Saturday 8 December 2018

Job opportunity within North Ayrshire Council

North Ayrshire Council are seeking a Programme Manager (Disability Employment) with their Economic Growth Team.

Full details available on My Job Scotland

ROLE DEFINITION 
Manage the Disability Employment service to assist people with disabilities in North Ayrshire enter and remain in work and to support the Council's wider efforts to close the disability employment gap. 

KEY TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES 
Corporate Responsibilities 
• To manage/deliver the Service in accordance with the Council’s corporate policies and procedures and relevant strategy provision. 
• To manage/deliver the service outcomes, in the most efficient and effective way, that delivers the Council’s Strategic Priorities within the Council Plan and contributes to the production of Directorate Plans. 
• To manage and monitor Capital and Revenue budgets as assigned and contribute to budget development.
• To lead, or contribute to, the preparation of cross-service business development plans, as required.
• To ensure the effective management and leadership of employees, where appropriate.
• To prepare and co-ordinate reports for the Council, its Committees or working parties and to attend these meetings as required.
• To undertake any other reasonably required duties as instructed by Management or someone acting on their behalf, in addition to the role specific tasks & responsibilities detailed below.

Role Specific Tasks and Responsibilities 
• Manage the Disability Employment Programme and the Council's wider work to close the disability employment gap in North Ayrshire, ensuring a quality accessible service that meets the Council and Local Employability Partnership's priorities.
• Manage and monitor the work of the team with responsibility for the application and implementation of HR Policies and Procedures.
• Develop disability employment action plans to support reducing the disability employment gap.
• Develop service proposals based on the disability employment action plans.
• Promote and facilitate joint working to create an effective and integrated delivery model.
• Support partnerships to engage target participants for the programme.
• Ensure the programme supports wider public sector service delivery eg. Employability and Skills pipeline, Welfare Reform team, Money Matters etc.
• Manage the introduction of the MIS system and ensure the team collect and report information appropriately.
• Establish and implement a reporting and monitoring framework.
• Establish and monitor customer service standards.
• Ensure Council reporting schedules are met.
• Ensure programme activity is compliant and meets European Social Fund requirements.
• Marketing of the programme, establishing the service brand and promoting within and outwith the council.
• Lead on the centralised marketing of the service to local communities and other services who work with residents with disabilities

Tuesday 30 October 2018

New Job Opportunities in North Lanarkshire



As part of a new Growth Programme Team within North Lanarkshire, North Lanarkshire Council have issued job vacancy adverts for the following posts: 



As an Economic Analyst, you will be responsible for analysing, interpreting, reporting and advising on socio-economic data and performance information which will be used to support the development and implementation of the Council’s Economic Regeneration Delivery Plan and investment priorities which will underpin this strategy.

Moreover, this post will have a critical role in establishing strategies which will be used to measure and monitor the socio-economic impact of this plan and identify opportunity for performance improvement.

As a Project Development Officer, you will have a critical role in supporting the implementation of North Lanarkshire’s Economic Regeneration Delivery Plan with a particular focus on helping to reshape North Lanarkshire’s Town Centres and business infrastructure in order to create opportunity for sustainable and inclusive growth.

This new post offers an exciting opportunity for someone experienced in developing and managing physical regeneration projects to play an integral role in the delivery of a long-term programme of renewal for North Lanarkshire. In doing so, the successful candidate will need to be able to work effectively across council services and partnerships to ensure that projects form an integrated part of wider regeneration activity for new housing supply, infrastructure and enterprise.

As a Project Officer, you will have a key role in supporting the implementation of North Lanarkshire’s Economic Regeneration Delivery Plan with a particular focus on helping to reshape North Lanarkshire’s Town Centres and business infrastructure in order to create opportunity for sustainable and inclusive growth.



Tuesday 16 October 2018

'Selling your business?' Workshop Invitation


Selling your Business? Why not sell to your employees?
Planning for succession is one of the biggest challenges a business owner will face, and despite the fact that giving the topic early consideration can mean better results for the employer, the employees and the business, many delay.

Instead of viewing succession planning as a daunting task, Scottish Enterprise is encouraging businesses to see the potential for change as an opportunity to secure their business’ future and improve its performance.

As a succession solution which can bring a host of benefits, employee buyouts are becoming increasingly popular in Scotland. Becoming employee-owned gives staff a meaningful stake in the business, boosting productivity and performance, whilst ensuring the company is anchored in the local area, retaining jobs and skills. 

