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							27 October 2011
VIDEO/AUDIO CLIP AVAILABLE – SEE BELOW FOR DETAILS
PORTRAIT PHOTO ATTACHED


        NEW BRITISH COUNCIL SCOTLAND DIRECTOR CALLS ON SCOTS TO
                             EMBRACE ‘PIONEERING SPIRIT’


The incoming Director of British Council Scotland has said he will prioritise helping Scots
embrace an international outlook to recapture the “pioneering spirit” of Scottish adventurers
in former times.


Lloyd Anderson, who has previously held senior roles in Russia and Georgia, said under his
leadership British Council Scotland would work to enable more young Scots gain experience
of working, teaching and studying abroad.


And he said the organisation would strive to encourage more partnerships between arts and
educational bodies in Scotland and other countries, particularly key emerging nations like
China, India and Brazil.


Dr Anderson also said the organisation would reach out to the whole of Scotland by
undertaking more partnerships with arts and education bodies outwith the Central Belt.


Dr Anderson, who has previously acted as the British Council’s global Director of Science,
said:


         “I want to see British Council Scotland helping a new generation of Scots embrace
         the outside world. Scotland has produced a long line of adventurers and pioneers
         over the years and that’s evident in the huge Scottish Diaspora around the world. I
         want us to recapture that pioneering spirit in our own era.
         “That means particularly encouraging our young people to spend time abroad, to give
         them that international outlook. The British Council runs a number of programmes,
         including Erasmus, Language Assistants and IAESTE work placements that give
         young people that chance. We need to make this better understood.”
Dr Anderson said he also wanted to ensure that British Council Scotland’s core activities
aligned closely with the priorities of the Scottish Government to expand links with key
emerging countries like China, India and Brazil.


       “I want British Council Scotland to shout more about Scotland’s core strengths.
       Scotland leads the world in many areas that are ripe for international partnerships,
       including life sciences, renewable energy, finance and higher education.
       “As Scotland’s gateway to the world, thanks to our network of offices in 110 countries
       worldwide, the British Council has a crucial role to play in helping to turn the
       international dreams and ambitions of our companies and institutions into reality.”


He said the organisation needed to ensure its programmes reached people right across
Scotland, including areas such as the Highlands and the Western Isles.


He added:


       “I want British Council Scotland to branch out to embrace the whole of Scotland.


       “There’s a danger that we become viewed as too ‘Edinburgh-centric’ and in my view
       it’s really important we avoid that, because there’s a whole wealth of talent in the arts
       and education outside of the Central Belt.


       “While we already have good links with certain institutions, I want to make us more
       relevant to a broader cross-section of society up and down Scotland, from the
       Northern and Western Isles and the Highlands, right down to the Borders.”


                                            ENDS
For further information please contact James Tout at Orbit Communications on 0131
257 4232 or james.tout@orbit-comms.co.uk or visit www.orbit-comms.co.uk.


Notes to editors
1. Lloyd Anderson has previously served as British Council Director in Georgia and Deputy
   Director in Russia. Before that, he was Director Science for the British Council globally.
   In Georgia, he developed a forward strategy to maintain a growing business despite
   grant reductions involving fundraising, partnerships and new business opportunities. In
   Russia, his team developed new partnerships and programmes for the post-Soviet
   generation – in the face of an icy diplomatic relationship between the UK and Russia at
   the time. As Director of Science from 1998, he provided strategic leadership to the British
   Council’s global work in science, which contributed to the Council’s reputation as a world
   authority, and networked at senior level with the UK science community and government.
   He holds a PhD in Plant Physiology, as well as a Diploma in Desert Ecology.


2. A video/audio clip of Dr Anderson speaking about his new role is available on request.
   Please contact James Tout (details above).


   British Council Scotland was established in 1946 and now has around 50 staff working at
   its headquarters near the Scottish Parliament. It supports major programmes such as the
   Erasmus work and study programme for students, language assistants and school
   twinning, as well as a range of arts activities including a big presence at the Edinburgh
   festivals.
   In the last year we have:



       a. Supported over 1,000 international activities in nearly 30% of Scottish schools
           through our Comenius, Global School Partnerships, Connecting classrooms, e-
           twinning and International School Awards programmes.
       b. Offered global study and work opportunities to 2,750 Scottish and international
           students
       c. Helped over 120 Scottish cultural and educational organisations to develop
           international partnerships
       d. Worked with 27 Scottish universities and colleges to help internationalise Scottish
           education


3. British Council Scotland is Scotland’s gateway to the UK’s international organisation for
   educational opportunities and cultural relations. We work in over 100 countries worldwide
   to build international opportunities and trust for Scotland through the exchange of
   knowledge and ideas between people. We work in the areas of arts, education and
   society, and the English language. Last year we engaged over 30 million people
   worldwide and reached nearly 600 million through radio, TV and digital media. We are a
   non-political organisation which operates at arm’s length from government. Our total
   turnover in 2010/11 was £693 million, of which our grant-in-aid from the British
   government was £190 million. For every £1 of core government grant we receive, we
earn £2.65 from other sources. For more information see
http://www.britishcouncil.org/scotland