Fife Council Economy, Planning & Employability Services Business & Employability Portfolio Economic Activity Report 2015/16

Transcription

1 Fife Council Economy, Planning & Employability Services Business & Employability Portfolio Economic Activity Report 2015/16 Contact: Pawel Tkaczyk Assistant Economic Adviser

2 1. Introduction This report summarises the business and employability activities undertaken by Fife Council s Economy, Planning and Employability Services (EP&ES) during 2015/16. EP&ES leads the economic regeneration agenda for Fife Council. The Service s Business & Employability Portfolio has responsibility for delivering the Council s economic development and employability activities. Activities undertaken by other portfolios in the Service relevant to Making Fife the Best Place to do Business are also included in this overview. The number of staff and the budget allocated to these activities in 2015/16 is shown below. Both the amount spent and number of Full Time Equivalent (FTE) employees was higher by 26.5% and 3.7% respectively when compared with the previous year. Economic Development and Employability - Staff and Budget 2014/ /16 Annual Change Budget 10.2 m 12.9 m 26.5% Staff (FTEs) % Source: Fife Council, SLAED returns Activity carried out by the Service during 2015/16 is reported in line with the five sections of the Fife Economic Strategy : 1. Increasing People s Employability and Skills 2. A Competitive Business Location 3. Growing Fife s Businesses 4. Investing in Key Sectors 5. Making Fife the Best Place to Do Business The report then concludes by outlining the key challenges for 2016/17. 2

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4 Partnership Working Some of the Service s activities are delivered through the following three strategic partnerships. EP&ES represents the Council on and supports these partnerships. Fife Economy Partnership A business-led group identifies and takes forward policies and activities to help achieve sustainable economic growth in Fife. The Partnership leads on the delivery of the economic outcomes for the Fife Community Plan Opportunities Fife Partnership The Opportunities Fife Partnership helps unemployed people into work by providing employability support and training activities. It also coordinates the alignment of the current and future demand for skills by employees with the supply from Education primary, secondary, further and higher sectors. Three delivery groups oversee these activities, specialising in supporting the needs of unemployed adults, young people and clients with health and disability issues. A fourth delivery group is being established to co-ordinate to activity for the Developing the Young Workforce programme. This group will co-ordinate business engagement activities to increase training and job opportunities for all of the priority client groups. Fife Tourism Partnership This business-led partnership supports all areas of tourism in Fife and the implementation of the Fife Tourism Strategy It aims to position Fife as a first class tourism destination by 2024, and increase visitor spend by 33% to 653.4m and jobs increase from 11,600 to 12,500. The Partnership s six Local Tourist Associations (LTAs) work collaboratively with the businesses in their areas to deliver the actions within the Fife Tourism strategy and to develop local marketing initiatives to promote as part of the Fife-wide activities. A number of themed groups also take forward specific initiatives. These include the Fife Golf Partnership, Fife Food Network, Accessible Fife, Forth Bridge, Cruise Forth, Outdoor Fife, Fife Pilgrim Way, Business Tourism and Film Tourism Groups. All these groups are led by the private sector and work closely with the LTAs. 4

5 2. Increasing people s employability and skills Context Fife s unemployment and youth unemployment rates have been consistently higher than the Scottish averages for the last 10 years. Since 2013 the gap has started to decrease, but there is still further work to do especially around youth unemployment which is still 0.9% above the Scottish average. The Employability and Employer Engagement Team delivers vocational training programmes and a range of initiatives designed to help Fife residents improve their skills and overcome barriers to work. In March 2016, there were 470 fewer people claiming JobSeekers Allowance (JSA) than in March The overall Fife claimant rate (2.5% of the working age population) is still higher than the Scottish (2.3%) and UK (1.9%) averages. There are still considerable disparities within Fife Council s area committees. A breakdown is shown in the chart below. Jobseekers Allowance Claimant Count Rates by Area Committee Source: Claimant Count, NOMIS Increasing youth employment remains a key target for the Opportunities Fife Partnership and Fife Council. The number of JSA claimants aged between 16 and 24 fell during 2015/16 by 235 young people, reducing the rate of youth unemployment to 3.3% or 1,375 young people. Key Challenges Fulfilling the increase in demand for work placement and job opportunities due to the introduction of the Developing Young Workforce programme and additional welfare reforms. Reducing the number of year olds in receipt of JobSeekers Allowance. Addressing the need for more science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) skills to support technical job roles. 5

