Connected communities are crucial to the health of our society, without a doubt.
But when it comes to the vitality of our economy, I have some concerns about the opportunities we may be missing out on despite the Glasgow City Deal.
The city deal is managed by Glasgow City Region (a collective of eight partner councils) and the latest step in the £1.13bn deal is the opening of two new bridges across the River Clyde.
Work is almost complete and when they open this autumn, Govan and Partick will be linked by a new footpath between Water Row and Pointhouse Quay, while Renfrew and Yoker will be connected by a two-lane road bridge.
Undoubtedly, these new structures will ease journeys, reduce travel times and hopefully have a positive economic impact when they are finished before the year is out.
But however exciting and worthwhile the Glasgow City Deal funding pot is, I sometimes feel there are some oversights that should be considered as a part of any future projects that get the green light at the Clydeside.
There are real positives – the focus on industry, upskilling and diversifying the labour market, projects such as the Advanced Manufacturing Innovation District in Renfrewshire, the Motherwell Town Centre Transport Interchange and Ocean Terminal in Greenock.
But I still feel Glasgow is missing a trick which other cities across Europe utilise so well.
Major cities on the continent have re-imagined their rivers from once-industrial waterways to hubs of culture, hospitality, retail and cosmopolitan life and verve.
You need only look at the recent Olympics in Paris as the French capital showed off its magnificent River Seine in the opening ceremony.
Dotted with shops, cafes, restaurants, bars and cultural landmarks, it is a shining example of what the Clyde could be.
(Before anyone argues that the weather’s much better in Paris, let me remind you of the torrential rain that fell during the opening ceremony that did nothing to dampen spirits).
We’re already on the right track. The past 20 years or so have seen significant improvements on the Clyde with the likes of the Riverside Museum, the Hydro and the Glasgow Science Centre, but there is still huge opportunity to build on this and do more.
Continuing to invest in infrastructure, jobs and skills in the area is one thing, but continued investment needs to make the Clyde a destination where people want to live and socialise, or the impact of these bridge-building projects is limited.
Many of the jobs created in the construction of these bridges are temporary and it will take time to see any anticipated financial boon associated with them.
In the meantime we still need to do all we can to boost the appeal of the city for business, in turn boosting footfall. Creating an economic zone in and around the Clyde which focuses on encouraging SMEs, nightlife, hospitality and retail to set up shop would elevate the area as it becomes more accessible to thousands of Glaswegians.
We’re already seeing plenty of hotels springing up along the banks of the river, plus Glasgow has a brilliant existing event infrastructure – it’s crying out for more things to do.
So once these bridges are in situ and we’ve got better connectivity, I’ll be watching with interest to see what comes next – I’d like to see a further phase of development in the area, focusing on bringing some more character and amenities to those using it.
Starting and maintaining a small business is challenging, so ensuring you get plenty of support is vital.
It’s even better when this support shows up right on your doorstep.
In good news for smaller Scottish businesses and start-ups, the minds behind the grassroots, non-commercial campaign Small Business Saturday have dusted off their wheels ahead of a 3,000-mile, UK-wide roadshow to encourage people to support local companies in their community.
The roadshow, which kicks off in Lossiemouth and will travel across the nation throughout November, is aiming to highlight the ‘fascinating real people, stories and communities behind the UK’s vibrant 5.5 million small businesses’ ahead of the annual awareness day on December 7.
Participating businesses are encouraged to host events and offer discounts so they can showcase what they have to offer.
Last year, the roadshow popped along to support businesses in Fife, Inverness and Glasgow and I’m looking forward to seeing even more of Scotland’s amazing businesses put in the spotlight again this year.
Since its inception, Small Business Saturday has been a truly brilliant champion of entrepreneurship in Scotland.
Recognising these businesses is just the first step, and what’s great about Small Business Saturday is that it aims to have a lasting effect.
Long after it’s over, the small businesses that took part will remain front-of-mind for consumers, and those consumers will hopefully also be much more mindful about the importance of supporting businesses in the community.
It Made Me Laugh
It Made Me Laugh
Providing customers a satisfying bite of quality customer service is always a surefire way to stay ahead of the competition. However, some unavoidable concerns, such as seagulls nicking your seaside scran, will always leave a sour taste in your mouth.
That’s why I’ve been hugely tickled by The Cheesy Toast Shack in St Andrews, which introduced a £1 ‘seagull insurance’ option with their toasties, in case the flying menaces pinch the food. Staff claim that the height of summer brings around 30 seagull attacks, so countering this is a nice way to prevent their business nose-diving too.
It’s a fab way to help cover the expense of replacing sandwiches while keeping customers happy, and the icing on the cake is that profits from this optional fee will go to charity.
It Made Me Weep
It Made Me Weep
Ahead of its 10-year anniversary next year, the minds behind the North Coast 500 have called upon businesses, politicians and the local community to unite to address the challenges and opportunities that the route faces.
The North Coast 500 has supported a huge boost in growth in the Highland economy, as well as providing a massive surge in new jobs along the route.
However, the new development and engagement manager for the route states that change is needed, due to the rise in motorhome popularity, which is having a massive impact on local communities.
I sincerely hope they find a route to success to ensure that this vital economy booster doesn’t run its course.
