Glasgow City Council takes on local Business Gateway services » Local Government » 24dash.com

From 1 April 2008, the Glasgow City Council assumed responsibility for Scottish Enterprise’s Business Gateway service in the city.

 The move, resulting from the Scottish Government’s recent review into Scottish Enterprise’s (SE) remit, saw management of its Business Gateway contracts move to council control.

Business Gateway is the generic brand for all of the SE funded activity designed to grow the scale and performance of Scotland’s businesses.

CoSLA, the organisation that represents Scottish local authorities, led negotiations with SE and the Government to make sure adequate funding and resources would be given to councils to enable them to undertake the task and have a level of control over core Business Gateway functions that were to remain within SE.

Last month, the Council’s Executive Committee approved a proposal for the Executive Director for Development and Regeneration Services, Steve Inch, to enter into a contract with SE.

The Scottish Government had set a deadline of 1 April 2008 for talks to conclude and the transfers to happen.

Therefore with immediate effect, the Council will take over the responsibility for the management of the Business Gateway local contract for Glasgow currently operated by Alba Smart Thinking.

Alba Smart Thinking, a subsidiary of Glasgow Opportunities the not-for-profit enterprise trust specialising business start-up and growth, will manage local Business Gateway outlets, deliver events and advisory services and liaise with service providers.

Executive Member for Development and Regeneration at Glasgow City Council, Councillor George Ryan, said:

”Research has shown that on average Glasgow’s small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) exhibit lower investment, productivity and growth rates than other parts of Scotland and the UK. As a result company survival rates are low.

”This transfer of responsibility is an increased degree of control for the Council in relation to supporting the city’s economic growth. If we can help address these survival issues, via Business Gateway, it will have a positive impact on the city’s economic performance and employment levels.”