For STAR-Dundee, which was sold to the employees by founding academic, Prof Steve Parkes last year, selecting the right succession option was vital to retain and strengthen the culture and ensure that it always has a base in Dundee.

Commenting on the decision, Stuart Mills, STAR-Dundee’s new CEO, said: “STAR-Dundee has been a great success because of its people.  Our move to employee ownership allows these individuals to have a greater say in the running of the company and to further benefit from the company’s success.”
To help business owners decide whether an employee buyout could work for their business, Scottish Enterprise will be hosting a series of ‘Selling your Business’ workshops over the coming months, exploring succession options including employee ownership.

If you are a business owner considering an exit from your company, these workshops are an excellent opportunity to hear from succession and employee ownership specialists, as well as employee-owned companies themselves. View the full programme of workshops.

Dundee, 23 October 2018
Oil and gas engineering consultancy Merlin ERD and aerospace engineering company STAR Dundee explain why they chose an employee buyout, while law firm Blackadders gives guidance for business owners looking for an exit strategy.


Glasgow, 20 February 2018
Discover why luxury resort Auchrannie and design and digital agency P4P sold to their employees and get expert advice from Co-ownership Solutions.


Whether you’re looking to exit your business imminently or in the more distant future, it’s never too early to start exploring your options.


Saturday 6 October 2018

EDAS Board Recruitment


EDAS aims to facilitate a substantial improvement in the effectiveness of economic development activity in Scotland through raising the knowledge, skills and networks of those involved in all aspects of economic development.

We have a Board of 14 directors who are responsible for all aspects of strategic direction and financial management. 

We are looking to strengthen the Board of Trustees with two Board positions available and wish to attract members with a wide range of skills, knowledge and expertise in economic development, CPD, PR, policy and/or governance. Please note that the EDAS Board currently has good representative from local government and would particularly welcome applicants from other sectors.
Board meetings are held quarterly, alongside Sub-group meetings focusing on ‘Policy and Practice’, ‘CPD and Membership’ and ‘Finance and Governance’, and Board members play a pivotal role in the development of EDAS.
If you are interested in this opportunity, please submit a CV and covering letter to Elaine Bone ebone@edas.org.uk  before 5pm, Friday 26th October.  

Tuesday 11 September 2018

For Whom the Economy Grows

“What’s in a name?” asked Shakespeare. But hey, I’m an economist, so let me ask a somewhat different question: What’s in a number?
Quite a lot, suggest Senators Chuck Schumer and Martin Heinrich. This week they introduced a bill that would direct the Bureau of Economic Analysis, which produces estimates of gross domestic product, to produce estimates telling us who benefits from growth — for example, how much is going to the middle class.
This is a really good idea.
Now, I’m not one of those people who think G.D.P. is a terribly flawed or useless statistic. It’s a number we need for many purposes. But on its own it isn’t an adequate measure of economic success.
There are a number of reasons this is true, but one key issue is that it tells you only what’s happening to average income, which isn’t always relevant to how most people live. If Jeff Bezos walks into a bar, the average wealth of the bar’s patrons suddenly shoots up to several billion dollars — but none of the non-Bezos drinkers have gotten any richer.
There was a time when asking who benefits from economic growth didn’t seem urgent, because income was rising steadily for just about everyone. Since the 1970s, however, the link between overall growth and individual incomes seems to have been broken for many Americans. On one side, wages have stagnated for many; adjusted for inflation, the median male worker earns less now than he did in 1979. On the other side, some have seen their incomes grow much faster than the income of the nation as a whole. Thus C.E.O.s at the largest companies now make 270 times as much as the average worker, up from 27 times as much in 1980.
A similar disconnect between overall growth and individual experience seems to lie behind the public’s lack of enthusiasm for the current state of the economy and its disdain for the 2017 tax cut. G.D.P. numbers have been good in recent quarters, but much of the growth has gone to soaring corporate profits, while median real wages have gone nowhere.

But how do facts like these fit into the overall story of economic growth? To answer this question, we need “distributional national accounts” that track how growth is allocated among different segments of the population.

Producing such accounts is hard but not impossible. In fact, the economists Thomas Piketty, Emmanuel Saez and Gabriel Zucman have already produced estimated accounts with considerable detail over the past half century. The main message is one of growth going disproportionately to the top and not shared with the bottom half of the population, but there are also some surprises in the other direction. For example, the middle class, while still lagging, has done better than some common measures indicated thanks to fringe benefits.

