NICOLA Sturgeon has said that she is "just getting started" as First Minister, exactly one year after she took over the role.

The SNP leader, who is tonight in the running to claim a record fourth Scottish Politician of the Year title at The Herald's award ceremony in Edinburgh, said while the last 12 months had been marked with "delivery and achievement" there was "still much to do".

However, opposition parties attacked Ms Sturgeon's record, saying she should spend less time congratulating herself and instead explain problems in the NHS, education and policing.

Among developments in the past year include the establishment of an attainment fund aimed at tackling a disparity in achievement between rich and poor children, measures to tackle domestic violence and a large expansion in employers joining an accredited living wage scheme.

Ms Sturgeon, who took over from Alex Salmond after he quit following defeat in the independence referendum, said: "Twelve months on, I am proud to reflect on a track record in government that has helped a huge range of people across the country. The last year has been one of delivery and achievement – but there is still much to do.

"I am just getting started. The work that has been delivered is an excellent base to build on, but it is only the beginning and a strong foundation on which to deliver further progress for the people of Scotland."

Ms Sturgeon also oversaw the historic SNP landslide at the general election and looks set to return to Holyrood as First Minister next May with an increased majority with her party riding high in the polls.

Scottish Labour's Public Services spokesperson Jackie Baillie said: "After eight years in government, and one year as First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon should spend a little less time congratulating herself and more time explaining her government’s record.

"The reality is in the past year we have seen the SNP Government in Edinburgh grow increasingly arrogant, pointing at polls rather than protecting our public services."

Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie said that while Ms Sturgeon may have enjoyed the last 12 months, teachers, police officers and NHS staff have not.

He added: "Nicola Sturgeon says that she represents a new politics but there is something very old about the way that her machine ignores inconvenient facts and steam-rolls legitimate questions over the SNPs record. She picked up a few things from her mentor Alex Salmond.

"The First Minister has presided over repeated crises in our police service. NHS treatment targets have been missed and missed again. We have a recruitment crisis in primary health care. Teachers face the prospect of national testing and league tables. There has been scandal and allegations of cronyism over T in the Park payments. All this has played out against a backdrop of continuous grievance and constitutional grandstanding."