Businesses set out Covid recovery plan
Sixty of the biggest and bestknown employers in Edinburgh have set out a plan for Covid recovery in the city.
Organisations ranging from the Royal Bank of Scotland and the University of Edinburgh to Harvey Nichols and the Edinburgh Fringe have laid out a vision for securing the economic fortunes of the Scottish capital.
They have also raised concerns about a “lack of meaningful dialogue” to date between the city’s major businesses and politicians at both a city and national level.
Their plans include a new body to promote the city, a loyalty card for residents and visitors and more co-operative working.
Businesses in Edinburgh have issued a manifesto for the city’s recovery from Covid, calling for an accelerated return to workplaces, support for struggling firms, a new business promotion body and a new branding strategy.
The blueprint also proposed more business support for cultureand the arts, a comprehensive aviation strategy and a gift card/loyalty scheme to help independent firms and hospitality businesses.
And it urged increased investment in skills, reform of businessrates, promotion of in ward investment and a streamlining of the planning process, all in the interests of helping businesses to grow and create jobs.
The manifesto has been produced by the Edinburgh Business Resilience Group, made up of more than 60 organisations in the commercial, social and private sectors, brought together by Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce.
Among those who helped put together the Prospectus for Growth were Charles Hammond, chief executive of Forth Ports; Audrey Cumberford, principal of Edinburgh College; Les Bayne, former managing director of Accenture Scotland, now Alba Arete; Buster Howes, chief executive of Edinburgh Military Tattoo, and Peter Mathieson, principal of Edinburgh University.
And other organisations signing the manifesto include RBS, Bank of Scotland, Lloyds Banking Group, Edinburgh Airport, LNER, Stagecoach, Edinburgh International Festival, the Tattoo, the Fringe, Harvey Nichols, PWC, Heriot-watt University, Murray Estates and the St James Quarter.
The group is calling for a “reset” of the relationship between business and policymakers and proposes the appointment of a “business champion” within the council leadership.
The manifesto said: “In our work the one recurring theme which emerged is that there appears to be a disconnect at this point in time between businesses and policymakers at both city and national levels."
It said there was a feeling among businesses that policies on issues like sustainability, inclusion and fair work were being prioritised at the expense of more immediate re-opening decisions, and that policy makerswere“too removed” from the difficulties faced by many businesses; while public officials felt they were doing everything they could to aid recovery and there needed to be more understanding that public resources were stretched and there had been dialogue with business throughout the pandemic.
The manifesto continued: “We need to bring a meeting of minds and viewpoints, increased trust, and meaningful collaboration which will significantly move the dial and create the kind of true partnership we need to recover and grow.”
Among immediate priorities the group has listed an acceleratedreturn to work places“with clear guidelines and appropriate support to enable businesses to meet liabilities and to help employees feel safe and comfortable”, which would breathe life and energy back into the city centre.
It also wants revised physical distancing rules and greater alignment of Covid policies across the four nations of the UK.
And it called for support for companies facing “stifling” levels of debt after taking out loans to survive the lockdowns.
The manifesto also proposed setting up Edinburgh Means Business, a joint venture between the council, business, universities, cultural sector and third sector, which it described as “a campaign for recovery which morphs into a body potentially hosted by edinburgh Chamber of Commerce” as a one-stop-shop for business support and promotion in the city.
And to help reset the relationshipbetween the public, private and third sectors, it called for the appointment of a business champion–who would also co chair Edinburgh Means Business–reporting to the city council’ s chief executive, for an initial 12 months to support businesses reopening.
Ian Marchant, of Dunelm Energy, who chairs the Edinburgh Business Resilience Group, said: “Edinburgh’s efforts at recovery cannot become a Tale of Two Cities – our own divided narrative between long-term political aspirations and the present day needs of businesses and organisations who will be expected to create the jobs and opportunities of the future.
“As we continue to emerge from the pandemic through the success of the vaccination rollout the economy must now be the top priority for our policy leaders.”
The former chief executive at utility giant Scottish and Southern Energy added: "We need businesses to succeed and grow if we are to create jobs and opportunities for our citizens, if we are to encourage the move to net zero carbon, and if we are to tackle poverty through greater social inclusion.
“To achieve these aims we need businesses that are successful.to have successful businesses we need policies that encourage growth.
"We believe that by making the views of business known and by harnessing the expertise and energy our businesses have to offer, we can work with local and national government to deliver a better, stronger recovery. But we need them to listen and we need them to engage.”
Specific initiatives in the manifesto included Edinburgh Rewards Local, a gift card and loyalty scheme, sponsored jointly by the council and the private sector, for independent retailers and hospitality businesses which would reward both locals and visitors who spend in Edinburgh, attracting people back into the city centre and helping to protect jobs and employment opportunities.
It also called for a strategy to support entrepreneurial talent from under-represented groups to encourage diversity of business ownership.