29 December 2017
January
The year began with the First Minister delivering the first Baby Boxes to mothers in Clackmannanshire – one of the pilot areas. The Baby Boxes were then rolled out across Scotland in August so every newborn baby receives a box of essential items, such as clothes, nappies and books, to help ensure they get the best start in life.
In January she also met patients at Midlothian Community Hospital getting rehab treatment after announcing an additional £107 million for health and social care.
She also welcomed new jobs on the site of the £200 million Dumfries and Galloway Royal Infirmary.
Earlier this week @scotgovfm @NicolaSturgeon visited the site of the new Dumfries and Galloway Royal Infirmary, watch more here. pic.twitter.com/ej3lGTtxjG
— Scottish Government (@scotgov) January 12, 2017
February
In February she visited Who Cares Scotland to mark #CareDay and meet care experienced people.
To mark National #CareDay FM @NicolaSturgeon visited @WhoCaresScot to hear what makes them proud. pic.twitter.com/m1RM1UnXls
— First Minister (@ScotGovFM) February 17, 2017
She also announced a £6.1 million investment to help young people progress into employment.
FM @NicolaSturgeon announces £6.1m to help 16-29 year olds progress into employment @scvotweet https://t.co/6bhO7haadX pic.twitter.com/mGMsljiQIy
— First Minister (@ScotGovFM) February 22, 2017
March
To mark International Women’s Day the First Minister visited Smart Works – an Edinburgh charity supporting women to get back into the work – and made a speech in Stornoway.
FM @NicolaSturgeon meets volunteers @SmartWorksEDI on #InternationalWomensDay pic.twitter.com/RvZFALgKo0
— First Minister (@ScotGovFM) March 8, 2017
Watch @NicolaSturgeon #BeBoldForChange@anlanntair! for #InternationalWomensDay https://t.co/LUbFIdVIWc
— An Lanntair (@anlanntair) March 8, 2017
While in Stornoway, she also reopened the newly restored Lews Castle which houses six of the world famous Lewis Chessmen.
April
April saw the First Minster visit the United States of America with a focus on trade and investment. Among her engagements were meetings with Tesla and Apple CEO Tim Cook in California.
FM @NicolaSturgeon visits @TeslaMotors in Silicon Valley as part of trade and investment trip to US. pic.twitter.com/Qy1Qi2q2HV
— First Minister (@ScotGovFM) April 3, 2017
FM @NicolaSturgeon met @Apple CEO @Tim_Cook to discuss Scotland’s strengths in digital health and precision medicine. pic.twitter.com/Ncuw0bSG85
— First Minister (@ScotGovFM) April 4, 2017
She addressed the United Nations in New York to discuss the importance of human rights and mediation as a way of preventing conflict.
May
In May the First Minister announced a £43 million investment for low-carbon infrastructure projects during a speech at the All Energy conference in Glasgow .
FM @NicolaSturgeon announces £43m for low-carbon infrastructure projects @AllEnergy Read more here https://t.co/6I6lCwdFtE pic.twitter.com/CnISoramo4
— First Minister (@ScotGovFM) May 10, 2017
June
The first annual FM Reading Challenge celebration took place in Edinburgh in June. Around 600 school children in primary 4 to 7 came from across Scotland to exhibit their creative work at the event and the First Minister awarded a total of 12 prizes to exceptional pieces of work.
FM @NicolaSturgeon congratulates winners of the First Minister's Reading Challenge celebration event. https://t.co/sXijpNvyzK pic.twitter.com/7dTnRmL81M
— First Minister (@ScotGovFM) June 14, 2017
The First Minister also announced a £16.5 million investment in Michelin’s Dundee facility and welcomed the creation of 500 new Scottish jobs at HSBC.
FM @NicolaSturgeon welcomed news that @HSBC_UK is creating 500 new jobs in Scotland. Read more here: https://t.co/R2kYfaljfS
— First Minister (@ScotGovFM) June 20, 2017
July
In July she attended the opening of Scottish Power’s new Glasgow HQ and global base for offshore wind.
FM @NicolaSturgeon opens the new @ScottishPower HQ in Glasgow pic.twitter.com/FZcXQZrIFp
— First Minister (@ScotGovFM) July 11, 2017
August
The First Minister announced Charlotte Liddell as the winner of the First Mentor competition. The initiative will see the First Minister mentor her for one year to highlight the importance of women in leadership roles mentoring young women.
