Consultation
A user consultation seeking views on the update of the definition of Growth Sectors from a SIC 2003 to a SIC 2007 basis is currently underway.
Background
The Government Economic Strategy (GES) 2011 defines the Growth Sectors (GS) to be: Food & Drink (including agriculture & fisheries), Creative Industries (including digital), Sustainable Tourism, Energy (including renewables), Financial & Business Services, Life Sciences and Universities. The Growth Sectors follow on from the Key Sectors as defined in GES 2007. The Key Sectors are currently defined using Standard Industrial Classification (SIC) 2003 codes. SIC codes are used to classify business establishments by the main type of economic activity in which they are engaged. The SIC 2003 codes have now been replaced by new SIC 2007 codes, which better describe the economy as it is now. Therefore the Growth Sectors have been redefined on a SIC 2007 basis. It would be relatively straightforward to map the current SIC 2003 Key Sector codes to the equivalent SIC 2007 Growth Sector codes – but this revision is a good opportunity to correct some of the issues with the current classifications under SIC 2003.
The consultation document sets out the updated definitions on a SIC 2007 basis.
Please let us know your views on the proposed SIC 2007 definitions for the Growth Sectors by 20 April 2012. You can respond by e-mail (industrystatistics@scotland.gsi.gov.uk) or by telephone (0300 244 6803).
Once all views have been considered and the definitions finalised, a new Growth Sectors Statistics Database (on a SIC 2007 basis) will be published here. Note that we intend to apply the new definitions back in time as far as each data source allows so that there is not a step change in the economic statistics which would hinder time series analysis.