www.glasgowchamberofcommerce.com 11 CHIEF EXECUTIVE


Does the world recognise Glasgow’s economic assets and capabilities?


Stuart Patrick, Chief Executive chiefexecutive@glasgowchamberofcommerce.com


O


ften we are too busy to appreciate that we live and work in an incredible city. Glasgow, for all its irritations and its weather, is a brilliant place. We all know it could be better - and we’re working on that


– but really it has so much going for it. Chamber members should now have a copy of Professor Greg Clark’s thought-provoking analysis Towards A Business Story for Glasgow. If you haven’t yet had time, I thoroughly recommend it as a vital piece of reading. It’s important to understand some of the backdrop before


we embark on creating a powerful new narrative for the city. Greg and his Business of Cities team of Tim Moonen,


Jake Nunley and Borane Gille, eloquently point out the competition is hotting up. There are now approximately 500 cities with a critical mass of industry and commerce that is globally traded, and nearly 100 cities with similar size, scale and prosperity to Glasgow, many emerging from China, South and East Asia, and Eastern Europe. Clearly Glasgow has massive advantages over many cities, but the attention space to tell its story is increasingly crowded.


Dr Clark and his team point out that cities have


to do more than create a good business climate. “Cities need to foster eco-systems, encourage clustered specialisation, and build a business reputation and brand.” In essence, it means telling our story in


a better way. How do we go about this? Firstly, it is about understanding where we are now. The report says Glasgow has re-emerged as a player in the last 30 years after three cycles from 1988 to a present fourth cycle, which is now.


“Glasgow’s economy reaches


maturity and starts to develop the ingredients of competitiveness in a new world of cities. More high- profile firms are announcing plans to set up new hubs in the city, spurring office investment, while the dynamism of the consumption economy helps support an enlarged employment base.” The report says Glasgow’s science, technology and engineering are starting to emerge more clearly as the digital economy expands and as Glasgow turns its higher education, advanced manufacturing and innovation promise into greater productivity and jobs.” Glasgow is viewed externally by drawing on over 450


comparative reports, such as the Z-Yen Global Financial Centres Index or the INSEAD Global Talent Competitiveness Index. Glasgow features in about 30% of these indices, making it the 72nd most profiled city globally, on a par with much larger cities such as Philadelphia, Johannesburg, Osaka, Bangalore and Taipei. What is encouraging is that since 2015 when Glasgow appeared in only 18% of global benchmarks, the city has overtaken and become more visible than Rotterdam, St Petersburg, Birmingham and Brisbane. Glasgow’s distinct advantages include a


growing population, distinctively high levels of skill, a diversified economy, strong health and medical sciences and a remarkably vigorous financial services sector. Among medium-sized cities, Glasgow ranks 32nd globally for overall


performance across all comparative measures, and sits alongside Ottawa, Canberra, Calgary and Cologne. So, the message is getting out. But it is clear that Glasgow requires a clear and compelling ‘business


chapter’ if it is to close the gap between its actual assets and positive performance, and its visibility and reputation


for business. The task now is to turn Greg and his team’s marvellous starting point into a compelling master narrative and a bragging book. Your thoughts are most welcome.


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