Scotland National Strategy for Economic Transformation: Regional Economic Partnerships - evidence

4. Forth Valley Regional Economic Partnership

Regional Aspirations to 2030

Work is taking place to develop a regional economic strategy and partnership for the Forth Valley.This work involves a range of public and private sector stakeholders and is progressing with the aim of formalising a Regional Economic Partnership during 2022. The areas of focus of this work relate to:

• transport;
• tourism;
• business support; and,
• low carbon.

The region's economic agenda towards 2030 focuses on the 'Journey to Net Zero, Productive Places & People' and 'Inclusive Growth & Well-being' prospects for the Forth Valley. This is being taken forward as part of establishing the regional economic partnership in mid-2022, and adopting a regional economic strategy by the end of the year.

Regional Opportunities

The following are key areas of economic opportunity for the region:

• developing a Forth Valley Regional Tourism programme;
• developing Scotland's International Environment Centre;
• responding to findings of the regional Connectivity Commission;
• implementing Stirling & Clackmannanshire City Deal & Falkirk Investment Zone programmes; and,
• investment opportunities and transformational programmes in Grangemouth (progressing the journey to net zero, including the transition to a net zero manufacturing campus at Ineos).

Regional Challenges

Businesses in all sectors face challenges due to a range of external factors. COVID recovery is a challenge for many sectors, although some sectors will recover quicker than others. The partners are committed to working together to help address these challenges and prepare for the future.

Ongoing and Planned Activity for Region

Current ongoing activities for the region include:

• improvement of targeting of support through the City Deal, the Investment Zone, Falkirk Tax Incremental Finance (TIF), Town Centre and Tourism Action Plans);
• Delivering localised Business Gateway services including working with stakeholders to maximise business support opportunities and resources;
• provision of Partnership Action for Continuing Employment (PACE) support for businesses in scope for redudancy;
• increase digital capability of businesses through DigitalBoost programme;
• developing digital support tools for skills development, increasing staff resource for front line employability support, and delivery of increased employer recruitment and job creation programmes;
• supporting communities, housing and infraststructure;.
• tourism action planning, including COVID local tourism action plan and development of local area marketing campaigns.
• The partners convened a virtual conference 'Revitalising the Forth Valley' which demonstrated a range of joint activitiy taking place across the region. It highlighted the work taking place to help achieve net zero, enhance our digital capacity and promote community wealth building. The partners will use the outcome of this event to frame its work on the regional strategy.