Partnership protocol agreed between Council and enterprise agency
Scottish Borders Council and South of Scotland Enterprise have today agreed a strategic partnership protocol to support their joint aims and benefit the economy of the area.
The creation of South of Scotland Enterprise earlier this year offers opportunities to take different and innovative approaches to the delivery of economic development across the region.
Councillor Mark Rowley, SBC’s Executive Member for Economic Regeneration and Finance, said: “The Council’s relationship with South of Scotland Enterprise is critical to ensuring that both our organisations are successful in meeting their aims and objectives.
“The agreement of this strategic partnership today is a commitment to continue our close work with South of Scotland Enterprise and to collaborate, co-operate and make efficient use of our resources to get maximum benefit for the whole area.”
Professor Russel Griggs OBE, Chairman of South of Scotland Enterprise, added: “I am delighted that together with Scottish Borders Council we have been able to agree this approach which will be central to our relationship going forward.
“We have seen already what effective partnership can deliver and we want to work together with the Council and others partners as Team South of Scotland to support and drive inclusive growth right across the whole of the region.”
In addition to the agreement of the strategic partnership protocol, the Council also agreed to the establishment of five key economic development priorities.
These are:
- Development and delivery of the Regional Economic Strategy for the South of Scotland through close working within the Regional Economic Partnership and partners more widely, particularly SOSE and Dumfries and Galloway Council
- Securing and delivering The Borderlands Inclusive Growth Deal
- Delivering The Edinburgh and South-East Scotland City Region Deal
- Addressing Employability, Skills, Training and Transitions
- PLACE, including support for our communities, increasing the adaptability and resilience of our town centres, building community capacity and promoting culture and creativity through events and tourism
Councillor Rowley said: “These new priorities take into account the changing economic landscape we have here in the Scottish Borders and the work we are undertaking with partners and governments through the Borderlands Inclusive Growth Deal and the Edinburgh and South East Scotland City Region Deal.
“Whilst this is undoubtedly an exceptionally challenging period for the economy, we are lucky in the Scottish Borders to have a range of really exciting opportunities, including the new enterprise agency and the two growth deals, and we must continue to do all we can to ensure that we make the most of these to support our local communities and the local economy.”