But there’s a big difference between estimates produced by independent economists and regular reports from the U.S. government, both because the government has the resources to do the job more easily, and because people (and politicians) will pay more attention. That’s why the Washington Center for Equitable Growth, a progressive think tank, has been campaigning for something like the Schumer-Heinrich bill.

So why not do this?

Some might argue that creating distributional accounts is tricky, that it requires making some educated guesses about how to pool different sources of information. But that’s true of the process used to create existing national accounts, including estimates of G.D.P., too! Economic numbers don’t have to be perfect or above all criticism to be extremely useful.

In a reasonable world, then, something like the Schumer-Heinrich bill would become law in the near future. In the real world, of course, the proposal will go nowhere for the time being — because Republicans don’t want anyone to know what distributional national accounts might reveal.

By now everyone knows that conservatives routinely yell “socialist!” whenever anyone proposes doing something to help less fortunate members of our society — which is a key reason so many Americans now think favorably of socialism: If guaranteed health care is socialism, bring it on. But the right doesn’t just cry foul at any attempt to limit inequality; it does the same thing whenever anyone tries to talk about economic class, or measure how different classes are faring.

My favorite example here is still former senator Rick Santorum, who denounced the term “middle class” as “Marxism talk.” But that was just an especially ludicrous version of a general attempt on the right to suppress talk about and research into where the economy’s money goes. The G.O.P.’s basic position is that what you don’t know can’t hurt it.

And to be fair, progressives like the idea of distributional accounts in part because they believe that more knowledge in this area would help their own cause. But here’s the thing: Knowledge is objectively better than ignorance. And in modern America, knowing who actually benefits from economic growth is really, truly important. So let’s make finding that out, and disseminating the results, part of the government’s job.

Thinktank calls for major overhaul of Britain's economy

IPPR commission suggests changes on a par with Labour’s post-war reforms

A radical overhaul of Britain’s economy as far-reaching as Labour’s post-war reforms and the Thatcherite revolution in the 1980s is needed to address the UK’s chronic failure to raise the standard of living of millions of workers since the 2008 financial crash, according to a major report.
In a damning verdict on the state of the UK economy, the IPPR commission on economic justice, which includes the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, senior business leaders and economists, found that the UK is being held back by a business culture dominated by decades of short-term profit taking, weak levels of investment and low wages. Among the report’s 73 recommendations are: a £1 rise in the minimum wage; the replacement of inheritance tax with a £9bn-a-year “lifetime gifts” tax; and greater economic devolution across the UK.
It argues that the shareholder-driven model of capitalism is outmoded and partly to blame for Britain slipping down international league tables for investment and productivity, which measures the output per hour of each worker and is seen as the cornerstone of economic progress because it drives up wages.
Without the investment needed to cope with developments such as automation and the adoption of digital services, the commission warns, the UK is likely to face another decade of stagnant wages, rising household debts and deteriorating infrastructure. Although Britain is experiencing record levels of employment, low wage growth and persistent inequality have been widely cited as reasons for the Brexit vote.
