Wellbeing economy toolkit: supporting place based economic strategy and policy development

Executive Summary

The Scottish Government is taking a broader view of what it means to be a successful economy, society and country and putting people and planet at the heart. To realise our vision for a wellbeing economy, we are working in partnership across the public, private and third sectors, as well as with individuals and communities.

Informed by the Wellbeing Economy Pilot project in Clackmannanshire, this toolkit is intended to provide a resource for those involved in developing economic strategy and place-based economic development policy. This practical guide sets out a stage-by-stage diagnostic process designed to aid decision-making and prioritisation of economic interventions to facilitate the transition to local and regional wellbeing economies.

To provide an illustration of this toolkit in practice, a case study from our Wellbeing Economy Pilot project with Clackmannanshire Council has been included. Clackmannanshire is making significant progress in its transition to a wellbeing economy, including delivering their Community Wealth Building Action Plan, establishing a Wellbeing Economy Anchor Partnership and reviewing and updating its Local Outcomes Improvement Plan to focus on the wellbeing economy transition.

To support this process, the Local Wellbeing Economy Monitor provides a set of indicators of various aspects of wellbeing for each of Scotland’s local authority areas. These metrics are based on the National Outcomes and indicators in the National Performance Framework and are intended as a resource to help form a high-level picture of collective wellbeing within a local area.

The development of this toolkit and its accompanying monitor has been informed by engagement with key stakeholders, and we continue to welcome feedback to further refine these resources.