A Scottish business leader has demanded an economic strategy free from “political paralysis” and focused on practical decision-making.

Scottish Chambers of Commerce president Rodney Ayre said its new Business Plan for Scotland, due in the new year, will demand decisive action on skills, infrastructure, digital capacity and global competitiveness.

“Our Business Plan is about the future Scotland needs: not one paralysed by the past or poleaxed by politics, but one where our policymakers take strategic, lasting decisions that deliver sustainable economic growth, wealth, and jobs,” he told 650 guests at the Chambers’ annual business address.

The plan sets out business priorities for beyond next year’s Holyrood elections to 2050.

“The choices our politicians make are not abstract: they shape confidence across boardrooms, shopfloors, and communities,” said Mr Ayre.

“That’s why our Business Plan for Scotland makes the case for practical, evidence-led decision-making that will pay dividends for decades to come.”

Mr Ayre emphasised Scotland’s economic trajectory over the next 25 years must be defined by evidence-led decision-making and a renewed focus on competitiveness.

He said he was “very disappointed” that the Chancellor had not made any change to the hike in National Insurance Contributions.

Outgoing chief executive Liz Cameron warned that Scotland risked falling behind international peers.

“Scotland stands at a crossroads. The choice ahead is not political. It is generational. Do we settle, or do we show ambition and leadership?” she said, adding that decisions taken by Government must be made in partnership with business.

Delivering her final address after two decades in the role, she said that progress would only be possible if government stopped the “short-termism” that had defined too many economic decisions in recent years.

“Business needs a clear vision giving us the confidence for the future. Sustainable success, and policy gain, and please, no more policy pain.”

She issued a warning about the funding crisis facing colleges and universities and the ongoing challenges around planning.

“Looking back on my 21 years at the helm of SCC, I am deeply proud of what we have achieved together amid seismic political and economic change,” she said.

“Leadership is not about titles or strategy: it is about integrity, collaboration, and resilience. My role has always been to ensure that Scotland’s business voice is heard where it matters most: at Holyrood, at Westminster, and on the global stage.”

Guest speaker Roisin Currie, chief executive of fast-food chain Greggs, told guests that true leadership was valuing all staff and said her company had distributed £20m from profits to 34,000 employees “the people who really make this business work”.

The Glasgow-born businesswoman, who promised a sausage roll for every guest as they left, said the company had more branches in Glasgow than any other city and was aiming for 3,500 across the UK before heading overseas.

Among her many anecdotes to explain Greggs’ popularity she said Greggs had launched a jewellery chain and the range sold out online within ten minutes.

Speaking about unexpected marketing gains, she said Madame Tussaud’s had put a sausage roll on a plinth which bemused Japanese visitors who then visited a Greggs branch and put photos of themselves eating one on TikTok.

Swinney hails Scotland’s credit rating

First Minister John Swinney told the gathering that he was “optimistic about Scotland’s economic strengths”, adding that “we continue to make progress, and build the foundations we need for our future economic success.”

He reminded guests that earlier this month two credit ratings agencies, Moody’s and S&P Global, had given Scotland the highest possible credit rating under current circumstances.

“Reflect on that for a moment,” he said. “Two independent, international agencies, using different methodologies, have come to that same conclusion. They have placed us ahead of many much larger global economies – including Spain, Japan, and Italy.

“This is an extremely positive step towards raising Scotland’s profile in the international capital markets, and demonstrating that we are serious about becoming a more investor friendly destination.”

Moody’s rated the Scottish Government as Aa3 and S&P Global rated it as AA, both identical to the UK’s Sovereign rating.

They highlighted the strength and diversity of Scotland’s economy, its strong institutional framework, and the government’s prudent financial management and low levels of debt.

The announcement prompted Mr Swinney to kickstart plans to issue a government bond as part of his broader plans for independence.

However, Moody’s warned that the rating “is not an indicative credit rating for an independent Scotland” and is “supported by the well-established devolution framework that Scotland operates under, with a requirement to maintain a balanced budget and predictable grant allocation.”

It added that “Scottish independence could exert downward pressure on the rating by introducing heightened uncertainty about the institutional framework and potentially raising financial stability risks.”

S&P Global added: “We could also lower the rating if Scotland took material steps toward independence from the UK.”