Glasgow Business . 35
www.glasgowchamberofcommerce.com
BREXIT AND THE GLASGOW ECONOMY:
IMPACTS, ACTIONS AND ASKS
Business, local government and academic leaders set out their priorities A
major report has set out six major priorities for the city of Glasgow to overcome the negative impacts of Brexit. Brexit and the Glasgow
Economy: Impacts, Actions and Asks, produced by Glasgow City Council, the Glasgow Economic Leadership board and Glasgow Chamber of Commerce, calls on both Scotish and UK governments to promote future economic growth by match funding major gaps caused by the loss of European cash. It requests six Glasgow Brexit ‘asks’ for both
governments. Tey are: • To match fund to the same level crucial EU structural and investment funds vital to economic growth. Tis is currently worth £780 million to Scotland between 2014 and 2020.
• Scotish and UK governments to accelerate City Deal capital infrastructure works, principally in relation to the approvals required for enhanced surface access to Glasgow Airport, with other projects accelerated in conjunction with the Scotish Government.
• Both governments should transfer surplus land holdings in Glasgow to Glasgow City Council to allow the acceleration of major housing building programmes that will provide a major jobs stimulus and help meet the city’s housing needs.
• More effective collaborations on economic development and skills between the Glasgow City Council, the Scotish Government, its agencies and business to support higher levels of competitiveness, innovation and economic growth.
• A commitment to fund beyond 2019/20 the
major EU research programme (Horizon 2020) and to clarify the immigration status of EU students for 2017/18. In this regard, the Scotish Government’s commitment to continue to fund EU students studying in Glasgow and those about to enrol is welcomed.
• Te Scotish Government should introduce a two-year moratorium on non-domestic rates for new build Grade A properties that are not fully let. Tis would stimulate speculative development at a time when it is most required post-Brexit. Te report has been compiled with the help
of more than 100 senior business, local government and academic leaders including: Professor Sir Jim McDonald, Principal, University of Strathclyde; Amanda McMillan, Managing Director, Glasgow Airport; Jim McColl, Chairman and Chief Executive, Clyde Blowers Capital; Anne Ledgerwood, Managing Director, St. Enoch Centre; Professor Julie Britenden, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde; Annemarie O’Donnell, Chief Executive, Glasgow City Council; Keith Cochrane, Chief Executive, Te Weir Group; Benny Higgins, Chief Executive, Tesco Bank; Frank Mitchell, Chief Executive, ScotishPower Energy Networks and David Tudor, Vice-President Pharma Operations, GlaxoSmithKline. Te report has now been submited to the
First Minister’s Standing Commitee on Europe, led by Professor Anton Muscatelli of the University of Glasgow. Stuart Patrick, Chief Executive, Glasgow
Chamber of Commerce, said: “In order to take advantage of the new world as it exists in the
aſtermath of the Brexit vote and to seize the opportunities that will be presented to us, a clear, collective, coherent and forward looking approach from the City of Glasgow and from the Scotish and UK governments is required. We cannot do this alone and while uncertainty continues around our future trading relationship with the EU, we must combine all our efforts now to secure investment and jobs and to boost trade. Te Glasgow economy is robust, dynamic and multi-faceted and well placed to take advantage of what is soon to come.” Frank McAveety, Leader, Glasgow City
Council said: “Te production of our Brexit report is a powerful testimony to the collaboration that exists between the Council, Glasgow Chamber of Commerce and the Glasgow Economic Leadership board. One of the messages we all wanted to deliver was about Glasgow – the Resilient City. Glasgow has faced huge economic challenges, especially in the past decade. But in response it has developed an economically strong, broad based economy which stands comparison with the rest of the UK and indeed the rest of Europe. “We have a thriving tourism industry, we are
one of Europe’s top financial centres, and in the last 10 years we have ranked third in the UK for the development of commercial property projects. I would make these points to emphasise that although the economic impact of Brexit poses the city many challenges, it is necessary to recognise that Glasgow has overcome many such challenges in the past, and is in a strong economic position to do so in the future. Tere’s no doubt about it – Glasgow is Open for Business.”
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