6 Activity Update Helping People into Employment During 2015/16 2,018 new clients were supported by the Fife Employability Pathway which provides support for people most disadvantaged in the labour market. Of these 603 or 30% were helped into employment. 302 people aged between 16 and 29 were helped into work by the Fife Jobs Contract between November 2014 and April Increasing Youth Employment Fife Council achieved a Silver Award from Invest in Young People (IiYP) in This national award that showcases Fife Council s commitment to employing and developing young people. As one of the first organisations in Fife to achieve this award, Fife Council is setting the standard for organisations who are interested in supporting activity around Developing Young Workforce: Fife. Fife Council will be working towards achieving a Gold Investors in Young People (IiYP) Award by The Council recruited 71 Modern Apprentices, in 14 different occupational areas. Fife Council, along with other Opportunities Fife partners secured 0.5m to establish a Developing Young Workforce: Fife Board. This Private Sector led board has been established as part of Scottish Government s response to the recommendations made by the Wood Commission. DYW activity will develop more structured and sustainable relationships between businesses, schools and Fife College; to ensure that the curriculum is better aligned to the current and future needs of Fife s businesses and to create new vocational pathways into employment for young people leaving school. Culture of Enterprise activities engaged 2,888 students across primary and secondary schools to increase their enterprise skills. These activities, which were supported by 180 businesses, included: o Fife Schools Enterprise Game A digital version of the game was launched which all primary and secondary schools can now access through the Culture of Enterprise GLOW site. o Pilot Talent Academy at Balwearie High School A pilot Talent Academy was run in conjunction with the Fife Cultural Trust with young people at Balwearie High School. The project highlighted enterprise and employability opportunities available for young people in the arts industry through supporting them to create and run their own production company. o The Enterprise & Employability Route Map was made available to all schools in Fife through the GLOW system. Enterprise Apprenticeships 17 apprentices graduated in November 2015 having completed their apprenticeship and a NVQ in Enterprise Skills in a Business Environment. So far 13 young people have been offered full time roles. The SQA has agreed to include the qualification in their Modern Apprenticeship framework. 6

7 3. A Competitive Business Location Context The Service delivers property and regeneration activities focusing on modernising Fife s economic assets, increasing the supply of employment land and narrowing the gap between Fife s most and least deprived areas. Maintaining an effective supply of land and property to capture larger investment projects and sustain levels of investment and jobs in the region remains a major challenge for Fife. This process is being supported by Vacant and Derelict Land funding that came on-stream in 2015/16. In Fife, as elsewhere, towns are under increasing pressure from a complex range of socio-economic and cultural factors, with consumers changing their patterns of consumption. The importance of retail in town centres has diminished, leading to declining footfall, limited private sector investment, dilapidation and high and persistent levels of vacant premises. The work of Fife Council s Town Centre Development Unit within the Economy Tourism and Town Centres team is focused on Fife s main towns and district centres. Over the last 3 years, the Unit has levered in over 12m of external funding. Key Challenges Regenerating and revitalising Fife s key town centres. Increasing the supply of immediately available employment land and commercial property. Achieving at least 85% coverage of Next Generation Broadband. Activity Update Invest in Fife Team During 2015/16, the team handled 96 investment enquiries and secured 6 investment projects. This 7.1m investment is forecast to create 365 new jobs and safeguard 318 existing jobs. New Generation Broadband The 4 year programme to deliver superfast broadband to at least 85% of premises in Fife has now completed its 8 th Quarter of delivery. As at March 2016, 89.7% of premises in Fife had access to superfast connectivity. Transforming Vacant and Derelict Land 850k was successfully drawn down from the Scottish Government/COSLA Vacant and Derelict Land Fund and used to clear, remediate and develop vacant and derelict sites in Cowdenbeath, Thornton, Glenrothes, Tayport and Methil. Business Property 153 enquiries were received in relation to the Service s property portfolio, with 48 leases concluded, safeguarding or creating 338 jobs. 7

