New talent campaign for business

The campaign is aimed at encouraging business to look wider for talent

A campaign to highlight Scotland's untapped talent is due to be launched at a reception for businesses.

Scotland's Got Talent has been designed to encourage businesses to look at people such as the long-term unemployed or those from disadvantaged groups.

The campaign runs until March 2009 and is aimed at showing the "clear business benefits" of recruiting people companies might not normally consider.

It has been supported by the Scottish Government.

Finance secretary John Swinney said: "Key to increasing sustainable economic growth is helping the large number of individuals who are currently economically unproductive back into work.

"Providing the support to do this is not just for the government however, and I am pleased to see the valuable contribution that Scotland's businesses are making to help people off benefits and back into work."

The campaign is also trying to "dispel the myth that this is a challenging and difficult area for businesses to get involved in without much return investment".