Rural Economy Action Group minutes: February 2020
- Published
- 5 March 2020
- Directorate
- Agriculture and Rural Economy Directorate
- Date of meeting
- 4 February 2020
Minutes of the second meeting of the Rural Economy Action Group, held on 4 February 2020.
Attendees and apologies
REAG members
- Carol Tannahill – Chief Social Policy Adviser
- Gary Gillespie – Chief Economic Adviser
- Andrew Scott – Director for Sustainable Land Use and Rural Policy
- Colin Cook – Director of Digital
- Alison Irvine – Deputy for Chief Executive Transport Scotland
- Jeremy Phillipson – Professor of Rural Development, University of Newcastle
- Jo Dow - Chief Executive – Business Stream
- Helena Gray – Deputy for Director of Energy and Climate Change
- Catriona MacKean – Deputy for Director for Housing and Social Justice
Additional Scottish Government Attendees
- Jane Duffy – Deputy for Director for Fair Work Employability and Skills
- Simon Fuller – Rural and Environment Science and Analytical Services
- Catriona Maclean – Deputy Director Rural Economy and Communities
Business Support Representatives
- Hugh Lightbody – Business Gateway
- Merle Palmer – GrowBiz
- Rachel Hunter – Highlands and Islands Enterprise
- Julian Pace – Scottish Enterprise
- Jim Watson – Scottish Enterprise
- Karen Jackson – South of Scotland Enterprise
- Louisa Harvey – Growth Deals and Regional Economic Partnerships
- Chris Nicholson – Scottish National Investment Bank
Rural Leaders
- Andrew Stirling – stirfresh
- John Sinclair – Craigie’s Farm
- Wendy Pring – KCP Ltd
- Andrew Donaldson – Comrie Croft
REAG Secretariat
- Amanda Fox
- Pamela Berry
- Ebba Svantesson
Apologies
- Shirley Laing
- Roy Brannen
- Kersti Berge
- Iain Docherty
- Mary McAllan
- Graham Black
- Dominic Munro
Items and actions
Agenda
Welcome to REAG members
Actions from previous meeting
Welcome and Introductions to additional attendees – Business Support representatives and Rural Leaders
NCRA film showcasing rural Scotland
Update on Brexit
Business support landscape – discussion with representatives of business support bodies
Business support landscape – Engagement with Rural Leaders
Lunch
Business support landscape – REAG members roundtable discussion
Action setting for Scottish Government Directors
AOB and next steps
| Number |
Action |
Status |
| 1 |
Bi-lateral between Jeremy Philipson and Simon Fuller to discuss further the evidence base and disaggregated figures. Update at next REAG meeting |
In progress |
| 2 |
Circulate papers: ∙ Business Led Inclusive Growth in the South of Scotland ∙ Infrastructure Commission for Scotland report ∙ Scottish National Investment Bank – The Bank’s Mission-Oriented Approach |
Complete |
| 3 |
Investigate the differing data on the Gender Pay Gap in South of Scotland |
In progress |
| 4 |
Consider what further information on social landlord housing stock levels can be added to the analysis of housing association housing provision by rural and urban area |
In progress |
| 5 |
Explore how the sustainable procurement duty, outlined in Procurement Reform (Scotland) Act 2014 delivers opportunities for public good (e.g. climate change) and benefits to local economies and communities |
In progress |
| 6 |
Liaise with the Banking and Economy Forum and emphasise the importance of Place and probe in what capacity they are delivering for the rural economy |
In progress |
| 7 |
Circulate the Access to Finance Survey once published (March/April) |
In progress |
| 8 |
Send a note to the Enterprise and Skills Strategic Board about the discussions held at the REAG meeting. Emphasise the need for a shared vision and strategy for the business support agencies and organisations |
In progress |
| 9 |
Set up meeting between Gary Gillespie, Andrew Scott, Mary McAllan and Carol Tannahill to explore the relationship between other public bodies (including SEPA, SNH, Scottish Forestry & Visit Scotland) and the enterprise agencies. Consider bringing this discussion to the Economy board & provide update at next REAG meeting |
In progress |
| 10 |
Apprenticeships - examine how well rural areas are able to make use of existing apprenticeship programmes |
In progress |
| 11 |
Explore how we can encourage and ensure that businesses are supported and transitioning to net zero. How are our Enterprise Agencies aligned to support and develop businesses to address climate change? |
In progress |
| 12 |
Explore what mechanisms are available or could be developed to connect people to the opportunity that Natural Capital presents. This would potentially become a topic for REAG deep-dive |
In progress |
| 13 |
Produce a report on the current business support in rural Scotland. Bi-lateral (Action 1) between Jeremy Phillipson and Simon Fuller to inform what is needed in terms of data going forward |
In progress |
| 14 |
Progress plans for next meeting of the Rural Economy Action Group to be held on the 3 June in a rural location. The theme of this meeting is likely to be on the communities in rural areas and the people in them; with a specific focus on housing, planning and population change. |
In progress |
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