The commission’s report has been launched by the IPPR thinktank days before the 10-year anniversary of the Lehman Brothers crash. The firm’s on 15 September 2008 triggered the financial crisis and the commission claims its consequences have yet to be fully addressed. It accuses successive UK governments of only making tentative steps to address these shortcomings, which the report says is holding the UK back from a place in the top rank of developed nations.
Proposals from the IPPR formed much of Labour’s agenda under Tony Blair and Gordon Brown when it took office in 1997. However, since then the left-leaning thinktank has become more detached from Labour’s leadership. It set up the commission two years ago after the Brexit vote, with its members drawn from across the political spectrum, including the head of the trade union umbrella body the TUC and one of Britain’s best known fund managers, Dame Helena Morrissey.
The proposed reforms include:
  • An immediate increase in the minimum wage to the real Living Wage of £10.20 in London and £8.75 outside the the capital.
  • A requirement that workers on zero-hours contracts be paid 20% above the higher real Living Wage rate.
  • An industrial strategy to boost the UK’s exports, backed by a new national investment bank that would raise £15bn a year to push public investment to the G7 average of 3.5% of GDP.
  • Major changes to how UK companies are governed, such as: enshrining a broader purpose in directors’ duties; the inclusion of workers on company boards; a rise in the headline rate of corporation tax and a minimum rate of corporation tax to tackle tax avoidance by multinationals.
  • Taxing work and wealth on the same basis, with a single income tax for all types of income (meaning the abolition of capital gains tax and dividend tax), and the replacement of inheritance tax with a lifetime gift tax, levied on recipients rather than estates, which would raise £9bn a year.
  • A new “economic constitution” for the UK, devolving more economic powers to the nations and regions.
Speaking ahead of the report’s launch on Wednesday, Welby said: “For decades the UK economy has not worked as it should, with millions of people and many parts of the country receiving less than their fair share. The widening gulf between rich and poor, and fears about the future among young people and their parents, have damaged our nation’s sense of itself.
“Our report shows that it doesn’t have to be like this. By putting fairness at the heart of the economy, we can make it perform better, improving the lives of millions of people. Achieving prosperity and justice together is not only a moral imperative – it is an economic one.”
The commission argues that reducing inequality and including workers on boards – an idea that Theresa May ditched last year – will improve the status, engagement and wellbeing of employees and with that improve productivity.
It says: “If Britain is to rise to its productivity challenge, then a stronger relationship must be forged between management, workers and shareholders. It is now widely recognised that employee engagement in decision-making is a key contributor to improved productivity and innovation in modern companies.”
Before he joined the commission Welby, a former oil executive, was known to have strong views on welfare and poverty, but it was a surprise when he signed up to consider the broader question of economic justice. Last year following the commission’s interim report he said Britain’s economic model was broken and that the country stood at a watershed moment “where we need to make fundamental choices about the sort of economy we need”.
Other commissioners included the general secretary of the Trades Union Congress, Frances O’Grady; Legal & General fund manager Helena Morrissey; the head of the City of London Corporation, Catherine McGuinness; Dominic Barton, McKinsey’s Global managing partner; and Mustafa Suleyman, co-founder of artificial intelligence firm DeepMind.
O’Grady said: “It’s time for a once-in-a-generation rethink of our approach to the economy. Working people have had enough of stagnating living standards and massive inequality. And no one’s buying the idea that there’s no alternative. A better deal for a working people is possible, and will allow us to build a stronger, fairer economy.”

