Business Comment DECEMBER/JANUARY 2021 Transport and Infrastructure CONTENTS International Transport and Infrastructure 22 Enterprising Cleaner, Calmer Welcome to the latest issue of Business Comment. and Greener City Centre Cities are the engines of our economy, impacts the city centre making many Leading driving growth and prosperity for our businesses unviable. The number of citizens, hotbeds for innovation and unemployment claimants in Edinburgh creative dynamos of the arts, culture and is up 200% since February with over creative industries. 69,000 people on Furlough. The Scottish Licence Trade estimate up to two thirds Local And our city centre is the very heart of our of licenced premises may be mothballed city, Scotland’s Capital and the biggest or closed if the restrictions continue. force in our national economy. Potentially a loss of up to 5000 jobs. Strathclyde That is why Edinburgh Chamber, along Many hotels closed through the winter. with other business organisations, has While successful neighbourhoods are, been demanding greater action from or course, to be celebrated it must not our political and civic leaders – both at The final word in business education be an ‘either or’. Without our vibrant city national and local level – to focus on centre, what will the future of Edinburgh what they can do to help our city centres look like? We cannot be complacent and plot a recovery from the enormously take for granted continuing success if damaging impacts of the Covid-19 we allow our city centre, our most prized New Life for Edinburgh’s pandemic and the restrictions imposed to Beating Heart asset, to wither on the vine. combat it. 24 It is therefore encouraging to read that An estimated 70% of the population will St James Quarter and their billion pound live and work in cities by 2050. But the plus development aimed at reimagining pandemic has been a catalyst for a major our city centre as a retail destination has Contents and Introduction 03 shift in the way we work, travel, socialise the continued confidence of national and come together. Neighbourhoods and international retailers and hoteliers, Member Benefit 04 have benefited from the ‘buy local’ despite the huge problems we have faced messages as people work from home Chamber News 05 | 09 through coronavirus. and travel less. Communities have Inspiring Connections 11 come together to support each other Business wants to build again, to invest, and in many ways we have rediscovered to grow and we need our politicians to Chamber News 13 the values of a more cohesive society. provide the policy environment to help Strathclyde Business School is a top business Top Tips 14 The new buzz phrases are ‘the 20 us provide the jobs and opportunities school within a leading international technological minute commute’, ‘Place-Making’ and that our citizens depend on. Edinburgh New Members 15 University, recently named UK University of the Year ‘empowered communities’. Chamber, as ever, will be speaking up for businesses. Ask the Expert 16 in the prestigious Times Higher Awards 2019. All good. But our city centres do so much As a long-established, pioneering business school, to define our cities and the success they Corporate View 18 enjoy, or not. Big international brands we understand the business needs of organisations, recognise the demand and success Developing Young Workforce 20 from SMEs and start ups to global players. that Edinburgh’s unique centre has to Special Report 22 | 25 offer. This has created a vibrant city With seven international centres, we know first hand with choice, entertainment and a quality In Conversation With 26 the importance of global thinking and we continue of life that attracts talent, students, 60 Seconds | Get with IT 27 to introduce innovative business programmes and entrepreneurs, investors and visitors. bespoke executive education to suit the demands of This summer we saw a reduction in International Update 28 an evolving business world. footfall of 2 million each month in the Chamber Training 29 city centre, significantly impacting retail Liz McAreavey Our acclaimed MBA programme can be studied on and hospitality. Working from home, Chief Executive, Chamber Policy Update 31 Edinburgh Chamber a full time, part time or flexible learning basis which likely to continue to spring 2021, further of Commerce Chamber Partners 32 | 35 means you don’t have to give up the day job – or travel far – to get a world class MBA. Edinburgh’s Newcomers 38 www.strath.ac.uk/business December/January 2021 BC 3 INSPIRING COMMUNITIES CHAMBER NEWS Local government leaders call for post-COVID Covid has shown us how to build a collaborative city recovery to be rooted in stronger, wealthier We all have to eat. Yet the pandemic meant that more people than ever before in communities, new Arcadis report finds Scotland’s capital city were not sure where their next meal would come