Since devolution in 1999, says Mad.co.uk, Scotland has seen its creative industries thrive, as the country as a whole benefits from a renewed sense of optimism. In recent years, Scotland has made the transition from an economy based on the traditional staples of coal, steel, ship-building and heavy engineering to one which has retail and finance at its core. Broadly speaking, Edinburgh is widely regarded as Scotland's financial hub, with Glasgow acting as the country's retail capital. There is, however, much more to Scotland than just retail and banking.

The country also plays host to a booming electronics industry, which has benefited hugely from inward investment from North America, and more latterly from Europe and Japan. The industry is now so strong in Scotland that the sector supports 10,000 more jobs than coal, steel and shipbuilding combined. The country also has a booming tourist industry, with its cities and rural areas equally popular with visitors. Indeed, Edinburgh is a firm favourite in the short-break market - second only to London, while the Scottish countryside offers a range of sports from mountaineering to skiing.

For a country of only five million people, Scotland has a vibrant media scene. In addition to the national papers, many of which publish a bespoke Scottish edition, there are also a number of standalone Scottish titles, among them The Herald, The Scotsman and The Daily Record. Indeed, as a testament to its strength, the Scottish market has more national dailies in circulation than its English counterpart. A very strong radio sector also competes for advertising revenue in the local media market. With two major UK-wide radio groups, Scottish Media Group and Scottish Radio Holdings, located north of the border the industry is well represented. The strength of the Scottish radio market is perhaps best illustrated by the large number of applicants, which competed for the recently advertised FM licence for Edinburgh. Overall, 12 radio groups applied to run the licence, which Ofcom eventually awarded to the Wireless Group. The new station, Dunedin FM, will reach an audience in excess of 1.1 million adults and will be the first ever commercial all-speech radio station in the Scottish capital.

Complementing Scotland's media sector, is an equally lively agency scene. Standalone agencies such as Leith, The Union, and 1576 work alongside established UK agency names such as WWAV Rapp Collins on a wide range of accounts. Although the Scottish ad industry was dealt something of a body blow a couple of years ago by the closure of Faulds, one of the country's biggest agencies, with the upturn in the economy, Scottish agencies are beginning to experience the good times again. On the design front, Scotland is equally well regarded. Glasgow-born Charles Rennie Mackintosh was a key architect of the European Art Nouveau movement and his influence still dominates the city. A number of his buildings are still in existence today, with many of his furniture designs also featuring in exhibitions in and around Glasgow. Mackintosh is also strongly linked with the Glasgow School of Art. Having graduated from the institution he was responsible for school's highly stylised design in 1896 and the school continues to house a large collection of his work.

Overall then, Scotland has much to cheer. The country plays host to a vibrant creative scene, which, although smaller than its English counterpart is close-knit and produces some world-class work. Coupled with a lively media sector and growing self-confidence things in Scotland are well and truly on the up.