Read more about Charlotte, the @ScotGovFM's mentee! #firstmentor https://t.co/1S8RzaZYWc pic.twitter.com/swOJiBXiwY
— Young Scot (@YoungScot) August 7, 2017
August also saw her mark the 70th anniversary of the Edinburgh International Festival.
First Minister @NicolaSturgeon with @FergusLinehan @edintfest and volunteers celebrating 70th anniversary of Edinburgh as a Festival city. pic.twitter.com/bFlmNvaHp0
— Scot Gov Culture (@culturescotgov) August 15, 2017
September
September saw the opening of the new £1.35 billion Queensferry Crossing. The First Minister joined 50,000 visitors on the 1.7 mile walk across the bridge ahead of it’s official opening by Her Majesty the Queen.
FM @NicolaSturgeon walks @FRC_Queensferry with public on sunny 1st day of #QueensferryCrossingExperience, ahead of official opening on Mon pic.twitter.com/Z8hWNsecnU
— First Minister (@ScotGovFM) September 2, 2017
Highlights as The Queen opens #QueensferryCrossing alongside FM @NicolaSturgeon pic.twitter.com/a38DNmLyZ9
— First Minister (@ScotGovFM) September 4, 2017
The First Minister also unveiled her Programme for Government, detailing the Scottish Government’s plans for 2017-2018.
Later that month she marked 20 years of Scottish Devolution.
FM @NicolaSturgeon marking #DevoRef20: "On this day 20 years ago people of #Scotland were casting their votes to establish a @ScotParl." pic.twitter.com/PLkS3DMOhW
— First Minister (@ScotGovFM) September 11, 2017
October
In October the First Minister visited Aberdeen to unveil the Oil & Gas Technology Centre’s new Innovation Hub. It brings together industry and technology providers in a push to produce new technologies, robotics and virtual reality in the hopes of addressing challenges within the oil and gas sector.
Video of FM @NicolaSturgeon opening the Oil & Gas Technology Centre Innovation Hub @theogtc pic.twitter.com/dLm8DJZxKU
— First Minister (@ScotGovFM) October 2, 2017
Later in the month she also met with Scotland’s women’s national football team ahead of their world cup qualifiers.
The First Minister visited Dublin for two days to further strengthen links between Scotland and Ireland.
Taoiseach @campaignforleo welcomes @NicolaSturgeon to Government Buildings. pic.twitter.com/10CbOQWkh3
— MerrionStreet.ie (@merrionstreet) October 5, 2017
November
November saw the First Minister remember fallen heroes on Remembrance Sunday at St Giles’ Cathedral.
FM @NicolaSturgeon laid a wreath at the Stone of Remembrance in Edinburgh this morning, ahead of #RemembranceSunday service at @StGilesHighKirk pic.twitter.com/fq0sh8NUPZ
— First Minister (@ScotGovFM) November 12, 2017
The Year of young People was launched by the First Minister in November.
That's a wrap! Thank you to all the young people and our incredible partners @YOUTHWORKDG @The_toon2 at Oasis Youth Centre for kicking off #YOYP2018 ⭐️ https://t.co/z4rPCP6TtD
— Year of Young People (@YOYP2018) November 13, 2017
Later that month she attended the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) conference in Bonn, Germany where she delivered a speech highlighting Scotland’s mission to continue tackling climate change.
Read FM @NicolaSturgeon's address to the @UNFCCC High-level closing of Global Climate Action: https://t.co/wKVikaMHQZ #COP23 pic.twitter.com/D3H3OF9YHl
— First Minister (@ScotGovFM) November 15, 2017
December
Towards the end of the year, she announced a new multi million pound manufacturing institute for Scotland during a visit to Roll Royce manufacturing facility in Inchinnan.
FM @NicolaSturgeon announces a new £65 million National Manufacturing Institute for Scotland during a visit to @RollsRoyce manufacturing facility in Inchinnan. pic.twitter.com/EJcx3eFQJo
— First Minister (@ScotGovFM) December 11, 2017
The First Minister unveiled a painting by John Byrne as her 2017 Christmas card design. The original artwork will be auctioned next year with proceeds going to four charities – Food Train, SCIAF, Scottish Women’s Aid and Teapot Trust.
The First Minister ended the year by visiting the Woodlands Community Café in Glasgow to wish everyone a merry Christmas.