Benny Higgins

The group will provide urgent advice on the private sector and business aspects of the Scottish Government’s economic response.

Membership will draw on leading expertise across regions and sectors, led by senior businessman and government strategic adviser Benny Higgins. Renowned academic Professor Sir Anton Muscatelli is one of the first appointees.

Economy secretary Fiona Hyslop said: “Our response to COVID-19 is saving countless lives but I am deeply aware that this is having an economic effect that is already being felt.

“We want Scotland to recover as quickly as possible from this outbreak. Rapidly rebuilding a resilient economy in a way that supports Scotland’s wellbeing and transition toward a greener, net-zero country will be vital.

“As the First Minister said in today’s briefing, none of us should be under any illusions about the scale of that task and as we have said before - no government will have all the answers.

“That is why independent advice from our country’s leading economic experts will be so important as we face the challenge of our long-term recovery in the wake of this pandemic.”

Further appointments and details of the group’s remit will be published in due course.

The group will provide initial proposals to the Scottish Government by the end of June.

• Read all of our articles relating to COVID-19 here.