Job opportunity at Peter Brett Associates - Principal / Associate Economic Development Specialist

Title: Principal / Associate Economic Development Specialist

Location: Glasgow

Vacancy Reference: 546

To apply for this position please follow the following link:

https://careers.peterbrett.com/vacancies/546/principal--associate-economic-development-specialist.html

The Opportunity:

Peter Brett Associates, now part of Stantec, provides a broad range of economic development and economic advice to our public and private sector clients to support their development and strategy ambitions.

Our clients include: local authorities, UK and Scottish Government agencies, private and other public sector interests in the residential, energy, retail, distribution and other sectors; Universities, Colleges and others.

Following recruitment over the last 18 months, PBA’s involvement in economic development, regeneration and development projects continues to grow, and we’re now looking to further expand our team.

You’ll be involved in the team’s ongoing development, working closely with our leaders to build relationships with clients, and ensuring we continue to provide them with market-leading advice.  You’ll have project development and management responsibility, whilst also working with other members of the team to develop their skills. 

This is an excellent opportunity to work in a truly multi-disciplinary business, developing new business relationships, and delivering excellence for our clients in the public and private sectors.

You will have significant post-graduate experience in an economic development/ economics / development environment. 

Your key responsibilities will include:

·       Reinforcing our team in Scotland in response to a combination of existing workloads and emerging opportunities in the public and private sectors

·       Project support through management, analysis and delivery; and delegation of appropriate tasks to junior staff

·       Maintaining and building positive client relationships

About You:

You'll demonstrate:

·       Degree qualification in Economics, Planning or similar related discipline

·       Understanding and experience of economic development and the planning system in Scotland

·       Client and networking skills and the ability to develop new opportunities

·       Effective bid writing capability

·       Experience of public and private sector requirements, economic assessments and appraisals, business case development

·       Excellent understanding of economic principles associated with development and infrastructure

·       Relevant experience in economic development/ strategy/ economic analysis

·       Good communication and facilitation skills, including authoring reports and coordinating inputs

About PBA:

We offer competitive salaries and a generous benefits package, which includes contributory pension plan, discretionary bonus scheme and flexible benefits allowance.

PBA provides significant opportunities for career progression and personal development through the delivery of high value quality services to influential clients, and we are proud of our friendly and supportive environment for our employees where they can attain their personal career goals.

To find out more about PBA and the range of exciting projects we are involved in please visit http://www.peterbrett.com

PBA is committed to a policy of Equal Opportunities.

To apply for this position please follow the following link:

https://careers.peterbrett.com/vacancies/546/principal--associate-economic-development-specialist.html

ekosgen Economic Development Consultancy Opportunity

ekosgen is one of the UK’s leading independent economic consultancy firms providing advice to public and private sector clients. We provide economic and social insight to help our clients make better decisions and have a positive impact on people, places and the economy.

Our work includes: Strategy development; project and programme evaluation; preparation of business cases and funding applications; economic impact assessment; socio-economic baselining.

The opportunity

We have vacancies in our Manchester and Glasgow offices for a committed, enthusiastic and capable individual to join our team.  You will play a central role within our consultant team working on a wide variety of economic development related commissions.

Depending on your experience, the role will include:

• Carrying out desk research using a variety of official data sources and the internet.
• Manipulating, analysing and presenting study data in a range of formats.
• Carrying out study fieldwork including research interviews
• Providing written input to high quality reports.
• Assisting colleagues to prepare proposals for new client assignments.

What are we looking for?

With a good Honours degree (2:1 or higher) and ideally a postgraduate degree in economics, social geography or similar, we need someone who is flexible, a team player, self-motivated, great at multi-tasking and who exhibits professionalism, even when under pressure. Strengths in statistical work, including analysing and presenting quantitative data are a must as are good organisational skills, and excellent writing and IT skills. The successful candidate will have a strong interest in the economic development sector and previous experience of working in a consultancy environment would be  preferred for the Manchester position.

What do we offer in return?