Unlocking the value of data key to UK economic growth

The Scottish government has identified data-driven innovation as a key area for potential economic growth, and they plan to invest accordingly. Rachel Aldighieri, MD of the DMA, highlights the need for cross-sector collaboration to discover the true worth of data.
Earlier this month, Theresa May signed the Edinburgh and South East Scotland City Region Deal with Nicola Sturgeon. Along with other cultural and economic developments, the deal seeks to invest in the fintech, tech and AI sectors, and will ring-fence money to develop data storage and analysis centres in the Scottish capital.
Key commitments include £300m for world-leading data innovation centres; a £25m regional skills programme to support improved career opportunities for disadvantaged groups; and £65m of new funding for housing to unlock strategic development sites.
Over recent years, the Scottish Government has regularly issued support for the tech, data and marketing industries, identifying the central belt as a key area for growth. The value of the digital economy in Scotland was estimated to be £4.45 billion in 2014. Data-driven innovation alone has the potential to deliver £20 billion of productivity benefits for the economy over the next five years.
The prize is an innovative, growing economy.
Advertising and marketing are at the heart of the UK economy and play a vital role in driving economic growth. Annual UK exports of advertising services are worth £4.1 bn and every £1 spent on advertising returns £6 to the economy, resulting in £120bn to UK GDP.
The Scottish government’s recent investment should provide a platform for the rest of the UK to build on – a pilot project that will highlight the potential of the data and marketing industries to continue to drive the post-Brexit British economy.
Marketers need training in data-related skills
The publicity of the Edinburgh and South East Scotland City Region Deal should help to put the data and marketing industries on the radar of those making career choices in the future.
However, the industry needs to develop stronger ties with academic institutions to increase awareness about the skills required for a role within the data-driven industries and provide insights into the career prospects that these positions can offer. DMA Talent runs a series of Creative Data Academies around the UK to provide practical learning opportunities for young talent interested in a career in the data and marketing industry. Working with Scottish universities, we’ll be developing this programme with a long term aim of reaching schools and colleges throughout the UK.
As both the Scottish and UK governments have realised, businesses will need to upskill in areas concerned with data and its value to business. The recent ‘Professional skills census 2018’ from the Institute of Direct and Digital Marketing (IDM) highlights ‘data-related skills’ as a key area with skills gaps that need to be addressed. In a post-GDPR era, marketers are held more accountable for their actions, but they must receive relevant training and guidance to better understand their evolving roles - where processing consumer data and interpreting it are now key areas of their job description.
Developing an ethical framework for processing data The DMA’s ‘Data privacy: What the consumer really thinks’ report highlights that 88% of consumers believe transparency is key to increasing trust in how their data is collected and used. The research also revealed an important change in attitudes is underway, with more than half (51%) of the respondents viewing data as essential to the smooth running of the modern economy, up sharply from 38% in 2012.
Ultimately, consumers want more control over their personal information but the industry can do more to increase consumer trust, define best practice, and safeguard data usage. The DMA Code provides a series of core guiding principles to our membership for processing consumer data and it encourages best practice within the marketing and data industries.
We are working with our members to give businesses a better understanding of the values of data and shape the responsible route forward. However, an ethical framework for processing data that extends beyond our industry will be key if the UK economy is to thrive on the opportunities presented by technological advances.
The government’s development of the Centre for Data Ethics and Innovation will go some way to dealing with the ethical issues raised by rapidly-developing technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI).
The Centre for Data Ethics and Innovation will encourage discussion and research into how data and AI are used in terms of governance and regulation, but more investment will be required for the rest of the UK to follow Scotland’s lead in seeking data-driven innovation.
It is only by putting the customer first and embedding an ethical approach to business culture that consumers and organisations alike will be able to take full advantage of the data revolution. If we don’t get the balance right between data privacy and data-driven innovation, personal data may be misused by some businesses as technology advances. Technology often shapes an organisation’s customer engagement strategy, but our research has shown that trust will influence how receptive and likely consumers are to use it. A practical, universal framework is needed but this will require investment and cross-industry collaboration.
The department of Digital, Culture, Media, and Sport (DCMS) works closely with the DMA on championing innovation and evolution in the data and marketing industries, and the DMA welcomes future discussions around how we can develop and implement such a framework.
To propel the discussion forward, the DMA and DMA Scotland will launch a new initiative entitled Value of data.
This work will seek partnerships with government, businesses and educational institutions to develop a consumer-focused mindset within the data and marketing industries.
Led by Chair Firas Khnaisser (Standard Life) and Vice Chair Derek Lennox (Sainsbury's Bank), Value of data will help businesses to responsibly deliver value to their customers.
The campaign will provide an engaging, navigable roadmap through a challenging ethical and legal landscape to allow innovative and data-led approaches to customer engagement to thrive. And we’ll do it all with a future-focus: nurturing local and young talent.
Ultimately, the Value of data will develop a true appreciation of the worth of data so businesses can build stronger, more profitable relationships with consumers – responsibly, sustainably and ethically.
The DMA are ready to work alongside our membership, the wider marketing industry, and UK Government to make this a reality in the not too distant future.
Rachel Aldighieri is the managing director of the DMA and group marketing director of the DMA Group

https://www.thedrum.com/opinion/2018/09/05/unlocking-the-value-data-key-uk-economic-growth

Friday 24 August 2018

Selling Your Business? - Co-operative Development Scotland Workshop, 27th September




Invitation to attend ‘Selling your business? Discover why Fitwise and Jerba Campervans sold to their employees' workshop – 27 September 2018, Law Society, Edinburgh 

Aimed at business owners considering an exit from their company, this session will give attendees the opportunity to hear direct from:

  • Succession and employee ownership specialist Andrew Harrison from Co-ownership Solutions
  • Employee owned healthcare association management company Fitwise
  • Employee owned campervan specialist Jerba Campervans

Attend this workshop to learn how employee ownership offers a tax efficient exit route that protects your company’s legacy while providing a competitive price for the business.  Could it be the right succession solution for you?


This is the second in a series of 4 workshops exploring succession planning and employee ownership. View the remaining programme of workshops.

27 September 2018
Law Society, Edinburgh
Selling your business? Discover why Fitwise and Jerba Campervans sold to their employees.


23 October 2018
Scottish Enterprise, Dundee
Selling your business? Discover why Merlin ERD and STAR Dundee sold to their employees.


