9 June 2015

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon’s first day of engagements in New York started with the announcement of more than 200 jobs for the Livingston operations of US based global manufacturing services company Jabil.

The firm said the investment would support its plans to create a Centre of Excellence based at Livingston, which will be one of three worldwide.

First announcement on my trip to the U.S. – Jobs created at Jabil in Livingston http://t.co/zDDY2RewpR

— Nicola Sturgeon (@NicolaSturgeon) June 8, 2015

The First Minister was then on Bloomberg Surveillance – a TV and radio show which focuses on economics, finance and investment – to promote Scotland’s business credentials.

So excited to have @nicolasturgeon on @bsurveillance this morning with @TomKeene @VonnieQuinn & @bhgreeley pic.twitter.com/ir93zXrZHx

— BSurveillance (@bsurveillance) June 8, 2015

The First Minister’s trip will see her take part in fact-finding visits to learn from and share best practices with the USA in a variety of areas, such as education and health.

She has made improving educational outcomes in Scotland’s most disadvantaged communities one of her key priorities and has announced a  £100 million Scottish Attainment Challenge to support children and young people to achieve their potential.

Ms Sturgeon took the opportunity to visit a school in Brooklyn, Daniel Hale Williams, which has faced similar issues to schools in some of Scotland’s most disadvantaged areas, and learn about how the involvement of parents and the community had helped to raise standards by taking a holistic approach and partnership working to deliver education across the city.

First minister Nicola Sturgeon visits school in Brooklyn, New York pic.twitter.com/kh5E57Ixt5

— David Cowan (@stvdavidc) June 8, 2015

You can read more about that visit by clicking here.

Next up was the NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital Phyllis and David Komansky Center for Children’s Health, one of the top children’s hospital in the US.

The hospital is linked to the Royal Hospital for Sick Kids in Glasgow and the First Minister was there to learn about and celebrate that relationship and find out about the leading care they provide.

The link exists thanks to the St Andrew’s Society of the State of New York which raises funds to support the exchange of knowledge and expertise between Glasgow and New York. Staff from Glasgow have recently spent time in New York.

The First Minister said:

“We want our children to have the best possible start in life, no more so than for those who need the most support and care.

“It is important that in Scotland we share best practice with the world.  There is no doubt that what has been created at the new South Glasgow hospital is a world class facility, but it is also important that we look to learn from other parts of the world so these international links are very important for the simple purpose of trying to improve healthcare for children in the years to come.”

The First Minister was then a guest on The Daily Show, one of the top chat shows on American television. They discussed a range of topics and also shared a few jokes.

What did Stewart say to Sturgeon on @TheDailyShow to provoke this reaction? Find out here: http://t.co/CMAC4hcUYP pic.twitter.com/dfR8sEGfm8

— BBC Scotland News (@BBCScotlandNews) June 9, 2015