Council to give its backing to South of Scotland Enterprise Agency

The local authority has now announced that it will discuss and agree its response to the ongoing Scottish Government consultation on the establishment of the enterprise agency at its meeting on Thursday.

Councillor Mark Rowley, SBC’s Executive Member for Business and Economic Development, said: “The creation of the agency at the same time that development work is ongoing on the Borderlands Inclusive Growth Deal, Edinburgh and South East Scotland City Region Deal and Borders Railway Blueprint provides an unprecedented opportunity to address various challenges in the region and deliver a positive and significant economic boost for the south of Scotland. We are ambitious for the south of Scotland and ambitious for the role the new agency can play in our economy.

“These challenges will take time, money and innovative solutions to resolve, in addition to close working with all stakeholders and partners, but this new agency can provide the catalyst and focus for long term gains, building on the opportunities that we have here in the south of Scotland.

“This can be done through a variety of means, for example dedicated business support, financial assistance and advice more closely aligned to the region’s business base, working with communities to help them realise their ambitions and drive local economic development, increased ambition and innovation, and through tackling barriers such as geography, connectivity and infrastructure.

“In addition, we want to see the new agency engage with young people to understand their needs, expectations and what they want the south of Scotland to deliver for them to help them achieve their aims. This could range from supporting transportation for workplace learning to an enhanced careers service.

“By engaging with young people and education providers, including having effective representation at the board level, there is an opportunity for the new agency to help tackle the demographic changes that are looming for the region and the associated economic consequences.”

In the Council’s proposed response it is suggested that the location of the agency’s offices and headquarters is less important than the fact that it is ‘rooted in the south of Scotland’ and ensures its presence reaches coast to coast, into every part of the region.

Councillor Rowley added: “The physical location of the agency will be an operational matter for those delivering the agency in due course, however it has the potential to become an issue which could alienate and divide stakeholders, partners and communities and divert energy away from the agency’s true focus.

“It is for that reason that we are taking a pragmatic approach and suggesting that opportunities for co-location exist, utilising public sector spaces across the region, which would not only mean the agency could be ‘local’ and accessible to those in Dumfries and Galloway and the Scottish Borders, but would also be cost effective and enable close co-operation and engagement with the relevant organisations and local authorities.”

The Scottish Government consultation is open until 7 June, so there is still time for local businesses, community groups, organisations and members of the public to have their say.

The ongoing South of Scotland Economic Partnership engagement events are also an opportunity for these stakeholders to discuss the future of economic development in the region, with three events remaining in the Scottish Borders:

31 May – Mansfield House Hotel, Hawick at 7pm

4 June – Memorial Hall, Innerleithen at 7pm

7 June – Tweed Room, Ettrick Riverside, Selkirk at 7pm.

Feedback from the events is being fed into the Scottish Government consultation process.