8 Business Property (cont.) The occupancy rate for the Council s commercial properties was 89%. Occupancy rates varied across Fife and a breakdown is shown in the chart below: Fife Council s Commercial Property Occupancy in 2015/16 by Committee Area Town Centres Source: EP&ES, Fife Council A draft town centre strategy for Fife, with recommendations consistent with the Scottish Government s Town Centre Action Plan was approved by the Council s Economy Board in March. A series of charrette workshops to inform the creation of a Community Town Centre Action Plan took place in Cupar in March Cupar Could was co-ordinated by the Cupar Development Trust with support from Fife Council, Planning Aid Scotland/Scottish Government and the Big Lottery. Charrettes are intensive planning sessions which allow people to collaborate on visions for development. Fife Council s Town Centre Development Unit has produced Urban Design Frameworks for Fife s key towns to guide and encourage investment. This includes a Town Centre Design and Development Framework for Kirkcaldy which was endorsed by the Scottish Government as best practice. Other frameworks are being developed for Cowdenbeath, Burntisland, and Inverkeithing. A new town centre Business Improvement District (BID) - BID St Andrews - was formed in St Andrews supporting over 200 businesses. This is the third Town Centre BID in Fife alongside Dunfermline (which supports nearly 400 businesses) and Kirkcaldy (which supports over 350 businesses). The BIDs, which are funded by local businesses, by project funding from Fife Council and by income generated by the BID companies themselves, organise events and activities designed to help rejuvenate the town centre. 8

9 Town Centre Regeneration Projects Leven Lochgelly Kirkcaldy Cowdenbeath Conservation Area Regeneration Schemes (CARS) and Townscape Heritage Initiatives (THI) A 45,000 upgrade to the public realm in Durie Street Square, a key interchange at the North end of Leven High Street, was carried out in June Five new visitor heritage information boards were also installed across the Town Centre in November. Surplus and derelict land in the town centre has been redeveloped to create the Town House development - 16 new one and two bedroomed affordable housing units. The contract for restoring St Andrews Church and converting it into new use is being procured. Phases 1 and 2 of redeveloping Adam Smith House and Close is completed. This is a 1.2m programme to create a visitor centre as part of a wider plan to develop a Merchants Quarter. The Adam Smith Global Foundation exhibition centre is due to open in September High Street Wi-Fi and Rail Bridge Art Lighting has been introduced with 80,000 funding from the Town Centre Community Capital Fund. These five year programmes are delivered by Fife Council in partnership with Fife Historic Buildings Trust and other local partners. Programmes are currently operational in Anstruther ( ) and Cupar ( ) : Cupar: the conversion of County Buildings to 18 homes was completed in February 2016; key town centre assets, drawn from a 6.5m funding package. The plans for converting Burgh Chambers into holiday accommodation have been approved and a funding package assembled. Cupar Development Trust has secured funding to redevelop the Bonnygate gap site as part of the proposed Inner Court mixed use housing and business project. Anstruther: the Murray Library Hostel opened, completing the building s 1m regeneration. 9

10 4. Growing Fife s Businesses Context New business start-ups and the expansion of existing businesses are essential to grow a vibrant economy. Fife s Business Base There are now 9,540 registered private sector businesses operating in Fife, more than at any other time since Although the number of enterprises in Fife has increased by 15% over the last 10 years, in 2015 the total turnover for Fife s enterprises only accounted for 4.7% of the total Scottish turnover, despite Fife holding almost 6% share of the total Scottish enterprise stock. Fife has lower rates of business start-ups and survival rates compared to other parts of Scotland. Company Closures 2015 saw a number of company and office closures in Fife, particularly in Central Fife. In April 2015, Tullis Russell closed with the loss of 475 jobs and in March 2016, Longannet Power Station closed with the loss of 245 jobs. Increase in the amount of public sector spend retained by Fife companies 2,154 Fife companies received contracts from Fife Council in 2014/15, more than double the previous year (1,061 companies) and higher than all previous years. The proportion of Fife Council contracts going to Fife companies increased from 31% to 41%, again a higher proportion than in the previous four years. Key Challenges More than 9,000 jobs are needed to exceed the employment levels that existed before the global economic crisis. Too many of Fife s businesses rely on local markets and do not export. Low levels of business start-up and self-employment. 10

