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www.glasgowchamberofcommerce.com CHIEF EXECUTIVE
Tell a winning story and watch Glasgow flourish
Stuart Patrick, Chief Executive
chiefexecutive@glasgowchamberofcommerce.com
T
here are many different kinds of Glasgow. So many aspects we love about the place. And things that frustrate us. It’s part of our emotional attachment to this great city. But if I look at how we present the city
as being open for international business, I have to admit all these different versions of Glasgow can be confusing for potential investors who know very little about our place. Team Glasgow, with Glasgow Chamber of Commerce
working in concert with the City Council, our academic institutions, and the likes of Glasgow Life, is a powerful force that has worked together exceptionally well to secure major events and investment for the city. The successful European Championships have once more shown the city can handle the biggest events, supported by an enthusiastic band of cheerful volunteers and paying visitors. Yet Glasgow, as Scotland’s economic
powerhouse, appears to be overlooked because of the dominance of Edinburgh. We hear plenty of noise about our capital as a ‘European tech hub’, yet there are far more IT-related jobs in the West of Scotland. While our East of Scotland cousin is perhaps overcooked – and the overcrowded streets of the Festival testify to this – there is a general feeling that Glasgow is not getting the rightful attention and recognition it properly deserves.
I was perplexed when a recent American real estate investor said he was considering investing in Glasgow because it was seen as one of the undervalued cities in Europe and he could see great potential. While this is anecdotal, it made me question whether we are still telling the right story. What we need is a core narrative for Glasgow’s future, which is both positive and ambitious. Surely now we can move on from the old chestnut about being a ‘post-industrial city that is regenerating itself’, although I am not trying in any way to underestimate our city’s larger social and healthcare concerns. We’ve talked a great deal about our educated workforce and the people of Glasgow. But I feel our city needs to work even harder to resolve the acute skills gap that is afflicting our potential. Again, I regularly hear from many businesses across the city that there is a shortage of key talent in engineering and digital industries. Building websites or apps is all very well, but we need management leaders with coding expertise who can direct and deliver complex projects. For this to happen, we need more investment in our advanced digital skills base. In addition, we need better engagement at a national
political level in Scotland. In the coming weeks, I’m looking forward to hearing more from the Scottish Government and ministers about how they perceive Glasgow. I’d also like to hear what they feel is missing. We desperately need to fill in the skills gaps to ensure the city can compete in this globally connected world. Team Glasgow has been a force for good, now we all need a core voice that says the same things about what really makes our city a successful place to work and live.
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