Strategic evaluation of SDI international activities 2017: Scottish Enterprise - additional analysis

This paper details the additional analysis undertaken by Scottish Enterprise (SE) following completion of the main evaluation report by SQW (‘Strategic evaluation of SDI international activities’), published separately. The evaluation assessed the support Scottish Development International (SDI) provided for international trade between 2012/13 and 2015/16 and for inward investment from 2011/12 to 2015/16. The additional analysis was undertaken on the following: trade – international project (IP) direct and indirect employment impacts and Cost per Job; and inward investment – direct and indirect employment impacts and Cost per Job.

The methodology consisted of analysis of responses from businesses from the trade IP survey and of the net direct additional employment data reported in the evaluation report.

The analysis estimated that, over the 2012/13 to 2015/16 period, 5,000 net additional direct job years were created by companies supported to trade overseas, with a further 3,000 net additional job years in the supply chain and wider economy (8,000 job years in total as a result of support). This equates to 1,400 direct jobs and a further 800 in the supply chain and supported by induced spend by 2015/16 (i.e. total of 2,200 jobs). Total trade costs were £114m over the four-year period, which results in a cost per job of £51,000. In relation to inward investment, over the 2011/12 to 2015/16 period of support, it was estimated that over 10,400 net additional direct jobs were created in inward investor companies, with a further 6,300 net additional jobs created in the supply chain and wider economy (16,700 net additional jobs in total as a result of support). Total inward investment costs were £181m over the period, which results in a cost per job of £10,900.

No recommendations were made.