The Scottish creator of one of the world's leading science education programmes is celebrating his success at the 'Arthurs' - the space industry equivalent of the Oscars. Alex Blackwood, the head of enterprise in education at Careers Scotland, has taken home an award from the 2006 Sir Arthur Clarke awards in the category of Achievement in Education. He has been recognised for his contribution to learning and teaching and the promotion of science as a career choice. The 'Arthurs' celebrate the success of scientists, organisations, educators and journalists who work in and promote the UK Space Science industry. The awards were presented at a black-tie dinner on Saturday 8 April, at Charterhouse School in Surrey. This year’s nominees included Richard Branson and the British born astronaut Michael Foale. Alex received the award for his work with the Careers Scotland Space School - a unique initiative supported by the Scottish Executive and the International Space Community. The programme aims to increase the participation and motivation of school students in science, engineering and technology. Every year fifty of its brightest and most enthusiastic students are selected to experience the highlight of the Careers Scotland Space School: a trip of a lifetime to NASA’s Space Center in Houston. Alex, a former physics teacher who lives in Alexandria, West Dunbartonshire, played a key role in setting up the first Space School in January 2002. Originally developed as a local project for a small number of Glasgow school students, the programme's success has led to its countrywide expansion. Last year, more than 22,500 young people had access to a team of inspirational NASA astronauts and scientists, who visited Scotland as part of the SpaceSchool programme. Alex said: "I am delighted that the Careers Scotland Space School has achieved national recognition. Its success is down to the unique relationship that Careers Scotland has formed with NASA and its astronauts, scientists and engineers. Their continued support and passion for science and learning is truly inspirational. I would also like to thank the Careers Scotland team who have worked so hard to ensure that the Space School programme is a success for everyone who participates." For more information about the 2006 Sir Arthur Clarke Awards visit their website. Notes to editors: Careers Scotland offers a range of career planning and information services to enable people of all ages to maximise their career potential. As a national organisation, Careers Scotland has a clear and simple purpose - to help the people of Scotland secure the jobs of tomorrow. Its aim is to make a difference by equipping people with the skills to make well informed career decisions throughout their lives. Careers Scotland operates centres throughout Scotland and can be contacted through the website www.careers-scotland.org.uk and on 0845 8 502 502. It is part of Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise. Media contact: Lucy Robb Tel: 0141 228 2995 / 07887 628732 Email: maito:lucy.robb@scotent.co.uk

The world's smallest television screen, chemical 'sniffing' lasers and the building block of next generation computing are among the technology innovations Scottish companies are set to showcase to an international audience. Hundreds of potential investors and clients have grasped the opportunity to discuss business opportunities with Scotland's top technology innovators at one of the largest events of its kind to be staged for the Scottish micro and opto electronics industry.

Scotland chips in with world-leading semiconductor technology

Scotland’s bid to win the global race to develop advanced semiconductor technology has been given a £730,000 funding boost from Scottish Enterprise.

The money will be used to assist in the ground-breaking development work being carried out at the University of Glasgow.

Find out more in this month's edition of Scottish Technology News

Leading global technology integrator Avanade - a joint venture between Microsoft and Accenture - today (Tuesday 25 January) opens its new Scottish operation in Edinburgh which will create up to 50 new high-skill jobs in the next two years.

Avanade specialises in Microsoft business products and helps companies around the world which use software to make the most of their IT investment.

Speaking ahead of the opening of the new facility in St Andrew’s Square, Edinburgh, Avanade’s chief executive Mitch Hill said: “Avanade is an early-stage, high-growth company. Formed in 2000, the global organisation is focused on achieving 30-40 per cent growth and our business in the UK grew by 181 per cent in our last financial year. Establishing an office in Scotland is key to our continued development given the concentration of large enterprises, particularly in the financial services sector, who can all benefit from the services we provide. We are keen that Microsoft technology is used by more organisations in Scotland, and it will be Avanade’s role to ensure the successful deployment and exploitation of Microsoft technologies to customers.”

Welcoming Avanade to Scotland, Enterprise Minister Jim Wallace MSP, said: “I am pleased that a leading IT solutions company like Avanade views Scotland as a location to grow its rapidly expanding business in what is highly competitive market place.  Clearly the availability of a skilled and reliable workforce has played a major role in winning this project and demonstrates Scotland’s excellent qualities in supporting companies whose business is driven by technological development and innovation.”

Heading up the new operation is Simon Fielding-Turton, previously a Business Manager for Microsoft in Scotland. He said: “Microsoft has great products, they are robust, secure and manageable, but we do not believe that  Scotland has sufficient system integration companies of the scale and capability to deliver the technology that Scotland’s leading organisations rely on.”

He added: “Even though Avanade’s Scottish office is part of a global organisation our policy is to hire locally. Over the next two years we plan to grow our headcount to 50. We want to employ people with experience of working on large and complex projects who are highly skilled in the delivery of Microsoft technology. By encouraging more businesses to use Microsoft technology we anticipate an overall growth in the size of the Microsoft services sector in Scotland.

Brian Shaw, Director of Field Operations, Scottish Development International, said: "Attracting investment in growth industries is an important strand of the Smart, Successful Scotland strategy and the work of Scottish Development International and Scottish Enterprise Edinburgh and Lothian in helping convince the company that Scotland is a place in which they can grow and develop, demonstrates our commitment to ensuring Scotland remains a place where multinational corporations can do great business. We have fostered a close and positive relationship with the company and we are pleased that Scotland is now set to reap the rewards of these efforts."

