To encourage the development of a prosperous and sustainable economy which supports rewarding job opportunities in viable businesses and pays due regard to maintaining the quality of environment and culture.
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Angus Economic Development Partnership |
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To encourage the development of a prosperous and sustainable economy which supports rewarding job opportunities in viable businesses and pays due regard to maintaining the quality of environment and culture. |
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Background information:
Angus Economic Development Partnership: an introduction
The Angus Economic Development Partnership recently considered a cross cutting Economic Development Strategy for Angus. The Strategy was funded by Angus Council in partnership with Scottish Enterprise Tayside. The Strategy and action plan cover the period 2003-08. It is tailored to the needs of Angus, and promotes a shared vision for a prosperous Angus economy towards which the Angus Economic Development Partnership agencies can jointly aspire.
The Strategy document
sets out a policy and strategic context for economic development in Angus and
routes it firmly in the key national strategy of a "SMART successful
Scotland – ambitions for the enterprise networks". This strategy has
three main themes:-
Growing Businesses: Scotland a Fast Learning, High Earning Nation
Local Connections: Scotland a Globally Connected European Nation
Learning and Skills: Every Scot Ready For Tomorrow’s Jobs
The strategy provides details on employment in Angus. It contends that employment in Angus depends mainly on public administration, education and health (27% of employees), distribution, hotels and restaurants (24%), and manufacturing (21%). Indeed, the strategy states that the distinctive features of the Angus economy are relatively high and increasing share of employment and manufacturing, at seven percentage points above the Scottish average of 14%, and its heavy reliance on primary industries, in particular agriculture and fishing at 4.6% compared to 1.7% for Scotland as a whole. The strategy notes however that conversely, Angus has a much lower share of employment in banking, finance and insurance at 7.8% compared with 16.8% for Scotland as a whole.
Of the 30 largest employers in Angus, one sixth are in the oil and gas sector, and this sector has been a focus for growth over recent years. There has been a particular focus on exports with oil and gas outperforming the industry norm of 18% with 52% of turnover being exported.
While tourism is an established activity within Angus, the share of regional tourism enjoyed by the region is relatively small, at 13% of the tourism spend in the former Tayside Region. There are, however, clear strengths that demonstrate the potential in areas such as golf, Carnoustie Golf Links is one of the biggest employers in the area, and Heritage, Strathmore Estates, who operate Glamis Castle, are also major employers. Further economic development may take place as a result of parts of Angus being included in the Cairngorms National Park.
As with most largely rural economies, smaller employers dominate the business stock. Over 80% of businesses in Angus in 2000 employed between 1 and 10 employees, with only 14 companies employing more than 200 people.
In March 2002, the unemployment rate for Angus stood at 4.3% slightly lower than that for Scotland as a whole. Between March 1997 and March 2002, the total number of people unemployed in Angus fell by almost 40%, more than that for both Tayside and Scotland as a whole. However, Angus currently has a higher proportion of unemployed people aged 45 and over and a similar rate of long term unemployed compared to Scotland as a whole. Weekly earnings are some 4% lower than those for Tayside as a whole and 13% lower than the average for Scotland.
In terms of qualifications, Angus had a lower level of its population with no qualifications and a higher percentage of its population with standard, higher, SVQ and professional qualifications, compared to both Tayside and Scotland. Indeed, school leavers are amongst the highest educational achievers in Scotland with relatively high proportions going on to study at further and higher education.
A series of information events on Research and Development were held across Scotland (including Tayside) by the Scottish Executive and Scottish Enterprise in 2004.
Angus led the way on the Scottish Executive Initiative ‘Determined to Succeed’, with a series of events in each of the secondary school cluster areas linking the business community with the education authority.
Ongoing collaboration has taken place between agencies on development of renewable energies. Business Gateway achieved its targets for New Start businesses and for business survival in 2003-2004.
Works commenced on £2m investment in provision of services and landscaping at Orchardbank, Forfar, to provide 29ha of employment land.
The
first Angus Farming Conference was held in November 2003 with 110 attendees.
