Glasgow Business . 11 www.glasgowchamberofcommerce.com


Cordia Services becomes Glasgow Chamber’s latest Platinum Partner 12


‘Glasgow has a lot going for it but has work to do’


Report Glasgow needs to invest more in key areas and has to work harder in challenging limited perceptions of what it has to offer, according to research conducted for Glasgow Chamber of Commerce by Greg Clark, a leading cities expert and senior Fellow of the Urban Land Institute. Clark’s analysis shows the city’s standing on


a range of international indices and highlights key themes to be worked on to improve its performance. The research shows that Glasgow’s economic performance post- industrialisation has been strong compared with most European cities – income has risen by almost 50 per cent since 1993 compared to a European average of 30 per cent. However, job creation is less than the European average. Despite recent


Greg Clark


economic challenges, the city’s financial sector remains competitive and there are positive signs in investment trends. Studies show that while the city


has developed a number of international business connections, it is surpassed by some cities across Europe. Glasgow has been showing a decline in the


rankings of businesses cities, sliding from 10th in 1990 to 30th in 2011. The research, however, also suggests that this is due as much to lack of exposure as performance. The city does fairly well on easy access to


markets, customers and clients, affordable staff, good office space availability and a fairly competitive business climate, but it has lost ground in terms of office space value for money. There are some signs that Glasgow’s business


attraction is improving, being ranked second in Europe among second-tier cities (after Edinburgh) for overall foreign investment credentials. It is rated as having the sixth strongest foreign direct investment strategy in Europe and improved business friendliness that places it fifth. Business leaders regard Glasgow as ordinary


in terms of business talent, with the city ranked 31st for suitably qualified staff. The lack of multi- lingualism among the workforce is also seen as a disadvantage. It scores very highly on access to higher


education, which at 40.4 per cent is ahead of many cities. The city’s commercial innovation


is rated 74th globally and it was ranked 12th in the 2012 Buck Consultants Tech Cities index because of the market size for technology-driven companies. The University of Glasgow is the major driver of productive talent in the region, with it ranking 54th in the major world ranking, up from 81st in 2005 and is particularly competitive in life sciences, medicine, arts and the humanities. Quality of life is judged moderate compared to


other British and EU cities. At 56th in the world it is ahead of most eastern European cities, but it is behind Scandinavian and German cities. Satisfaction with health care is within the upper average of European cities. Belief in social trust is high – in the top 20 of 75 European cities – but the optimism is not matched by feelings of safety in neighbourhoods. While by no


means a sustainability leader, Glasgow’s environmental


credentials are satisfactory. Glasgow’s culture and


diversity is strong compared to similar-sized cities. There is a


fairly clear sense of immigrant cohesion, putting Glasgow in line with the top third of cities. Glasgow’s infrastructure was rated 45th globally


in Mercer’s Quality of Living survey, comparable to cities like Madrid and Miami. The report says Glasgow has considerable progress to make on internal public transport, with car dependency above the median. The city is rated in the top 20 by executives for external transport links. Real estate investment has been modest since


the recession. However, rental costs for industrial space are higher than all UK cities except London and Edinburgh. Glasgow is not a major European destination for


visitors. However, in terms of business tourism it is ranked 58th in the world ahead of Dubai and Milan. Image and brand rankings are dominated


by larger and better-known cities and the city appears to have deficiencies in terms of international perception and positioning. The report says that although Glasgow has made substantial progress in promoting itself as a visitor and conference destination, this appears to be due to the success of bids rather than a broader success in developing a clear business brand. The report highlights that it is the performance


of business leaders in selling the city and attracting co-investors that will be most critical.


Technology


Glasgow – city of the future


A network of 400 new digital cameras around Glasgow linked to a new state-of-the- art technology operations hub will be at the heart of moves to make Glasgow a city of the future. They are part of the £24 million


Future Cities Demonstrator project which will make life in Glasgow smarter, safer and more sustainable. Glasgow beat 29 other cities around the


UK to host the project in a competition won by the Technology Strategy Board, the UK government’s innovation agency. This ‘linked up city of the future’ will have


many life-changing features. These include: A driver would be able to use his or her mobile phone to find the quietest route into the city centre before they start up their car. People would be able to discover the


accident and emergency unit with the shortest waiting time at the touch of a button. The new cameras will highlight possible dangers including somebody leaving a bag unattended or someone climbing onto the parapet of a bridge. The Future Cities Demonstrator


programme will work in partnership with agencies across the city including Glasgow City Council, Police Scotland, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, the universities and housing and energy providers, among others. Stuart Patrick, Chief Executive of Glasgow


Chamber of Commerce said: “This programme will be at the leading edge in embracing new technologies. It will foster an innovative environment which will provide opportunities and jobs for our member businesses.”


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