11 Activity Update Support to new businesses During 2015/16 Business Gateway Fife helped 608 new businesses to start up through the delivery of workshops, training, advisory and specialist support services. This is 24% fewer than the previous year due to a strengthening economy, loss of referrals from the Department of Work and Pensions and a national re-focus on growing existing businesses. Grant Funding The Economic Development Team is the lead in the East of Scotland Investment Fund (ESIF) which provided 100,000 in loan finance to Fife businesses in 2015/16. The Fife Investment Fund provided 272,014 in grants and loans to Fife businesses, estimated to create 290 new jobs in 2015/16. Supporting businesses in town centres Available within 34 defined town and local centres across Fife, the Town Centre Business Support Fund provides discretionary grants of up to 5,000 at a maximum intervention rate of 75%, to help businesses move into vacant units, undertake shop improvements or other forms of business development. Since November 2013, 125 awards have been made to town centre business. This comprises 263,518 of grant support contributing to investment projects totalling 650,456. This equates to 1.46 of private sector funding per 1 of public sector investment is estimated to safeguard 718 jobs. The value of the average grant awarded was 2,108. Other Business Support in 2015/ companies took part in learning journeys, trade visits and exhibitions through Fife Council s Market Development Programme. 226 companies received support from the Supplier Development Programme, helping them become more capable in accessing and competing for public sector procurement contracts. 446 delegates attended events and workshops organised as part of the 2015 Fife Business Week. Fife Entrepreneurial Forum Since its establishment in March 2015, the forum has met on a quarterly basis to share knowledge and best practice. The events, hosted by the Economic Development Team, are organised in partnership with Entrepreneurial Scotland to stimulate entrepreneurial leadership. Encouraging Knowledge Transfer The Economic Development Team has been working with the University of St Andrews to encourage more Fife companies to work with academic staff to support innovation, research and product development. A programme of events is being developed to more widely promote the services the university can offer to businesses. 11

12 Fife Taskforces In April 2015, a Fife Taskforce was set up by the Scottish Government and Fife Council to mitigate the impact of the closure of Tullis Russel by supporting economic growth across the local area, with particular focus in Glenrothes and Mid Fife. The Scottish Government allocated an initial 6m budget to fund this response. Positive job or training outcomes were secured for 418 clients from 601 total clients. Fife Council is also a member of the Longannet Task Force set up to mitigate the impact of the closure of the Longannet Power Station in March

13 5. Investing in Key Sectors and Moving to a Low Carbon Economy Context Fife is predominantly a services-based economy. However, manufacturing remains an important sector accounting for 14% of jobs and 33% of business turnover. Forecasts from Experian also indicate that tourism and energy will continue to be key sectors where Fife s business economy can grow. Tourism Between 2008 and 2013, tourism Gross Value Added (GVA) in Fife has grown significantly above the national average growth rate ( 100.4m in 2008 compared with 205.1m in 2013). Fife is ranked 5 th in terms of local authority areas, comprising 6% of Scotland s tourism GVA. A study carried out during the Open Championship in July 2015 reaffirmed Fife s leading status as the best performing Open Championship location. The study concluded that the event brought in 88m to the Fife economy and 147m to the Scottish economy as a whole. Manufacturing and Energy The current low oil and gas prices and changes to renewable energy subsidies are impacting heavily on Fife s engineering and manufacturing sector with a number of companies closing or downsizing. Fife Council s Economic Development Team has reviewed the issues and constraints facing Fife s manufacturing sector to develop a Manufacturing operational plan to support affected businesses. Key Challenges The number of businesses in sectors dependent on public sector investment such as defence. Tackling tourism s seasonality and improving the visitor experience. Delays and uncertainty in the fiscal support required from the UK Government for offshore wind investment. 13