from. As COVID-19 continues to dramatically change the way we all live, travel and behave, a new report from Arcadis has highlighted some of the key priorities for both local government and the general public, as authorities across the country look to deliver a recovery that builds back stronger communities. To better understand what the public, local government and public sector leaders see as the top priorities for post-COVID recovery in their areas, Arcadis carried out research covering 1,700 organisations and individuals. More than 60% of local government respondents agreed that a focus on ‘community wealth building’ would help to revitalise town centres. Meanwhile, with more than 1 in 3 members of the general public calling for a prioritisation of improvements to the high street, the research highlighted a growing consensus that the recovery should be a unique opportunity for a radical rethink of how we view our communities and live our lives. COVID-19 has shown just how important the strength and resilience of our communities should be. The public opinion polling showed a clear preference for prioritising local interventions that protect and improve public health, local amenities and the environment. Amongst Creating the right homes in the right places work to understand the new landscape and the the general public, the polling showed that opportunities it could bring across business, investment in green transport and home energy Re-imagining town centres and high streets Covid shone a disconcerting light on just how baked 60 cakes for food parcels. Phoenix public sector and political leadership. Most efficiency measures to tackle climate change Putting digital inclusivity at the heart of the fragile the circumstances are of many families staff baked and bought cakes for the same importantly, we have the chance to radically ranked amongst the top priorities for local health and wellbeing agenda of all shapes and sizes. Thankfully, led by purpose. Leith Rugby Club players, many spending overall. Similarly, local authority leaders re-think how we view our communities and live that same light, many amazing cross-sector on furlough, supported the Citadel Youth saw investment in active travel schemes that Actively exploring new forms of mobility our lives. collaborations, supported by people from all Project to distribute food. Mimi’s bakers support walking and cycling, as well as measures Across all of these levers, there needs to be “We hope that through close collaboration walks of life, stepped up so that those in need donated cakes. There were pies from Jarvis’s. to increase public transport capacity as some of the most achievable short-term goals. consideration of any climate impacts to ensure between all groups involved in building back were fed. Vans from Arnold Clark. Laptops donated the recovery builds greener communities as better, the benefits of the post-COVID recovery so folk could stay in touch. Clothes, socks, The findings of the report strongly make the case well as stronger ones. Similarly, they must be RBS, for example, used their Gogarburn will extend well beyond simply bringing GDP toys, and so much more was given. In fact I for a renewed focus on implementing policies at underpinned by emerging innovative digital tools facilities and expansive client network to back to pre-pandemic levels, but will also embed probably should apologise to the many acts more of these inspiring stories in more detail. all levels of local government that strengthen and that have the potential to radically improve the access and gather food – and much more – in protect the health, wealth and wellbeing of local sustainable long-lasting change in our towns and of generosity I have missed! So many people We don’t just want to inspire and celebrate, effectiveness and inclusivity of local authority one place to be distributed to partner charities. who were facing real crisis due to Covid were communities, as well as delivering lower carbon policies and services. cities, and for the people who live within them.” as positive as this will be, but we also want Cyrenians turned their training kitchen into supported by so many others, who gave what and greener places that everyone can enjoy. to encourage all of us to ask the question: if Arcadis is now calling for greater collaboration Lord Barwell, a strategic advisor to Arcadis and a production kitchen where staff, aided by they had to people they would never know. This is a crucial time for local authorities we can collaborate so quickly and effectively between local authorities and the private sector former Housing and Planning Minister said: volunteers including furloughed chefs, were with the imminent Comprehensive Spending to ensure the unique opportunity for lasting For those sleeping rough it was a particularly when faced with a crisis, if we can shatter producing up to 1000 meals a day.