Economic Growth Team Activities and Outcomes for 2024/25
Argyll and Bute Council · 11 September 2025
Back to Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee — 11 September 2025 and its agenda
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1 ARGYLL AND BUTE COUNCIL ENVIRONMENT, DEVELOPMENT AND INFRASTRUCTURE COMMITTEE DEVELOPMENT AND ECONOMIC GROWTH 11 SEPTEMBER 2025 ECONOMIC GROWTH TEAM ACTIVITIES AND OUTCOMES FOR 2024/25 1.0 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 1.1 The purpose of this paper is to provide members of the Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee with an update on the delivery of services and associated outcomes by the overarching Economic Growth Team, within the Development and Economic Growth Service, during 2024/25, which aligns with the council’s priority of Housing, Economic Growth and Population. 1.2 The overarching Economic Growth Team comprises of an Economic Growth Manager who has oversight over four teams as follows. • Opportunities and Growth • UK and External Policy • Business Gateway • Employability 1.3 The content of this paper has been summarised into an infographic, see Appendix 1. 1.4 It is recommended that Members of the Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee consider and agree the update on the delivery of services in 2024/25 by the Economic Growth Team.
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2 ARGYLL AND BUTE COUNCIL ENVIRONMENT, DEVELOPMENT AND INFRASTRUCTURE COMMITTEE DEVELOPMENT AND ECONOMIC GROWTH 11 SEPTEMBER 2025 ECONOMIC GROWTH TEAM ACTIVITIES AND OUTCOMES FOR 2024/25 2.0 INTRODUCTION 2.1 The purpose of this paper is to provide members of the Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee with an update on the delivery of services and associated outcomes by the overarching Economic Growth Team, within the Development and Economic Growth Service, during 2024/25. 2.2 Collaboration and partnership working intra Economic Growth, with other council teams/services and with external partners are critical to the effective and efficient delivery of the interventions by the Economic Growth teams. 3.0 RECOMMENDATIONS 3.1 It is recommended that Members of the Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee consider and agree the update on the delivery of services in 2024/25 by the Economic Growth Team: 4.0 DETAIL 4.1 The work of the Economic Growth teams predominantly supports and adds value to the council’s priorities of ‘Housing, Economic Growth and Population’ and ‘Communities’, in particular: • Shared prosperity and sustainable business growth in Argyll and Bute, • People are Argyll and Bute’s most important asset in driving forward opportunities for growth and vibrant local economies. • Empowered and resilient communities. 4.2 The thematic focus and priorities of the Economic Growth Manager and the four teams is outlined in Figure 1 below. The diagram includes the number of staff per team, details on the number of full-time equivalent posts that are funded from external sources and key service interventions and activities delivered in a complementary and collaborative manner e.g. businesses being informed of employability funding to assist with recruiting specific targeted individuals/groups.
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3 Figure 1
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4 KEY ACTIVITIES AND OUTCOMES 4.3 The key activities and outcomes by the teams within Economic Growth are outlined in the appended infographic (see Appendix 1) complete with geographical spread of activity (as appropriate) testimonials and case studies from project and programme beneficiaries. Some notable outcomes and impacts of the interventions delivered directly and indirectly (e.g. management of funding schemes) by the teams within Economic Growth are outlined as follows: Opportunities and Growth: • £1.9 million of direct economic impact on the local economy from the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race 2024 which contributed to the recognition of Oban towards the Town of the Year Award 2024. • Although delivery suspended during 2024/25, the Rural Tourism Infrastructure Fund is now up and running again with the three projects, totaling £1.25 million, now awarded funding (Round 4/5). UK and External Policy: • From the UK Shared Prosperity Fund Investment Plan spend, 2022-25, of £2.56 million the outcomes derived are: ➢ 17 jobs created ➢ 256 volunteering opportunities supported ➢ 254 people participated in Multiply (numeracy) funded courses ➢ 103 people in employment including self-employment ➢ 106 enterprises received ➢ 11 assets or facilities created or improved. • £599k of Community Led Local Development (CLLD) funding delivered to support 20 projects against total project costs of £793k leveraging in £194k of match funding; with a social return on investment of £5.11 for every £1 invested in CLLD projects in 2024/25. Argyll and Bute Business Gateway: • 152 new start-up businesses supported with a combined projected turnover of £6.06 million in year 1 and creating 173 jobs. • customer satisfaction of Argyll and Bute Business Gateway 94% compared to a national average of 81%, with 92% of recipients reported their business will benefit and 97% of recipients reported they would recommend the Business Gateway service. Employability: • 48 employers in Argyll and Bute supported to host work placements with 68 unemployed/economically inactive residents supported to take part in a work placement. • 42 participants secured employment at the end of their work placement (62%). • 472 participants were supported in 2024/25 by the Council’s Employability Team and third sector delivery partners with tailored support on their journey into work through No One Left Behind funding from the Scottish Government. • Job starts across Argyll and Bute is 44% compared with 31% Scotland wide.
