Falkirk Council today (20 June) agreed that it should create a new, dedicated team to support and develop opportunities for business start-up and expansion.

 

The move came following an independent review of business support activity sponsored by the Council.

 

A new Growth and Investment Unit will adopt responsibility for services delivered by Falkirk For Business (FFB). Staff will be absorbed into the new team and achieve savings of £140,000 that will be re-directed into business support. 

 

As well as providing specific business support functions, the new unit will offer a one stop shop approach to services already delivered by Falkirk Council including the My Future’s In Falkirk economic initiative; marketing support; tourism support; and development of strategic projects such as the Tax Increment Financing initiative.

 

The review by independent consultants, Frontline, predicted that in terms of offering ‘best value’ to businesses and the public, the new approach will produce efficiencies while maintaining the quality of work established by Falkirk For Business.

 

The proposal to create the Unit was approved at a meeting of Falkirk Council where a full strategy for delivery of the unit was set out, addressing its commitment to business support. 

 

Cllr Dennis Goldie, Convener of Economic Strategy and Development said: ‘Supporting and developing business is a key priority for Falkirk Council and this new approach is set to deliver even better results for new and existing businesses and the wider community.

 

‘We're bringing together services into a Unit that can deliver better results through a more joined up approach. The expertise accumulated the new unit and will supplement the excellent track record of Falkirk for Business. We will sustain the strong links with local business and want this to grow.

 

‘We have set high performance targets for the new unit and have every confidence that these will be met or exceeded. It demonstrates our belief in the new arrangements.

 

‘In the current economic climate we have an obligation to ensure that wherever possible, services aren’t duplicated and that we get the best from the resources we have.’

 

The new Growth and Investment Unit would have an annual operating budget £1.5m dedicated in the Falkirk Council area. The team will also work with other business support delivery bodies across Forth Valley. A tender for service delivery in that area is currently being considered and the new services will be in place by October 2012.

 

You can read the full report here