Angus Craft Association was formed in November 2004 and Angus Angling Initiative established.
Work commenced on both the dualling of the A92 from Arbroath to Dundee and on the replacement of Montrose Bridge (pictured left).
Tayscreen attracted 12 film productions to Angus between 2002 and end of 2004
including, A place in the sun/A place by
the sea broadcast by Channel 4 in October 2004 and Deceiving Hitler shown on ITV
also in October 2004.
The Angus Community Plan Progress Report and Review 2004/05
The Angus Community Plan Progress Report and Review 2004/05 details partnership priorities for the coming 12 months and beyond. Against each of these priorities, activities have been identified with timescales, partners involved and the intended outcome - allowing you to see what is planned to deliver on your priorities.
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OUTCOME/RESULT |
TARGET/PRIORITY |
MILESTONES/ACTIVITIES |
TIMESCALE |
PARTNERS |
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Improving the competitiveness of existing companies and building on the regions strengths and key sectors
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Improved understanding of support available to business for investment in Research and Technology
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Series of events to be held across Scotland including Tayside
Scottish Local Authority Economic Development Group also investigating above on an East of Scotland basis Wide spectrum of business support activity |
As per events timetable
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Scottish Executive - Lead, Scottish Enterprise Tayside, Business Gateway, Angus Council, Universities Scottish Enterprise Tayside, Angus Council, Universities
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Increase the business start-up and survival rate
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Improved annual number of
business start-ups
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Achieve annual targets
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Dec 2005
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Business Gateway - Lead, SET, Angus Council Business Gateway - Lead, SET, Angus Council Angus Council - Lead, Business Gateway |
| Improving skills of the workforce |
Improve uptake of engineering training
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Establishment of Angus Engineering Partnership
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Ongoing (Minute
of Understanding signed Sept 2003)
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Angus College - Joint Lead
with Angus Training Group, Angus
Council, SET Careers Scotland, Job Centre +, SET, Angus Council, Communities Scotland, Abertay University, Angus College |
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Enhancing physical infrastructure and digital connections
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Implementation of SET’s
‘Connected Tayside’ Strategy
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Introduction of National
Scheme to support provision of
Broadband Servicing of employment land
in Carnoustie and Kirriemuir Completion of Montrose Bridge replacement |
Ongoing from Autumn 2004
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Scottish Executive, Scottish Enterprise Local input from Scottish Enterprise Tayside and Angus Council Angus Council
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Increasing the share of service sector in total activity
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Increase percentage of overall employment within the service sector in Angus, thereby reducing dependence on manufacturing and widening the employment base |
Angus Call Centre Initiative
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Ongoing
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Angus Council - Lead, SET Business Gateway, Job Centre +, Scottish Development International Angus Council - lead, SET |
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Increasing awareness and perceptions of Angus
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Market research demonstrates
increasing awareness of Angus
locally, nationally and
internationally through efforts of Angus
Ahead Initiative and Rural Development
Facilitator, ADTB etc |
Angus Newsletter Angus Achievers Awards
Improve Tourism Signage throughout Angus Events in Angus and in the USA to celebrate Tartan day Promotion of various festivals/events across Angus including the Hairst, Brechin Arts Festival, Arbroath Seafest and Angus Glens Walking Festival. Continuing investment in Tayscreen |
2 times annually Nov 2005
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Angus Council, SET Angus & Dundee Tourist Board, Private sector Angus Council, EQ accountants, Royal Bank of Scotland Angus Champions lead, Angus Council Angus Council , SET, Leader
+ Angus Council, SET, ADTB, Private Sector
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For more information download the Angus Economic Development Partnership section (PDF 151K) of the Angus Community Plan Progress Report and Review 2004/05
Background information
2003 Progress and achievements
Having established and agreed an Angus Economic Development Strategy, the Angus Economic Development Partnership has focused on progressing three main areas of work over the last year. These include:-
2003 Achievements
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Summary of Economic Development Strategy
Page 1 (PDF 2.2MB) | Page 2 (PDF 2.2MB)| Comments postcard (PDF 1.4MB)