We offer a competitive salary and an excellent benefits package including: 

• 35 days holiday (including bank holidays)
• Employer contribution pension scheme
• Employee wellbeing initiatives such as a cycle to work scheme and travel pass funding
• A positive and supportive work culture where people are assisted to realise their full potential (including through a personal performance and career management system and training)
• A Staff Wellbeing Package which includes allowances for dental and optical care, a GP helpline and subsidised gym membership

How do I apply?

To apply, please send your CV, a covering letter explaining why you would like to work for ekosgen, which location you are applying for and details of your salary expectations for the role as well as details of your current salary, if appropriate to lee.williamson@ekosgen.co.uk by 15th March 2019.

Please click here to see the full job specification for the Manchesterbased role

Please click here to see the full job specification for the Glasgow based role

We are an Equal Opportunities employer. We do not discriminate on the grounds of gender, race, disability, religion, age or sexuality.

Source: ekosgen current vacancies 

Innovation Events for Social Enterprises

5 February 2019, Dundee	Workplace innovation: people-centred change for social enterprise organisations	Book your place
13 February 2019, Eyemouth, Borders	Innovation Workshop: Value Proposition for Social Enterprises	Book your place
6 March 2019, Glenrothes	Innovation Workshop: Value Proposition for Social Enterprises	Book your place
2 April 2019, Glasgow	Workplace innovation: people-centred change for social enterprise organisations	Book your place

‘Workplace innovation: people-centred change for social enterprise organisations’ workshop – 5 February 2019, Scottish Enterprise, Dundee 

It's estimated that just a 5% increase in productivity would add £6.4 billion to the Scottish Economy. One of the major ways to improve productivity and efficiency in your business is through workplace innovation. Workplace innovation is change, driven by people, to develop new, improved ways of working.

Aimed at business leaders within social enterprises, this workshop will look at three themes of people, place and practice:

·       People - what it means to have an engaged workforce and the benefits this will this bring to your business.

·       Place - what culture you want your organisation to have and how your physical and virtual workspace can help.

·       Practice - what workplace practices you can adopt to help foster creativity, productivity and growth.

Book your place on the eventbrite website.

‘Innovation Workshop: Value Proposition for Social Enterprises’ – 13 February 2019, Eyemouth Hippodrome, Borders

Aimed at social enterprises, this workshop will introduce companies to the benefits of a Lean Agile approach to innovation. Taking this approach enables companies to focus on developing only the products and features that add value, and that the customer truly needs.

Following the workshop you have access to a 121 surgery with an Innovation Specialist, who will assist you to access further support to progress the outcomes of the workshop.

Book your place on the eventbrite website.

‘Innovation Workshop: Value Proposition for Social Enterprises’ – 6 March 2019, Business Gateway, Glenrothes

Aimed at social enterprises, this workshop will introduce companies to the benefits of a Lean Agile approach to innovation. Taking this approach enables companies to focus on developing only the products and features that add value, and that the customer truly needs.

Following the workshop you have access to a 121 surgery with an Innovation Specialist, who will assist you to access further support to progress the outcomes of the workshop.

Book your place on the eventbrite website.

‘Workplace innovation: people-centred change for social enterprise organisations’ workshop – 2 April 2019, Incremental Group, Glasgow 

It's estimated that just a 5% increase in productivity would add £6.4 billion to the Scottish Economy. One of the major ways to improve productivity and efficiency in your business is through workplace innovation. Workplace innovation is change, driven by people, to develop new, improved ways of working.

Aimed at business leaders within social enterprises, this workshop will look at three themes of people, place and practice:

·       People - what it means to have an engaged workforce and the benefits this will this bring to your business.

·       Place - what culture you want your organisation to have and how your physical and virtual workspace can help.

·       Practice - what workplace practices you can adopt to help foster creativity, productivity and growth.

Book your place on the eventbrite website.

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

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: 

• Economic Analyst (closing 7th November)

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.

• Project Development Officer (2 posts) (closing 7th November)

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.

• Project Officer (closing 6th November)

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.

'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.

Book your place here:

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.

Book your place here:

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.

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 26^th October.