Dundee can teach but we must learn

It is changed days indeed when leading business figures in the north-east of Scotland turn to Dundee for inspiration on how to plan for the future.

Yet yesterday at a Press and Journal Morning Briefing, the success of Aberdeen’s southern neighbours was mentioned and praised repeatedly.

There is no doubt that Dundee has made huge strides in the last 10 years and the sense of optimism in Tayside is growing by the day.

It is also true, however, that the city did not have its troubles to seek and the very public health and social issues connected with decades of extreme poverty helped spur the public and private sectors to come together to stop the rot.

For Dundee the imperative was obvious and in the absence of a dominant industry to support the economy it had to pick a few targets including culture and gaming around which to build its strategy.

Aberdeen and the north-east of Scotland has picked its targets too with tourism and food and drink at the top of the diversification list.

What is perhaps less clear, however, is the narrative around the aims in the northeast. Is it about jobs? Profits? Health? Poverty? Growth? All of the above?

Aberdeen can learn from Dundee but it must also keep refining its own story so that everyone can continue to come together with a sense of collective purpose.

“What is perhaps less clear, however, is the narrative around the aims in the north-east”