20 February 2019
The Lighthouse, Glasgow
Selling your business? Discover why Auchrannie and P4P sold to their employees.



SOCIAL MEDIA POSTS

For Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn

If using on Twitter, use @scotent and @Fitwise_mgt

Selling your business? Discover why Fitwise and Jerba Campervans sold to their employees at Scottish Enterprise’s workshop on 27 September in Edinburgh. To find out more and book a place: https://bit.ly/2IEVOEb

Aimed at business owners considering an exit from their company, Scottish Enterprise’s Selling Your Business event in Edinburgh on 27 September will provide the chance to hear Fitwise and Jerba Campervans explain what they considered in choosing #employeeownership. https://bit.ly/2IEVOEb

At Scottish Enterprise’s Selling Your Business event on 27 September in Edinburgh, Andrew Harrison from Co-ownership Solutions will talk through all #succession options before focussing on #employeeownership and how to ensure it is a smooth process https://bit.ly/2IEVOEb

At Scottish Enterprise’s selling your business event on 27 Sept, hear why campervan specialist Jerba Campervans and healthcare association management company Fitwise sold to their employees, and get expert advice on the EO model from Co-ownership Solutions https://bit.ly/2IEVOEb


ARTICLE
Selling your Business? Why not sell to your employees?
Planning for succession is one of the biggest challenges a business owner will face, and despite the fact that giving the topic early consideration can mean better results for the employer, the employees and the business, many delay.

Instead of viewing succession planning as a daunting task, Scottish Enterprise is encouraging businesses to see the potential for change as an opportunity to secure their business’ future and improve its performance.

As a succession solution which can bring a host of benefits, employee buyouts are becoming increasingly popular in Scotland. Becoming employee-owned gives staff a meaningful stake in the business, boosting productivity and performance, whilst ensuring the company is anchored in the local area, retaining jobs and skills. 

For Jerba Campervans, which was sold to the employees by husband and wife team Simon Poole and Catherine Brookes earlier this year, selecting the right succession option was vital to maintain the intimate approach and the niche upon which the business was founded

Commenting on the decision, Simon Poole said: “Employee ownership is an excellent business model which benefits everyone. Catherine and I can continue with our day to day roles in the business for as long as we need to, with the knowledge that the future is taken care of, while our employees are given a stake in the business and a say in how it is run. Not only do we envisage this driving job satisfaction, productivity and innovation, it ensures that the business’ unique ethos is preserved.

To help business owners decide whether an employee buyout could work for their business, Scottish Enterprise will be hosting a series of ‘Selling your Business’ workshops over the coming months, exploring succession options including employee ownership.

If you are a business owner considering an exit from your company, these workshops are an excellent opportunity to hear from succession and employee ownership specialists, as well as employee-owned companies themselves. View the full programme of workshops.

Edinburgh, 27 September 2018                                                                      
Hear why campervan specialist Jerba Campervans and healthcare association management company Fitwise sold to their employees, and get expert advice on the EO model from Co-ownership Solutions.

Dundee, 23 October 2018
Oil and gas engineering consultancy Merlin ERD and aerospace engineering company STAR Dundee explain why they chose an employee buyout, while law firm Blackadders gives guidance for business owners looking for an exit strategy.

Glasgow, 20 February 2018
Discover why luxury resort Auchrannie and design and digital agency P4P sold to their employees and get expert advice from Co-ownership Solutions.

Whether you’re looking to exit your business imminently or in the more distant future, it’s never too early to start exploring your options.






Monday 13 August 2018

£1.2 Billion City Deal ‘exciting step towards brighter future’


Theresa May hails £1.2bn city deal as ‘exciting step towards brighter future’

Prime Minister Theresa May has hailed the £1.2 billion city deal for Scotland’s capital as an “exciting step towards a brighter future” for Edinburgh and the south east of Scotland.


Both the UK and Scottish governments are committing £300 million for the deal, with local authorities, universities and businesses also involved.

Speaking at the signing ceremony at Edinburgh University, Mrs May said: “I believe we can achieve far more together than we ever could apart.” 

The PM was joined at the signing ceremony by First Minister Nicola Sturgeon - with the two leaders having earlier had talks.

The Edinburgh and south-east Scotland city deal will support cutting-edge research at the capital’s three universities, improve housing and transport links and help to build a new concert hall. 

Mrs May is visiting Edinburgh as the capital’s annual festival season gets under way, with Edinburgh International Festival director Fergus Linehan reportedly preparing for the impact a “catastrophic” Brexit could have on events. 

