SCDI

History The Scottish Council for Development and Industry (SCDI) is an independent, membership-driven economic development organisation. It was created in 1931. Today it is supported by around 1200 members across Scotland’s manufacturing and service sectors, universities and colleges, local government and enterprise networks, trade associations and professional bodies, arts organisations, churches and trade unions. As an entirely independent organisation, SCDI’s membership network seeks to strengthen Scotland’s economic competitiveness and sustainable prosperity by influencing Government policy at all levels (in Scotland, the UK, the European Union or globally).

SCDI’s history is rich as a pioneering organisation in many fields of activity. SCDI spearheaded the attraction of overseas manufacturing investment into Scotland in the late 1940s. It embarked on a campaign to attract companies from the United States – the first time a European country had pursued such a course. SCDI was also responsible for:

creating the first industrial estate in Scotland publishing seminal reports on regional policy and development of industry and, more recently, the introduction of enterprise activities into primary and secondary schools SCDI has also been a pioneer in the development of Scotland’s international business links, organising a programme of trade missions which stretches back as far as 1960. Almost 350 trade missions have been organised since then, to more than 50 markets worldwide and involving over 5,000 participants.

Today, SCDI is engaged in public policy issues, economic research and business information. It coordinates a network of 200 young engineers’ clubs to encourage young students interested in engineering, science and technology. SCDI also organises a sizeable programme of events from flagship conferences and dinners to informal networking opportunities.^[1]