Glasgow Business . 29
www.glasgowchamberofcommerce.com
they are working towards its development. Whether it be the IFSD, our retail sector, the renewables district or companies such as Land Securities – without these businesses there would be a doughnut shaped gap in our city. We want to hear what businesses think, laying out their thoughts on the future direction of the city centre. It’s clear everyone wants a safe and vibrant
urban core, mirroring our European counterparts. For this to be achieved, I’d back an increase in opening hours for retailers and working towards making the city centre an atractive evening destination, seven days a week. Te business community also needs to come together to devise an effective working strategy to address empty retail units. So, in summary, the city’s business community should continue working in partnership across all sectors.
What more can be done to entice businesses from outwith the city, or indeed Scotland to set up in Glasgow? (e.g. the appointment of Anne Murray as the new Business Relationship Manager).
Glasgow is seen to be ‘ready for business’ with the appointment of Anne Murray (see right). We can now promise potential investors their interest will be dealt with promptly and efficiently, with the city doing all it can respond to any approaches and make the overall process of seting up shop in Glasgow as easy as possible. Te role of Business Relationship Manager
came from a recommendation by the Economic Leadership Commitee and has, so far, been extremely useful in enticing business into the city, processing planning applications and demonstrating our passion for increasing the quality offering which the city centre has to give.
What are the benefits of the 2014 Commonwealth Games and how can Glasgow make sure it fully exploits these benefits and preserve the Games legacy?
Legacy is at the heart of the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games and we are already delivering economic, social and environmental benefits for the people of the city. For example, more than 20,000 companies
are now registered on the Glasgow Business Portal, a website which allows businesses to
FOCUS FOR INVESTMENT IN THE CITY
In response to the Glasgow Economic Commission’s recommendation that a new Glasgow investment team be established, a Business Relationship Manager has been appointed, based within Development and Regeneration Services in Glasgow City Council. Anne Murray, who has some 20 years’
experience in economic development in and around Glasgow, took up her post at the end of June. Since then, in addition to raising awareness among the partner organisations and business community of the creation of the new service, she has been assembling a small, core team which will focus on accelerating investment into Glasgow in the key sectors prioritised by the Glasgow Economic Commission. These are: • Low carbon industries • Engineering, design and manufacturing • Life sciences
• Financial and businesses services • Tourism and events. The team will act as the single point of
contact for first and second round investment into Glasgow, providing a smooth and rapid response to all enquiries. Relationship building and management is
critical to future success and Anne and her team will be relying on access to the knowledge and expertise of the “virtual team” of local specialists, including planners, commercial property agents, recruitment agents and marketers to pool resources and provide a first class service to potential investors to Glasgow as well, of course, as providing excellent aftercare to existing investors. Working closely with Scottish Development
International and Scottish Enterprise to complement the national investment offer, the team will collaborate with key sectors to help shape and articulate investment propositions, with a priority task to refresh Glasgow’s messaging and promote our uniquely local assets which have a global appeal. The hosting of the Commonwealth Games
in 2014 presents the city with the perfect opportunity to make strategic links and forge new investment partnerships with some of the Commonwealth countries including Jamaica, Australia and Canada.
compete for more than £1 billion worth of public and private sector contracts in the city. In addition, thousands of young people are now in training or employment through the Commonwealth Apprenticeship Initiative, the Commonwealth Jobs Fund and the Commonwealth Graduate Fund. Almost 22 per cent of these companies are
based in Glasgow and 30 per cent of all Commonwealth Games-related contracts and sub-contracts awarded through the portal have been won by Glasgow-based companies. In addition, sports participation by young
people has been increasing dramatically across Glasgow. Te number of junior sections and junior community sports clubs has increased and the number of junior members has risen from 4,485 in 2009/10 to 12,010 in 2012. Tere has also been an increase in volunteers actively working in junior clubs from 2,139 in 2009/10 to 3,382 this year. Te Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games
are still two years away but the Council has already been praised by the Commonwealth Games Federation for our legacy work and delivery of infrastructure.
How important is sustainability to the city centre’s future?
Glasgow is competing for the title of European Green City of 2015, a year which stands out in history for the city as it’s the 100th anniversary of the invention of the steam engine, a creation stemming from James Wat, off the back of a thought he had on Glasgow Green. Sustainability is all around us and we have
evolved from being one of the first urban industrialised urban centres to becoming a renewables hub for Scotland.
What is the importance of major events generally to Glasgow?
Major events bring a huge income to the city but their true value adds up to much more than that. Each event we host is preparation for the Games in 2014 and boosts our bid for the Youth Games in 2018. Te city has embedded itself as a global destination for conferences. Finally, and I think this point embellishes every aspect of Glasgow and its city centre – events atract people, provide a feel-good factor and allow people to enjoy the city they love.
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