Home   News   Article

New initiative will support firms in the north-east


By Kyle Ritchie

Easier access to your trusted, local news. Subscribe to a digital package and support local news publishing.



Click here to sign up to our free newsletters!

Businesses in the north-east of Scotland are now able to sign up for free to a new initiative aimed at enhancing productivity in the region.

After the success of pilot projects in Edinburgh and Glasgow over the past year, Productivity Club Scotland has launched a project specifically aimed at firms in the north-east of Scotland.

The business club will encourage peer-learning between enterprises and allow cross-sector advice, experience and knowledge to be passed on outlining how to improve the productivity and resilience of firms through the coronavirus pandemic.

Businesses supporting the project include Aberdeen Harbour who have endorsed the new club in a video urging north-east firms to sign up.

Productivity Club Scotland, is a project funded by Scottish Government and delivered by Scottish Council for Development and Industry (SCDI).

The new initiative from Productivity Club Scotland aims to support businesses in the north-east.
The new initiative from Productivity Club Scotland aims to support businesses in the north-east.

SCDI programme manager Ashleigh McCulloch said: “We are excited to be able to announce the expansion of this fantastic programme, ensuring more of Scotland’s businesses can access a Productivity Club in their region that reflects the realities of local and regional economies and supports the development of an economy which works for all.

“Disappointing productivity has been a worrying feature of both the Scottish and wider UK economy for the past decade and this has only been exacerbated by the lockdown activity as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.

"What we know from speaking to our members is that collaboration and sharing of information during this time has been invaluable to support businesses to navigate through the current landscape.

“We would urge as many businesses as possible to sign-up for free and harness the knowledge and experience of other members in this unique peer to peer community.”

New clubs have also been launched in the Highlands and Islands and the South of Scotland and have been launched with a video of businesses describing the success of the pilots and what will be most helpful in the new areas.

Productivity Club Scotland said it provides an opportunity to unite businesses to take advantage of new resources to drive innovation, productivity, sustainable development and economic growth during the challenging times post Covid-19.

More than three-quarters of firms involved in the initial pilot in Edinburgh and Glasgow said membership had helped them build useful business connections and more than 72 per cent expected to see improvements in their productivity as a result.

Nearly nine out of 10 current members are either small or medium enterprise, allowing companies of all sizes to benefit from the networking advantages that the new clubs will offer to improve the performance of their business going forward.

Minister for Trade, Investment and Innovation MSP Ivan McKee said: “We are extremely pleased with the remarkable success our Productivity Club pilots have enjoyed in their first year, with well over 1000 members connecting together to start improving business performance across Scotland.

“It is with some excitement that, in collaboration with SCDI, we are now establishing new pilots in north-east Scotland, the Highland and Islands, and the South of Scotland.

"I wish the clubs and all their member businesses every success in helping drive productivity growth across Scotland.”

Businesses can sign up to the club at www.productivity.scot

The first event for the north-east Scotland club will take place on December 10, with more details to be announced shortly.


Do you want to respond to this article? If so, click here to submit your thoughts and they may be published in print.



This site uses cookies. By continuing to browse the site you are agreeing to our use of cookies - Learn More