investment at the heart of today’s UK budget.

Speaking at a Scottish Chambers of Commerce reception at Edinburgh Castle last night, President Stephen Leckie said: “Our budget focus is on growth, investment, and competitiveness. That means investing in skills, technology, and infrastructure, and equipping the workforce for tomorrow’s challenges.

“The Chancellor’s actions and the message they send will directly impact business confidence and investment at a time when we need to create positive momentum. We hope that our calls to support business have been listened to and not ignored.”

The message was delivered at a joint event with the Scottish Government where First Minister John Swinney echoed the plea for a focus on business investment.

First Minister John Swinney said: “My Government is committed to growing the economy to generate the wealth to invest in our public services and eradicate child poverty. We want to use that investment to create a partnership between government and business that will make the most of Scotland’s many economic opportunities.

“It takes political willpower to adapt and evolve our economies and grow thriving societies in all four nations – something the Chancellor can signal by including steps to advance the Acorn carbon capture and storage project in the UK Budget, which would provide new opportunities for workers in the oil and gas sector in Grangemouth and in other parts of Scotland.”

SCC Chief Executive Dr Liz Cameron CBE said: “The business measures the Chancellor introduces today are critical for economic prosperity, creating wealth and much needed jobs.

“Businesses desperately need support and a positive plan for investment and growth that will create the confidence and financial foundations for a thriving economy. It is incumbent on all our political leaders to ensure that business friendly policies are at the heart of their respective budgets.

“We accept there are difficult fiscal conditions but any move to increase the cost of doing business, including increasing employer NICs, needs to be balanced by both direct support for the bottom line and the lifting of the many constraints and bureaucratic hurdles placed in the way of business growth.”