When someone mentions Scotland’s economy, you would be forgiven for thinking about those globally famous assets that get us all the attention.
The likes of our castles, lochs, and mountain ranges, our distinctive history and heritage, not to mention our enviable food and drink industry, all spring to mind.
But our economic landscape is the sum total of a lot of smaller financial ecosystems working together.
I think it’s important to consider the individual impact of each city, town, and community in helping Scotland to maintain a healthy economic equilibrium.
That’s why City Region Deals—agreements between the Scottish Government, the UK Government, and local government, aimed at improving regional economies—are so important.
Each deal complements the individual strengths and weaknesses of each town and city involved and sees organisations working together to deliver a programme of activities and projects aimed at promoting and supporting transformative change.
City Region Deals are already in place in Edinburgh and South East Scotland, Glasgow, Aberdeen, and Inverness and the Highlands—and just last week it was announced that Stirling and Clackmannanshire are the next two in line.
A total of £90.2m is being invested in Stirling and Clackmannanshire—£45.1m for each region—by the Scottish and UK governments.
Plans include instituting an International Environment Centre and an Aquaculture Innovation Hub, and the money will also help to develop tourism and culture, fund a £2m digital district, and create digital hubs in Callander and Alloa.
Land owned by the Ministry of Defence will also be given to the council for housing and business use, and there will be additional support for disadvantaged groups looking for jobs.
On the face of it, City Region Deals sound fantastic and it’s hard to see any downsides. Although each deal is different, common themes include housing, innovation, transport, internationalisation, and digital connectivity.
But is it all as straightforward and positive as it seems?
At the start of the year, some MSPs raised concerns that deal objectives were not clearly enough defined.
In January, SNP MSP Bob Doris said criteria around the selection process for projects getting involved was not clear, and that he was concerned about how rural and remote communities would benefit.
Some MSPs also queried the focus on inclusivity and reckoned there was not enough emphasis on linking into Scotland as a whole.
Governments are investing millions of pounds in communities via these deals so it’s vital that everyone involved is working towards the same goal.
The public sector organisations involved all need to make sure that they’re focused on the same outcome: supporting local priorities and strengthening the economy by driving productivity, wages, and growth.
As a businessman and entrepreneur, I am acutely aware that relationships and communication are vital in large-scale projects, so I know how important it is for everyone to know exactly what their role is.
The way in which these outcomes are reached will, of course, be different from region to region but if everyone involved is attuned to the same goal, I think things should move along nicely.
I’m looking forward to seeing how Stirling and Clackmannanshire plans develop, and it seems projects for the Borders and Ayrshire are also in the pipeline.
Hopefully, we’ll see the deals bringing out the best bits of towns and cities—particularly in areas experiencing high levels of social deprivation—and channelling money into areas that need regeneration.
I would like to see the organisations involved being more explicit in letting people know about City Deal successes too.
Telling communities about what the money has been used for and being open about how the developments will serve as a legacy for years to come is a very important part of the process.
I’m looking forward to seeing how the deals for Stirling and Clackmannanshire evolve, and to seeing Scotland’s economy grow as a result.
Encouraging news for Glasgow arrived last week after it was officially announced that the city is on the shortlist as a potential site for the new Channel 4 national headquarters.
The broadcaster, which is moving staff and hundreds of millions of pounds of TV programming out of London, has shortlisted Glasgow alongside six other cities including Birmingham, Manchester, and Liverpool.
The better news is that the chances of Channel 4 coming to Glasgow are good as they are looking for one location for their headquarters outside London, and two smaller ‘creative hubs’ in different cities.
Glasgow was chosen from 30 submissions. However, despite the first stage being successful, the second stage will begin soon with a presentation, Q&A, and tour.
The impact Channel 4 could have on our media presence in Scotland is potentially huge and we would quickly reap the benefits—the jobs created alone would be a tremendous positive.
The broadcaster would invest in Glasgow and our media city, support other creative businesses, and create growth in the market.
The move is Channel 4’s biggest structural change in 35 years and would see an increase on spending on its nations and regions content.
Furthermore, it comes at potentially a very good time after we only recently learned of the closure of the STV2 channel, creating significant job losses at Pacific Quay.
With the BBC, STV and more than 120 production companies already in Glasgow, Channel 4 would be welcomed with open arms.
All we can do is hope Channel 4 bosses will be impressed by our forward-thinking media environment and everything else that our city has to offer come decision time in October.
Laugh
It seems like a road safety ploy in Edinburgh has literally fallen flat with locals after police decided to place a questionable cut-out of a police officer on a busy street.
The cardboard copper, complete with speed gun, was deployed on Edinburgh’s Eglinton Crescent after residents complained of motorists routinely speeding.
This approach by police in the capital is simply risible and I can’t help but think that, if they are taking the issue seriously, then they should just do it the old fashioned way by regularly placing real officers on the 20mph limit street or even a speed camera.
It might have worked initially but I doubt those regularly driving the street will be fooled by the so-called ‘Pop-Up Bob’—particularly after he made so many headlines.
Weep
According to Police Scotland statistics, shoplifting has hit a five-year high in our country amid an appalling 10 per cent rise over just the past year.
In a world where most stores have advanced CCTV and technology at their fingertips, it is perhaps surprising that these numbers have increased.
However, the results from the management information report for 2017/18 reveal the worst part—the increase is predominantly due to people trying to steal food.
The state of the economy means that those living on the poverty line are apparently being forced to steal from businesses just to eat.
Imagine being so desperate that you’re having to lift food from shops in order to survive.
The Scottish Government is absolutely right in its assessment of the situation—a ‘scandal’ is about right.