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5 5.0 CONCLUSION 5.1 The purpose of this paper is to provide members of the Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee with an update on the wide-ranging activities of the overarching Economic Growth Team during 2024/25, including delivery of the services and associated outcomes in compliance with funding requirements. 5.2 There is an underlying theme of collaboration, facilitation and complementary work across the teams within Economic Growth, with extensive collaboration with other council teams, the third sector, government agencies and commercial companies. A lot has been achieved during 2024/25 by small teams of staff. 6.0 IMPLICATIONS 6.1 Policy – Argyll and Bute Economic Strategy 2024-34, Local Outcome Improvement Plan (LOIP), 2024-2034 and National Strategy for Economic Transformation (NSET- 10-year duration to 2032). 6.2 Financial – numerous external funding streams, as detailed in the paper. 6.3 Legal - all appropriate legal implications have been taken into consideration. 6.4 HR – staff required to support delivery of the actions to realise appropriate outcomes and impacts for residents and communities across Argyll and Bute. 6.5 Customer Service – none. 6.6 Risk - ongoing delivery of opportunities afforded by external funding has only been possible with associated revenue funding. However, many funding sources are only for one year, which makes staff recruitment and retention difficult, particularly in an area such as Argyll and Bute with many remote rural and island communities. Through various officer networks, such as Scottish Local Authorities Economic Development (SLAED) group, focus has been given to the need to influence funding bodies on the benefit of sustainable multi-annual funding streams. 6.7 Climate Change – there were a number of net zero and climate resilience interventions supported within the Argyll and Bute UK Shared Prosperity Fund Investment Plan, 2022-2025 and ongoing for the 2025/26 UK Shared Prosperity Transition Plan. 6.8 Fairer Scotland Duty - the Fairer Scotland Duty, Part 1 of the Equality Act 2010, came into force in April 2018. The duty places a legal responsibility on particular public bodies in Scotland, such as Argyll and Bute Council, to pay due regard to (actively consider) how they can reduce inequalities of outcome, caused by socio- economic disadvantages, when making strategic decisions and how this has been implemented. 6.9 Equalities (protected characteristics) - all activities will comply with all Equal Opportunities policies and obligations.
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6 6.10 Consumer Duty - all activities will comply with the council’s Consumer Duty. 6.11 Island Communities - interventions have been delivered across the whole of Argyll and Bute including the island communities. 6.12 Children’s Rights and Wellbeing – none. Kirsty Flanagan, Executive Director responsible for Development and Economic Growth Policy Lead for Business Development: Councillor Math Campbell-Sturgess 27th August 2025 For further information contact: Fergus Murray, Head of Development and Economic Growth Tel: 01546 604293 and e-mail: fergus.murray@argyll-bute.gov.uk Ishabel Bremner, Economic Growth Manager Tel: 01546 604375 and e-mail: ishabel.bremner@argyll-bute.gov.uk APPENDICES Appendix 1: Economic Growth Activities and Outcomes 2024/2025
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