Economic Summit

Published

19th June 2018

CITY LEADERS, decision-makers and young entrepreneurs are set to gather in Dundee next week for the city’s seventh annual economic summit.

More than 200 people with a stake in Dundee and the wider area’s economic well-being will be at the Gardyne Theatre on Wednesday (June 27).

Focussing on “Delivering Regional Economic Growth” business, academics and the public sector will be sharing progress and plans on infrastructure and opportunities for the future with an audience from the city and beyond.

Organised by the Dundee Partnership the summit will provide an update on some of the major economic projects and transformations taking place in the city including the Tay Cities Deal bid, the evolution and potential impact of the V&A and a celebration of the Year of Young People.

It will consider how Dundee and the wider Tay Cities Region is preparing to deliver prosperity and growth, and the plans being developed to raise productivity, grow the business base and create better employment opportunities for local people.

As well as celebrating the forthcoming opening of V&A Dundee, delegates will consider how this and events like the Open Golf Championship at Carnoustie are raising the international profile of the region, attracting new visitors and stimulating further investment.

The summit will also hear about the opportunities being realised by young entrepreneurs across a range of sectors in the Year of Young People.

John Alexander leader of Dundee City Council who will make the closing remarks said: “We live in a dynamic, modern city filled with driving ambition, creativity and a hunger for transformation.

“The Economic Summit harnesses and highlights the collective efforts of our communities, private, public and third sector to have a strong and sustainable economy in the area that will provide jobs, retain graduates and attract investment.
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“We offer real choice and opportunity in an area tackling the root causes of social and economic exclusion and are fast becoming a place where people choose to live, learn, work and visit.”

More than 200 people will be at the summit which is sponsored by Dundee City Council, Dundee and Angus Chamber of Commerce, Scottish Enterprise and Skills Development Scotland.

Among the speakers will be Mike Galloway executive director of city development Dundee City Council; Ellis Watson executive chairman of DC Thomson Media and chair of the Tay Cities Enterprise Forum; John Tavendale, V&A Dundee Project Manager; Tim Reeve, deputy director, V&A and Cristiana Calixto, James Hutton Institute and young entrepreneurs Kirsten Stewart and Rob Kent.

As in previous year’s the event will be introduced and facilitated by Grant Ritchie, principal of Dundee and Angus College.

Places at the summit can be booked for free by going to https://www.dundeeandanguschamber.co.uk/attend-event.php?event=3811 

Dundee City Council

Dundee draws skilled workers from a 60-minute catchment population of 640,000 and has a local population of over 140,000. The availability of a large pool of highly skilled labour is a key feature in the Dundee economy. Flexibility in the labour force is currently more prevalent in Dundee than in Scotland as a whole. All forms of labour market flexibility - part-time, temporary employment, self-employment and shift work - are widely operational within the city. Labour force stability in the city is excellent, enabling companies to plan with confidence. Labour turnover levels are less than 5% and absenteeism averages 2%.

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