Progress being made to attract more people to live and work in 撸sir视频 and Bute has been described as 鈥渧ery encouraging鈥 in a report to Councillors.
At its next meeting on Thursday, June 7, the Council鈥檚 Environment, Development and Infrastructure Committee will be presented with a report from the 撸sir视频 and Bute Economic Forum.
The Forum鈥檚 chairman is Nicholas Ferguson CBE, former Chairman of Sky plc and now Chairman of Savills plc. Set up in 2015 to tackle population decline in the area, the 撸sir视频 and Bute Economic Forum looks at the issue from a business perspective.
It identified jobs as the being the key to encouraging more people in the working age group 20-44 to stay in 撸sir视频 and Bute or move to the area. Three key areas for job growth were outlined as: Tourism; Food and drink production, particularly aquaculture; and Higher Education.
In the report, Nicholas Ferguson said: 鈥淲e are pleased to report that the developments in all three of these have been very positive. Visitor numbers for 撸sir视频 and Bute have shown an increase of 22% over the last two years, with growth of 38% at our key tourist attractions. Numerous private sector tourist-related companies and initiatives have seen investment, new employment, growth, and profitability.
鈥淎quaculture employment and profits both increased by 10% despite production issues. Other food and drink production has grown. Higher Education has seen impressive growth. The principal higher education institutions in 撸sir视频 are UHI 撸sir视频 College, SAMS and Ballet West. Total student numbers have increased over the last two years by some 28%.
鈥淪o there is no question that 撸sir视频 is now on the move. This is clearly very encouraging.鈥
Oban becoming a 鈥榰niversity town鈥 and improved 4G mobile access and broadband coverage in 撸sir视频 are also identified as positive steps, with the roads network highlighted as another opportunity for making the area more accessible and friendly to tourism and business.
Marketing and promotion of the area in terms of tourism and industry is seen as a major step in continuing growth, as is an enhanced approach to meeting visitors鈥 needs via a range of new and exciting adventure experiences that take advantage of 撸sir视频鈥檚 natural beauty.
Council Leader Aileen Morton said: 鈥淚t is with everyone who cares about 撸sir视频 and Bute working together that we will build a secure future for the area. The Forum has brought the public and private sectors together and I look forward to considering this report at committee.鈥
The full report can be viewed online at https://bit.ly/2J3lADj