Strategic commercial assets

About Strategic Commercial Assets Division (SCAD)

The Strategic Commercial Assets Division (routinely referred to as SCAD) is part of the Economic Development Directorate, within the portfolio of the Director General for Economy.

SCAD is responsible for:

• ensuring the effective governance and stewardship of a portfolio of commercial assets where the Scottish Government has a financial stake and/or provides sponsorship:
  • Glasgow Prestwick Airport Ltd
  • Ferguson Marine (Port Glasgow) Ltd
  • Burntisland Fabricators Ltd (BiFab - in administration)
• providing a co-ordinated response to companies in distress with Scotland’s enterprise agencies: Scottish Enterprise, Highlands and Islands Enterprise and South of Scotland Enterprise
• working with cross-portfolio teams to support ministerial engagement with other strategic businesses

The division contributes to the common aims of:

• maximising the public good throughout the intervention lifespan to ensure business continuity, maintaining jobs and support for supply chains and communities across Scotland
• prioritising value for money and public benefits derived for communities in a drive for optimal interventions
• maintaining sound monitoring and assurance processes to underpin the ability to demonstrate outcomes and public benefits delivered as the assets mature
• embedding continuous improvement through business processes in the management of assets with a standard of excellence promoted at all levels

The division provides advice to Scottish Ministers to ensure commercial interventions are legislatively compliant and adhere to guidance set out within the Scottish Public Finance Manual.  Internal expertise is augmented with independent commercial or legal advice, where required.