techUK news and views
13 May 2025

Publication of the Scottish Government’s Programme for Government

Last week, First Minister John Swinney delivered the 2025-2026 Programme for Government to the Scottish Parliament.

Typically delivered in September, the Programme for Government was brought forward due to the Scottish Parliament election in May 2026. It outlines the Scottish Government’s plans for the period up to the election, including its legislative programme, with a focus on:

  • Growing the economy
  • Eradicating child poverty
  • Tackling the climate emergency
  • Providing high quality and sustainable public services

Growing Scotland’s tech sector is key to driving wider economic growth and techUK welcomes many of the actions outlined in the Programme for Government. This includes their plans to deliver a sector export plan for technology, establish a Technology Council and launch a new national programme in the form of AI Scotland.

Actions that will be of interest to techUK members and the wider technology sector are outlined below.

Innovation

  • Implementing the Pathways report in order to increase the number of women starting and scaling businesses. The author of the Pathways report will be speaking at techUK’s upcoming Meet the Investors event in Glasgow on 17 June. Find out more here.
  • Increasing the number of women participating in international trade missions in order to help them export more. You can read more about the Scottish Government’s efforts to tackle the gender export gap here.
  • Launching a new national programme, AI Scotland - with input from key stakeholders such as industry - as well as an AI adoption programme for SMEs. techUK has a collection of UK AI adoption case studies showcasing examples of how organisations are Putting AI into Action. To view the case studies, and find out more about our work on AI, click here.
  • Creating a Technology Council consisting of academic and business experts who will offer guidance in relation to emerging technologies.
  • Launch the First Minister’s Start-up Challenge, supporting young people from disadvantaged backgrounds to start and scale innovative businesses.

You can read more about the Scottish Government’s plans to support innovation on page eight of the Programme for Government.

Exports

The Scottish Government plans to implement a new Six Point Export Plan:

  • Helping organisations to grow internationally through an ‘International Growth Support Programme’
  • Delivering Sector Export Plans for Technology, Life Sciences, Renewables and Hydrogen, which will look at how challenges such as funding research and in-market promotion can be overcome
  • Demonstrating Scotland’s export market through inward missions and increasing overseas missions to help businesses access their target markets
  • Increasing access to business membership organisations who can now bid for support for trade missions to certain markets
  • Creating a US Export Plan and offering assistance to those exporting to the country

You can find more information on the Six Point Export Plan on page seven of the Programme for Government.

Capital Investment

  • Demonstrate investment opportunities to investors and offer a single point of entry to government through a new portal, ‘InvestScotland’
  • Enhancing inward investment activity, in order to bring more scaling companies to Scotland – with a focus on Silicon Valley and other tech hubs – and strengthen the fintech sector

You can read more about the Scottish Government’s plans in relation to capital investment on page seven of the Programme for Government.

Transport

  • By 2030, deliver more than 20,000 additional public EV charging points, with the introduction of new rural and island EV infrastructure grants.
  • Help to install cross-pavement EV charging solutions for those who do not have off-street parking, through a pilot grant scheme.

Find out more about the Scottish Government’s plans to decarbonise transport on page 26 of the Programme for Government.

Health and social care

  • By the end of 2025, the Scottish Government will launch the first version of its health and social care app and publish plans for the broader ‘personalised digital health and social care service’.
  • The roll-out of the National Digital Dermatology pathway to health boards across Scotland is due to be completed by the end of Spring 2025.
  • Over the next three years, approximately 3,000 people who have recently received a type 2 diabetes diagnosis will receive support from a national digital intensive weight management programme. You can read more about this in the Scottish Government’s announcement from March.

To find out more about the Scottish Government’s plans in relation to health and social care, go to page 30 of the Programme for Government.

Education

  • Digital onscreen assessments for some subjects will be piloted from 2025/26
  • Support will be given to schools to help ensure children are able to counter the effects of disinformation and online hate.

You can read more about the Scottish Government’s plans in relation to education on page 33 of the Programme for Government.

Justice

  • Roll-outs of both the Digital Evidence Sharing Capability programme and Body Worn Video technology to police officers will continue.
  • GPS technology will be deployed for use with home detention curfews.