Notes to editors

Launched in April 2000 with a US$385 million investment from Microsoft, Avanade is a joint venture between Microsoft and Accenture. It now has 31 locations worldwide with around 2,800 employees. Its global headquarters are in Seattle, Washington. Further information is available on the Avanade website.

Avanade customers in the UK include BG Group, Mercer, Tesco, Medicines Control Agency, London Stock Exchange, Imprint Plc and EMI.

Anyone interested in working for Avanade in Scotland should visit the Avanade website for more information on the roles available.

Simon Fielding-Turton the head of Avanade's new Scottish office is available for interviews.

In October 2001, "Scotland: A Global Connections Strategy" was launched as part of the Scottish Executive's guiding principles for the Enterprise Networks, "A Smart Successful Scotland." It set out a radical new approach to establish Scotland as a world class business partner in the globally connected economy of the 21st Century, including the creation of a new body, Scottish Development International, which is jointly operated by the Scottish Executive and Scottish Enterprise.

Scottish Enterprise is the main economic development agency for Scotland covering 93 per cent of the population from Grampian to the Borders. The Scottish Enterprise Network consists of Scottish Enterprise and 12 Local Enterprise Companies.  Working in partnership with the private and public sectors the Network aims to build more and better businesses, to develop the skills and knowledge of Scottish people, and to encourage innovation to make Scottish business internationally competitive.

For further information contact:

David Cannon
Senior Press & PR Executive
Scottish Enterprise
Tel 0141 228 2702
Mob: 07887 830128

Avanade contacts:

Scotland - Sheila Kennedy
Tel: 07906 178234
Email: sheilake@btinternet.com

UK - Jennifer Gardet or Jane Green
JBA Public Relations
Tel:  01372 734262
Email: jennifer.gardet@jbapr.com or jane.green@jbapr.com  

Organisations from across Scotland were recognised for their success and commitment to training at a prestigious awards ceremony last night (11 November 2004).

The National Training Awards (NTA) celebrated their eighteenth year in style at the Hilton Hotel in Glasgow with Deputy First Minister, Jim Wallace as guest of honour.

NTA, managed in Scotland by Scottish Enterprise and Highlands and Islands Enterprise, are the UK's premier showcase for organisations and people who have been selected for their outstanding achievements in workplace training and personal development. This year’s awards have seen a record number of contenders, with a 26% increase of entries on last year and a significant rise in the standards of training.

There were three levels of awards on the night. Highly Commended rewarded those finalists who have shown great potential and have demonstrated a dedication to excellence through training.

Scottish Training Awards went to those organisations who were judged to be exceptional in Scotland and National Training Awards went to those organisations who were judged to be exceptional in the UK. The winners of the National Training Awards will go on to participate in a UK-wide celebration in London later this year.

The 2004 winners are:

Highly Commended

• Interactive Business Partnership (IBP) and Scottish Enterprise
• The Edrington Group
• Royal Bank of Scotland Group
• The Learning Game

Scottish Training Awards

• Mackays Stores Limited and IBP
• Fife Women's Technology Centre
• Anniesland College
• AMEC Group Limited & W2 Training Ltd
• Family Mediation Borders
• West Fife Enterprise Limited
• The Lennox Partnership and Scottish Enterprise Dunbartonshire
• Amanda Allan, Kirkcaldy
• May-Tag Ltd
• South Lanarkshire Council - Youthstart, Careers Scotland - Positive Futures, South Lanarkshire College and One Plus
• Reid Kerr College
• Imes Ltd
• North Lanarkshire Council Social Work Department

National Training Awards

• Remploy - Stirling Factory
• Yeoman Morvern Ltd
• Solas Scotland

Alan Sinclair, senior director of skills and learning, Scottish Enterprise, said: "Why do we train people? Is it to make us feel good, or as an article of faith? The National Training Awards finalists, from a small local charity to one of the world's biggest companies, train because it works.  It pays dividends; investing in training, if done well, gives a rate of return. We train because it drives performance."

Alex Paterson, director of developing skills, Highlands and Islands Enterprise, said: "In many parts of Scotland, skills gaps and shortages have now taken over from unemployment as the main challenge to economic growth.  It's clear, therefore, that workforce development is a hugely important issue, both for individual businesses and for the country as a whole. This year's award winners are typical of a large number of Scottish businesses which are seizing that challenge with the assistance of the enterprise networks.  I am pleased that Highlands and Islands Enterprise has again been able to support the awards and congratulate all the winners on their achievement."

Notes to editors

• For more information about the National Training Awards please go to www.nationaltrainingawards.com.
• Scottish Enterprise is the main economic development agency for Scotland covering 93 per cent of the population from Grampian to the Borders. The Scottish Enterprise Network consists of Scottish Enterprise, 12 Local Enterprise Companies and Careers Scotland. Working in partnership with the private and public sectors the Network aims to build more and better businesses, to develop the skills and knowledge of Scottish people, and to encourage innovation to make Scottish business internationally competitive.         
• The Highlands and Islands Enterprise network (HIE) is responsible for economic and community development in an area which covers more than half of Scotland, from Shetland to Argyll.  HIE’s headquarters are in Inverness and most of its services are delivered through ten local enterprise companies.  The network employs around 500 people, including 150 Careers Scotland staff and last year invested more than £100 million to help people living in the Highlands and Islands realise their full potential.

For more information

Please contact Lucy Robb
Senior Press and PR Executive
Scottish Enterprise
T: 0141 228 2995
E: lucy.robb@scotent.co.uk