However, the Prime Minister spoke about the work ministers are doing to “create more good jobs and spread economic prosperity across the country” as Britain prepares to leave European Union. 

Speaking ahead of the visit, the Prime Minister said: “I am pleased to be in Edinburgh today for the city’s annual celebration of the arts and culture.

“From the Fringe, to the International Festival, festivals dedicated to science, books and storytelling, the city is truly a cultural inspiration for the rest of the UK and the world.

“Alongside the Scottish Government and local partners, I will be confirming £300 million, as part of a wider £1 billion investment by the UK Government through city deals in Scotland, to create jobs and open up new economic opportunities throughout the nation.

“These city deals build on existing strengths to open up new possibilities for the future in Scotland and the whole of the UK as part of our modern industrial strategy.“ 

She added: “Today I have also announced a further £13 million for investment in six science centres in the UK, including Dundee and Glasgow, to drive innovation in science and technology.

“As we leave the EU, the UK Government is working in partnership with business, academia and the devolved administrations to create more good jobs and spread economic prosperity across the country. 

“By making the most of our country’s assets and the talents of all of our people, we can build a brighter future for the whole UK.” 

City of Edinburgh Council leader Adam McVey said: “The agreement of this ambitious deal heralds the beginning of a transformative and inclusive programme which will help share our success right across the region. 

“This investment will allow us to unlock the region’s potential to become a global powerhouse in data-driven innovation through our exceptional research and development activities, whilst the commitment to a skills programme will enhance job prospects for everyone and allow us to capitalise on the opportunities technology and innovation creates.

“We will also greatly enhance the region’s infrastructure through significant funding for transport projects and housing development to build a vibrant region for people and businesses to thrive in.” 

The funds will support economic growth across the region through housing, innovation, transport, skills and culture. 

Investment from the Scottish Government will contribute towards 41,000 new homes, 21,000 jobs and improve the skills of an estimated 14,700 people.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said: “Edinburgh and the south-east of Scotland is an area of huge importance to the Scottish economy.

“The region contains over a quarter of Scotland’s population and contributes £33 billion to the Scottish and UK economies. 

“The Scottish Government’s £300 million investment in the City Region Deal will contribute towards 41,000 new homes, 21,000 jobs and improve the skills of an estimated 14,700 people across the region. 

“Our investments will ensure businesses and communities from across the region benefit from the opportunities created by this the city region deal. 

“Taken together, these projects will help the region continue to thrive and grow, fulfilling our ambitions for the region to be one of the fairest and most inclusive areas in the country.”

Read the original article at: https://www.scotsman.com/future-scotland/tech/theresa-may-hails-1-2bn-city-deal-as-exciting-step-towards-brighter-future-1-4780226

Tuesday 31 July 2018

Job Vacancy: Project Development Manager


To support the delivery of North Lanarkshire Council’s ‘Ambition Plan’ for physical regeneration and growth, we are seeking to appoint a Project Development Manager as part of the new Growth Team within Enterprise and Housing Resources.


Ref No: NLA03301
Published: 27/07/18
Closes: 10/08/18

Location: Fleming House, 2 Tryst Road, Cumbernauld, G67 1JW
Salary: £42,153 - £46,176 per year
Contract Type: Permanent
Position Type: Full Time
Hours: 35.00 hours per week


Job Advertisement


As Project Development Manager, you will have a critical role in supporting the development and implementation of North Lanarkshire’s Economic Regeneration Delivery Plan with a particular focus on helping to reshape North Lanarkshire’s Town Centres and create opportunity for sustainable and inclusive growth.



This new post offers an exciting opportunity for someone experienced in developing and managing large-scale physical regeneration projects to play an integral role in the delivery of a long-term programme of renewal for North Lanarkshire. In doing so, you will work effectively across council services and partnerships to ensure that projects form an integrated part of wider regeneration activity for new housing supply, infrastructure, enterprise and skills development.

You should be educated to SVQ4/HND/degree level with considerable experience of leading on public-sector and multi-agency led physical regeneration projects including developing and assessing business cases for such projects. You should have experience of budgetary management and overseeing the management of contracts and consultants with good understanding of urban regeneration and the key issues which underpin successful and sustainable development.

Experience of leading on community and stakeholder consultation as part of wider regeneration initiatives and public sector procurement is desirable.

    
This post is apply on-line only.