Edinburgh and South East Scotland City Region Deal - 5 Year Anniversary

With an investment of £1.5 billion over 15 years, The UK and Scottish governments, along with regional stakeholders, are committed to enhancing transportation, housing, culture, skills, employability, and innovation across the region. This investment will benefit more than 24% of Scotland's population, making it one of the most ambitious deals in the UK.

Celebrating the five-year mark, the City Region Deal has helped employ 4000 people and improved skills in 67,000. Strong progress has been made on delivering 3,500 new homes in Winchburgh, over 540 mid-market rent homes have been delivered by Edinburgh Living, nine new industrial units in Fife, with more on the way in the Scottish Borders. £3 million has been secured to enhance regional bus services, and over 700 small to medium-sized businesses have been supported across the region.

Watch our video, highlighting some of the main achievements over the past five years:

Sustainable Travel Employer Initiatives Funding and Tax Incentives published for employers

The City Region Deal is working to create new economic opportunities, jobs and to reduce inequalities across Edinburgh and South East Scotland. As part of achieving these objectives, the Workforce Mobility (WFM) Project is identifying and supporting sustainable long-term solutions, influencing policy and behaviour change to enable the reduction of transport barriers to employment, training, and further education in the region.

To support these activities, the WFM Project has drafted The Sustainable Travel Employer Initiatives, Funding and Tax Incentives document. This document details a set of measures and information to support employers in the promotion and investment in active and sustainable commuting of their employees. It contains detailed guidance on Fiscal Incentives and capital allowances available to employers for investment in infrastructure that supports more walking and cycling to work, and greater use of public transport by employees. This information will be updated each tax year and should be used as guidance only.

Download the Sustainable Travel Employer Initiatives Funding and Tax Incentives document (PDF, 616 KB)

View the Workforce Mobility Linkedin page and follow here for updates on Sustainable Travel Employer Incentives and Tax Incentives on Linkedin

Fast Followers Funding Secured To help accelerate Towards Net Zero

The Edinburgh and South East Scotland City Region Deal Net Zero Innovation and Delivery Programme has received Innovate UK funding to accelerate progress towards hitting Net Zero targets.

As the fastest growing region in Scotland, a 40% increase in new homes is needed every year. To transform both public and private housing to meet Net Zero ambitions, the region needs a well-trained workforce with the skills and capabilities for domestic retrofit and energy efficiency in new homes.

The current and future construction workforce crosses South East Scotland local authority boundaries, so it makes sense for all councils to work together with government, industry, City Region Deal organisations, colleges and universities.

This funding will allow the appointment of a Net Zero Innovation and Delivery Officer to: run feasibility studies on the skills barriers for Net Zero housing; maximise upskilling delivery; and avoid duplication of effort to create a common regional approach.

Fast Followers is part of Innovate UK’s Net Zero Living Programme, designed to help places and businesses across the UK to accelerate the delivery of the transition to Net Zero.

A competitive process saw 21 Local Authorities across the UK receive £6m funding from Fast Followers to help their areas to accelerate innovation, all with one aim – achieving Net Zero.

The projects are all designed to overcome non-technical barriers like citizen engagement or procurement.

Find out more on the Innovate UK website.

IRES Programme Annual Report - Video

The Integrated Employability & Skills (IRES) Programme has launched its annual report, highlighting some of the stories and impacts that have been made over the last twelve months. The report is in video format and captures how the seven projects have contributed to key achievements, and demonstrates how innovative and collaborative partnerships have benefitted those who live and work in the Edinburgh and South East Scotland City Region.

Watch the video below:

Transport Barrier Survey Baseline Report

A regional Transport Barrier Survey Baseline Report [PDF 3.07MB] has been published, by the City Region Deal’s Workforce Mobility project, which is part of the Integrated Regional Employability and Skills (IRES) programme.

The objective of the Workforce Mobility project is to identify and support sustainable long-term solutions, influence policy and behaviour change to enable the reduction of transport barriers to employment, training and education across the Edinburgh and South East Scotland City Region.

The report provides an evidence base to better understand the location and quantum of transport and digital barriers people are experiencing, which validates anecdotal evidence and daily experiences.  

The data provided in this report will shape the direction of the Workforce Mobility Project, but it can also be used by partners across the region to help inform decision making, policy, strategy and investment to improve transport and digital solutions across the region.