32 . Glasgow Business December 2014
The conference delegates
heard from a number of digital and city centre experts
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parking spaces, which would allow more time for those concerned to enjoy city centre atractions. Tis conclusion follows a Glasgow Chamber
survey that had shown parking problems as the major reason for responders not to shop in the city centre. A key suggestion that has already aroused strong interest was on finding ways of freeing up premises in the city centre that are currently lying empty. A specific way to aid this would the
provision of short-term, ideally 30-day rolling leases, which would allow start-ups and other businesses to move into the city centre without facing the major, costly commitment of taking on a long-term lease.
It was also suggested that one specific use
that could be encouraged for the take-up of such unused premises was for artisan businesses – those that would design, manufacture and sell goods all on the one city centre site. A permanent city centre operations group
could be created that would respond to the needs of the city quickly. Tis could be based on the experience of a similar response team formed from key city stakeholders and businesses that dealt with operational issues that arose during the Commonwealth Games. Te event also concluded that out-of-date
policies and practices restrict the ability of city centre businesses and organisations to respond to current needs of customers and citizens. In order to help achieve this last conclusion,
Appy solution for city parking
Imagine you are driving into an event at a Glasgow city centre venue and an app directs you to where you should park. Directs you, that is, not only to a car park that has vacancies near to the place you are visiting, but to a particular space earmarked specifically for your car. If that type of system were to be introduced in Glasgow’s city centre
it could transform an experience that many would-be visitors clearly find frustrating. A survey by Glasgow Chamber of Commerce found that car parking was given as the major reason for shoppers not to shop in the city. Is this the future for Glasgow city centre car parking?
The growth of the ‘coffice’
Nicola Millard, a customer experience futurologist working with event sponsor and Glasgow Chamber member BT, spoke of the growing trend towards ‘coffices’ in city centres. She said: “Many years ago, I
predicted that places like coffee shops would become places where we work. We now have what people are calling the ‘coffice’ emerging. “Coffices are coffee shops that are set up so business people can
work. They’ve got good Wi-Fi, mains outlets, printers, photocopying facilities – even meeting rooms. “The trend started in Scandinavia, but the number of coffices here in the UK is growing, just as it is in the US.” Nicola also questioned what
effect such changing trends would have on the future design of city centre offices. She said believed that the cubbyhole office would become a thing of the past. She said that she believed that the design of offices in future would be very different, which would have an impact on the use of space in the city centre.
participants at the two-day event concluded that four key questions need to be answered. Tose questions are:
»How can the city centre make its innovation economy more visible both to its citizens and potential ‘innovation angels’? How many innovation districts are in the city centre and where are they located? Which districts require more or less regulation? »What can be done to incentivise more people to live in the city centre? How can the issues of childcare be resolved to allow more parents to work and set up businesses in the city centre? » Could there be circumstances in the future where there would not be as great a need for private cars in the city centre? »How many different teams are needed to run a city centre operations group?
Idea from Down Under could help city centre rise
An idea that was started in Newcastle, Australia, could be a real winner for Glasgow’s city centre, according to Dan Hill, Director of the London-based Future Cities Catapult. “There are many great shops
in Glasgow but with the trends moving further towards internet shopping there are serious questions about how much retail the city centre can support,” Dan said at the Tomorrow’s City Centre event. “In Newcastle, Australia, the
city centre began to become used less because they built an out-of- town shopping centre and people were moving to the suburbs. Between 40 and 50 city centre properties were lying empty until a local man decided to do something about it.
“There were reports of people looking to rent spaces for workshops, food co-ops and galleries, but they couldn’t get access to them because they were owned by major property companies who were usually looking for a 10 to 20-year lease. “But if you are an entrepreneur with half an idea you cannot guarantee 20 years. “He talked to the property
owners and they came up with the idea of a rolling 30-day lease. “The tenants did up the spaces
which were a bit rundown because they hadn’t been used for a long time. It sounds stunningly simple but was a big breakthrough because there was no public money involved in what was urban regeneration. It has completely turned the area around. “There is also beginning to be
a snowball effect and they are starting to see other businesses who want to be part of it.” Could a similar type of scheme work in Glasgow’s city centre?
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