6. Renfrewshire Economy Conference - Report
Renfrewshire Council · 28 May 2024
Back to Economy and Regeneration Policy Board — 28 May 2024 and its agenda
Text extracted from the council's PDF. Layout and reading order may differ from the original.
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___________________________________________________________________ To: Economy and Regeneration Policy Board On: 28 May 2024 ___________________________________________________________________ Report by: Chief Executive ___________________________________________________________________ Heading: Renfrewshire Economy Conference 1. Summary 1.1 This report informs and invites Board members to a Renfrewshire Economy Conference to be held in Paisley Town Hall on the morning of Wednesday 12th June 2024. 1.2 The conference is being organised by Renfrewshire Council’s Economic Development Team in association with the new Renfrewshire Business Support Partnership, a group established for all business support agencies and organisations in the area. ___________________________________________________________________ 2. Recommendations 2.1 Board members are asked to: (i) Note the report. ________________________________________________________________ 3. Background 3.1 Members will recall the intention from previous Shared Prosperity Fund board reports to establish a Renfrewshire Business Support Partnership which would consist of the various agencies and organisations that strategically provide business support services across Renfrewshire.
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3.2 The success and joint working across the Renfrewshire Local Employability Partnership was the motivator for the new business partnership with the aim of replicating joint working and shared agendas more consistently. 3.3 The Business Support Partnership has now met twice and has already proven to be useful to all partners (West College Scotland, UWS, NMIS/University of Strathclyde, Renfrewshire Chamber, SDS, Inspirent, Scottish Enterprise, Launch It, Renfrewshire Council). 3.4 One of the first actions agreed was to hold a partnership conference on the Renfrewshire economy with all partners involved in the event. 3.5 The conference would be aimed at those involved in economic, business and skills development in Renfrewshire from the public sector, local economic agencies, FE and HE, local businesses, and social enterprises. If successful, then it could become an annual event. 4. Renfrewshire Economy Conference 4.1 The conference is planned to be held on Wednesday 12th June at Paisley Town Hall. It will consider Renfrewshire’s economy and the key economic factors for sustainable growth. 4.2 The first part of the event aims to provide an overview of the national, regional and Renfrewshire economy, the current challenges and opportunities and the key agendas for the next 5 years. Different organisations will present on key economic drivers and attendees will be asked to respond to key questions and to share experiences that will shape the next phase (and any review) of Renfrewshire’s Economic Strategy and guide the direction of Renfrewshire Business Support Partnership in terms of local business need. 4.3 The second part of the event will offer a range of sectoral and thematic workshops covering current issues across sectors and to enable greater understanding and awareness of current challenges and opportunities. 4.4 The event aims to be an annual focal point for local economy discussions, updates and actions involving all key partners and including the involvement of local businesses. It will encourage greater networking and collaboration and aims to influence the direction of future funding (such as Shared Prosperity Funds) and joint economic responses to key local agendas. 4.5 At the time of writing this report the final agenda has not get been published but Economy & Regeneration Board members will receive an invite to the conference separately by email from the Council’s Economic Development Manager.
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5. Conclusion 5.1 It is hoped that Board Members will be interested in, and available to attend the conference and that the event forms the first part of increased joint working across the Business Support Partnership in the future. ___________________________________________________________________ Implications of the Report 1. Financial – No implications. Budgets for the event are available and planned for. 2. HR & Organisational Development – Not applicable. 3. Community/Council Planning – the new Renfrewshire Business Support Partnership will report progress to the CPP. 4. Legal – Not applicable. 5. Property/Assets- Not applicable. 6. Information Technology – Not applicable. 7. Equality & Human Rights- Not applicable. 8. Health & Safety- Not applicable. 9. Procurement – Not applicable. 10. Risk- Not applicable. 11. Privacy Impact- Not applicable. 12. Cosla Policy Position- Not applicable. ___________________________________________________________________ For more information contact: Ruth Cooper, Economic Development Manager ruth.cooper@renfrewshire.gov.uk