Economic pilot for the North

North Ayrshire Council has agreed to participate in the Scottish Government’s first “Inclusive Growth trial”.

The project is aimed at ensuring all sections of the community aspire to achieve and benefit significantly from economic growth.

The council’s cabinet has approved the pilot scheme – one of four priorities within the Scottish Government’s Economic Strategy – and is also prioritised within the North Ayrshire Economic Development Strategy. The project will look at ways of developing economic policy and diagnosising issues in local communities before prescribing solutions.

A steering group has already been established to take forward the North Ayrshire pilot, with Scottish Government representation from the Office of the Chief Economic Advisor, Social Justice Units, Scottish Enterprise and officers from North Ayrshire Council.

Councillor Marie Burns, for Economy and Employment, said: “We are pleased the council has been selected to take part in the Scottish Government’s pilot programme to reduce inequality in North Ayrshire.

“Our ambitions are far reaching, we want to make North Ayrshire the best place in Scotland to grow up.

“The results of this programme will identify a set of local priorities that if tackled over the long term could make a transformational difference to many of our local communities and vulnerable groups.”

The Scottish Government has committed a team to support the council and it is expected the results will feed into the Government’s spending review in September.