Retrofit Curriculum Development - Case Study Video

The Edinburgh and South East Scotland City Region's Integrated Employer Engagement project has established a curriculum offering which addresses localised Retrofit skills training needs.

Working with The Verdancy Group, an SCQF Level 5 rated Understanding Domestic Retrofit qualification was created and launched in early 2024. Over 100 delegates across the region have taken part in the award including college lecturers, advanced level college students, local authority employees and employers across the region.

Watch this short video to find out more:

You can watch other videos which show how the City Region Deal’s projects and programmes are helping people, in the Annual Report 2023/24

Bus Driver Recruitment Campaign - Case Study Video

The Workforce Mobility Project, Integrated Employer Engagement team, bus operators and regional employability partners delivered a series of bus driver recruitment roadshows across the city region through May and June 2024.

Launched by the Minister for Agriculture and Connectivity, the roadshows were a great example of collaborative working across the region to help operators overcome a shortage of bus drivers, while creating new connections with employability partners. It has also showcased the importance of bus drivers to support our communities and economy, while highlighting the fantastic career opportunities that are available with operators across our region.

Watch the short video featuring the Minister, operators, drivers and SEStran (South East of Scotland Transport Partnership) to find out more:

You can watch other videos which show how the City Region Deal’s projects and programmes are helping people, in the Annual Report 2023/24

First tenants move into flagship Levenmouth Business Park

The first tenants have moved into the new flagship Levenmouth Business Park – marking a major milestone in the ongoing regeneration of Mid-Fife.

Seven new modern and attractive units have been built at Muiredge on the outskirts of Buckhaven, providing 741 square metres of space for a range of businesses and supporting the creation of an estimated 15 jobs.

The units – which have been built to a high specification - have evidenced high demand, with six units snapped up by growing businesses and new enterprises with ongoing enquiries focussed on the remaining available unit.

After the units were formally handed over by contractors last week, the occupants are starting to settle into their new surroundings, supporting the expansion of Levenmouth’s business base.

The creation of Levenmouth Business Park is part of the £58 million 10-year Fife Industrial Innovation Investment (Fife i3) Programme, which has been supported through the wider £1.5 billion Edinburgh and South East Scotland City Region Deal and aims to provide much-needed serviced employment land and new industrial, office and business space across the Kingdom.

Around £1.2 million was secured via the City Region Deal for this particular project, while £715,000 from the Levenmouth Reconnected Programme – a £10 million fund set up to maximise the benefits of the new Levenmouth Rail Link – also went towards site servicing and the new builds.

Councillor Altany Craik, spokesperson for finance, economy and strategic planning, said he was delighted to see the new units open for business.

“The Fife i3 Programme is all about creating conditions for start-ups and SMEs (small/medium-sized enterprises) to grow and innovate, and with that comes direct and indirect employment, increased demand for local services, and major benefits for supply chain businesses both here in Fife but across Scotland more generally,” he commented.

“It’s great to hear these units have been in demand, and of course they are perfectly placed to take advantage of the new £116m Levenmouth Rail Link, the new active travel network going in, and enhanced bus services.

“We’ve been committed to ensuring new, flexible business property is available across a range of locations, sizes and uses, and I think Levenmouth Business Park is a prime example of that.

“On behalf of the council, we’d like to wish all the new tenants well and we look forward to seeing them flourish.”

Fife Council’s Economic Development team has led on the development and promotion of the new units and employment land with the aim of securing new occupiers and investment at the Business Park. To find out more, visit www.investfife.co.uk or email fifemeansbusiness@fife.gov.uk.

A fly-through video of the new units can be found on the Levenmouth Reconnected You Tube channel here: https://youtu.be/Qczb-uPDc9g

City Region Deal Annual Report 2023/24

The Edinburgh and South East Scotland City Region Deal’s Annual Report was approved by Joint Committee on 6 September.

The report summarises progress of the Programme for the sixth year since the signing of the 15-year programme (August 2023 to July 2024). The report contains a City Region Deal overview, Financial Statement (for the financial year 2023-24), a short summary of progress on each project and programme and expected milestones to be achieved in the next year. Seven case study videos are included in the report to demonstrate how the Deal’s projects and programmes are benefiting people.

The report includes updated figures showing the positive benefits that the Deal has brought to the region, including:

• adding £2.2bn Gross Value Added to the Scottish and UK economy;

• creating or supporting 20,000 job opportunities;

• supporting 900 micro, small and medium enterprises;

• supporting 500 apprentices and internships;

• donating over £100,000 to regional good causes; and

• leveraging an additional 45% on government funding drawn down thus far

 Read the full report (interactive) or download the accessible version  [PDF, 2.3MB]

Six-Year Anniversary

Today marks the six-year anniversary of the signing of the Edinburgh and South East Scotland City Region Deal. 

 Signing of the City Region Deal, 7 August, 2018, Bayes Centre, Edinburgh

The Deal is a 15-year, £1.5 billion programme of 20 projects across five themes, aimed at driving productivity and reducing inequality, with £600m of this contributed equally by the Scottish and UK Governments.

This year, two major capital projects were completed within the Research, Development and Innovation theme: the Edinburgh Futures Institute (a fantastic transformation of the Old Royal Infirmary, Edinburgh) and the Usher Institute for Population Health Sciences and Informatics.

Edinburgh Futures Institute 

Usher Institute

Some of the benefits as a direct result of the Deal investment have now been calculated and include:

• £1.5bn of Gross Value Added to the City Region, Scottish and UK economy;

• Over 18,000 job opportunities created and supported;

• 100,000 students completing data courses;

• £200m secured in research funding through the Data-Driven Innovation programme;

• More than 900 micro, small and medium enterprises supported; and

• Over 500 apprenticeships and internships supported.

You can read more in our sixth annual report, which will be published on our website on 9 September.  Subscribe to our newsletter to make sure you don’t miss out!