Businesses, agencies, organisations and individuals in the south of Scotland are being invited to help influence an ambitious new approach to economic development.
As part of the South of Scotland Economic Partnership, stakeholders can attend a series of special engagement events to help shape the economic future of the area and the new enterprise agency that is being created.
The free events, taking place until Thursday 7 June in a range of locations from Stranraer to Eyemouth, take the form of both breakfast and evening events, to make them as accessible as possible.
The events are designed to allow a single conversation with stakeholders on what powers and focus they would like the South of Scotland Enterprise Agency to have when it is established in 2020, the interim work programme of the partnership and also potential opportunities for the Borderlands Inclusive Growth Deal.
The Scottish Government is currently consulting on the South of Scotland Enterprise Agency, with responses shaping its development and influencing what the standalone agency will do. Feedback from the upcoming events will be fed into that consultation process.
Prof Russel Griggs, chair of the partnership, said: “This is an exciting time for the south of Scotland and it is a time when our collective voice, and indeed our individual voices, are being heard at the highest levels in both Scotland and across the UK.
“It is therefore vital that the partnership hears from our local businesses and other stakeholders to ensure that their views are being taken into account. These events will enable them to influence both the future development of the South of Scotland Enterprise Agency and the partnership’s work programme.”
The stakeholder events are being managed by the Southern Uplands Partnership on behalf of the South of Scotland Economic Partnership. Places can be booked at www.sup.org.uk/sosep.asp
Prof Griggs added: “The establishment of the partnership and the future development of the South of Scotland Enterprise Agency will generate a renewed commitment that will bring investment, innovation and a fresh approach for the south of Scotland, shining a collective spotlight on the whole region for the first time.
“What is quite clear from the engagement events that have taken place so far is that what everyone wants is an enterprise agency that is for the south, by the south, of the south and in the south.
“A recurring message has been that it must also reflect our needs in the south of Scotland, which may not be the same as those of other areas, and really sell the region, and not just as a tourism destination, but as somewhere for business and for people to live and work, of all ages.
“We have had discussions with almost 200 people so far and these have ranged from fishing to high tech industries, covering the huge diversity of our economy, including farming, land management, forestry, rural retail sectors, community businesses and communities themselves.
“We still have many more events to come, including in Peebles, Galashiels, Stranraer and Lockerbie in the next few weeks, and I’d continue to encourage anyone who wants to have their say on the future of economic development in the south of Scotland to make sure they come along to have their voice heard.”
SOSEP Consultation – Stakeholder Events April and June 2018
Date Time Location Venue
Mon 16 Apr 7pm Denholm Denholm Cross Keys
Tue 17 Apr 8.30am Hawick – Breakfast Heart of Hawick
Tue 17 Apr 7pm New Galloway Catstrand
Wed 18 Apr 8.30am Stranraer – Breakfast Ryan Centre
Wed 18 Apr 7pm Dumfries Station Hotel
Thu 19 Apr 8.30am Castle Douglas – Breakfast Kings Arms Hotel
Tue 24 Apr 8.30am Dumfries – Breakfast Station Hotel
Thu 26 Apr 7pm Eyemouth Eyemouth Hippodrome
Fri 27 Apr 8.30am Eyemouth – Breakfast Eyemouth Hippodrome
Mon 30 Apr 7pm Moffat Moffat Town Hall
Tue 01 May 7pm Sanquhar All the Airts Sanquhar
Wed 02 May 7pm West Linton Newlands Centre
Wed 09 May 7pm Peebles Eastgate Theatre
Thu 10 May 8.30am Peebles – Breakfast Eastgate Theatre
Thu 10 May 7pm Galashiels Kingsknowe Hotel
Fri 11 May 8.30am Galashiels – Breakfast Kingsknowe Hotel
Mon 14 May 7pm Stranraer Ryan Centre
Tue 15 May 7pm Lockerbie Somerton House Hotel
Wed 16 May 7pm Newton Stewart/Creetown Creebridge House Hotel
Mon 21 May 7pm Gatehouse Mill on the Fleet
Tue 22 May 7pm Newcastleton Village Hall
Wed 23 May 7pm Kelso Abbey Row Centre
Fri 25 May 8.30am Langholm – Breakfast Buccleuch Centre
Wed 30 May 7pm Castle Douglas Gordon Memorial Hall
Thu 31 May 7pm Hawick Mansfield House Hotel
Mon 04 Jun 7pm Innerleithen Memorial Hall
Tues 05 Jun 7pm Annan Lesser Victoria Hall Annan
Thurs 07 Jun 7pm Selkirk Tweed Room Ettrick Riverside
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