Read more about the Scottish Government’s plans in regards to justice on page 36 of the Programme for Government.

Legislation

As stated on page 42 of the Programme for Government, the Scottish Government plans to introduce a Digital Assets Bill in Year 5.

“The Bill will clarify the status of digital assets as property in Scots private law, to provide greater legal certainty for individuals and for businesses including those investing in digital assets, for technology and financial start-ups, as well as for the legal sector.”

The Bill follows a consultation on digital assets in Scots private law. You can view the consultation document and published responses here.

Get in touch

If you would like to find out more about techUK’s work in Scotland, please contact [email protected]

Matt Robinson

Matt Robinson

Head of Nations and Regions, techUK

Matt is techUK’s Head of Nations and Regions.

Matt is leading techUK’s work with members and stakeholders across the UK to increase the Local Digital Capital across the UK’s nation and regions, build communities and to ensure that digital technology plays a key part the post-COVID-19 levelling-up recovery.

Prior to joining techUK, Matt worked for several national education charities and membership bodies to develop their regional partnerships with schools, academy trusts, local authorities, and other stakeholders. He’s also worked with local authority leaders and other stakeholders to engage communities, work with elected members and improve public services.

He holds a BA in Politics from the University of York and an MA in International Relations from the University of Leeds. Away from work he’s a keen football fan and golfer.

If you’d like to find out more about our work in the nations and regions please get in touch with Matt:

Email:
[email protected]
Website:
techuk.org,,techuk.org,

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Ileana Lupsa

Ileana Lupsa

Programme Manager, Local Public Services and Nations and Regions, techUK

Ileana Lupsa is the Programme Manager for Local Public Services and Nations and Regions, at techUK.

Ileana studied electronics, telecommunications and IT as an undergraduate, followed by an MSc in engineering and project management at Coventry University.

She refined her programme management expertise through her most recent roles working in the automotive industry.

Ileana is passionate about sustainability and creating a positive impact globally through innovation.

Email:
[email protected]
Twitter:
@IleanaLupsa
Website:
www.techUK.org
LinkedIn:
www.linkedin.com/in/ileana-lupsa

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Stephanie Barr

Programme Manager, SME Engagement and Nations & Regions, techUK

Stephanie is the Programme Manager for SME Engagement and Nations & Regions at techUK.

Working across the two programmes, Stephanie develops activities to support the growth and development of tech SMEs and engages with members and stakeholders more broadly to help strengthen regional tech economies.

Prior to joining techUK, Stephanie worked for a political events company and as a Senior Caseworker for an MP. She holds an MA (HONS) in Politics from the University of Glasgow.

Outside of work, Stephanie enjoys travelling, climbing and playing squash.

Email:
[email protected]

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Tracy Modha

Tracy Modha

Programme Marketing Assistant for Public Sector Markets, techUK

Tracy supports the marketing of several areas at techUK, including Cyber Exchange, Central Government, Cyber Resilience, Defence, Education, Health and Social Care, Justice and Emergency Services, Local Public Services, Nations and Regions and National Security.

Tracy joined techUK in March 2022, having worked in the education sector for 19 years, covering administration, research project support, IT support and event/training support. My most outstanding achievement has been running three very successful international conferences and over 300 training courses booked all over the globe!

Tracy has a great interest in tech. Gaming and computing have been a big part of her life, and now electric cars are an exciting look at the future. She has warmed to Alexa, even though it can sometimes be sassy!

Email:
[email protected]
Phone:
02073312000
Website:
www.techuk.org
LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/tracymodha83

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Nations and Regions Programme activities

techUK champions the tech sector throughout the UK. We work with local authorities, devolved government, and local and national policy makers to advocate for the tech sector in strengthening economic growth and resilience across the nations and regions. Visit the programme page here

 

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Meet the team 

Matt Robinson

Matt Robinson

Head of Nations and Regions, techUK

Ileana Lupsa

Ileana Lupsa

Programme Manager, Local Public Services and Nations and Regions, techUK

Stephanie Barr

Programme Manager, SME Engagement and Nations & Regions, techUK

Tracy Modha

Tracy Modha

Programme Marketing Assistant for Public Sector Markets, techUK

 

 

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