14 Activity Update - Energy and Low Carbon Levenmouth Community Energy Project Work began on-site in January 2016 to develop the Hydrogen Office in Methil into the world s leading demonstrator of innovative uses of hydrogen derived from renewable sources. The project will involve Levenmouth becoming home to Europe s largest fleet of hydrogen dual-fuel vehicles. It will enable Fife Council to further de-carbonise its vehicle fleet and take its initial step in becoming self-sufficient in low carbon fuel production. The project, whose principle partners are Fife Council, Bright Green Hydrogen and Toshiba, will also include an education programme, skills and supply chain activities. Energy Park Fife A new 1.8m 12ha Development Platform has been completed on the southern section of the site. Queensway Business Park, Glenrothes RWE Biomass CHP Plant Fife Council has secured funding from the Scottish Government s Low Carbon Infrastructure Transition Programme and is working with RWE to develop a District Heating Scheme. The scheme will create a district heating network which will supply low carbon heat to a wide range of local customers, from industrial users and the local shopping centre, to the Council s housing tenants and local school. Fife Council, Scottish Enterprise and Scottish Development International are working together as part of the Fife Taskforce to promote this low carbon heat source to attract new users to the former Tullis Russell site. Activity Update - Manufacturing Manufacturing Operational Plan Fife Council s Economic Development Team engaged the Centre for Engineering Education and Development (CeeD) to assist in the delivery of a Manufacturing Operational Plan during CeeD is a not-for-profit organisation made up of businesses and academics which provides support for its members and aims to improve operational efficiency, effectiveness and profit within Scotland s engineering industry. Support to the Defence and Aerospace Sector Following a Defence and Aerospace Supply chain event held in January 2016, a process has been set up alerting businesses of online defence contract opportunities. To date 88 contract notifications totalling over 15m in potential business have been distributed to relevant businesses. Scottish Institute of Remanufacturing During 2015/16 the Scottish Institute of Remanufacturing was launched to Fife companies. This helps companies re-design products to make it easier to take them apart and remanufacture them into new products, and harness their true value. This will continue to be aligned to existing partnership work with Scottish Manufacturing Advisory Service (SMAS) and (CeeD). Primary Engineer Primary pupils from the Bell Baxter and Inverkeithing High School clusters took part in a successful pilot to introduce students to engineering from an early age. Schools in a further 8 clusters have now started the programme delivered in conjunction with the SMAS. 14

15 Activity Update - Tourism Accessible Tourism Fife An Accessible Tourism Fife business group was launched by Fergus Ewing MSP in January The group has been set up to enable those with disabilities to understand how Fife s tourism businesses can accommodate them. Digital Information Kiosks There are now 14 digital information kiosks (isigns) in Fife located in areas of high footfall or dwell time. New Welcome to Fife website The new website, launched in September 2015, showcases Fife to visitors and includes interactive elements so that individuals can create and share their own itineraries. Forth Bridge The Forth Bridge was designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in July A Forth Bridge Tourism Business group has been set up to drive marketing activity in the area. A social media plan was developed by Fife Council to raise the profile of the bridge and encourage other industrial heritage sites to collaborate to promote Scotland s industrial heritage as a reason to visit. Fife Tourism Conference The Fife Tourism Partnership Tourism Conference was held on the 19 November 2015 at Keavil House Hotel, Crossford, near Dunfermline. Over 120 individuals attended, the maximum capacity of the hotel. Entitled Digital Fife the conference focussed on the digital requirements within the tourism sector and how businesses can capitalise on new and existing technology. Three practical workshops included a talk from Nick Kwek from the BBC s Click programme on augmented reality, Tayscreen on film tourism and Alistair Bruce, Chair of the Fife Tourism Partnership, spoke about the successes of collaborative working within the tourism sector. 15

16 6. Making Fife the Best Place to Do Business Context EP&ES leads on the delivery of this outcome in the Council Plan and on the implementation of some of the cross-service projects contained in the Outcome Delivery Plan for Making Fife the Best Place to Do Business adopted in September Key Challenges Moving to more proactive approach that joins up all services delivered by the Council to businesses to encourage future business investment in Fife. Simplifying the way in which the Council interacts with businesses, providing more information and services online accessible 24/7, standardising the technology used to capture business data and adopting common customer services standards. Implementing the changes at a time of budget cutbacks. Activity Update In 2015/16 major planning applications were decided within an average of weeks, over 21 weeks faster than the previous year. Food safety/food standards advice was requested by 195 businesses of which 171 received advice visit/coaching and 9 received more in-depth advice visits or awareness sessions. 88 Fife businesses and voluntary organisations received health and safety advice and training. Royal Environmental Health Institute of Scotland (REHIS) Elementary Health and Safety Courses were run in conjunction with Healthy Working Lives (HWL) to 26 Fife businesses / or voluntary organizations. Safer Lone Working (joint with HWL and Scottish Police) were delivered to 174 attendees. Manual handling and risk awareness were presented to 10 organizations. 79 businesses are now registered on the Fife Trusted Trader Scheme. The Service supported a more joined-up, cross-council approach to communicating with businesses. Over the past year, there has been consistent, co-ordinated media coverage, an increased use of social media. An annual campaign approach was developed. A business portal has been set up on FifeDirect to make it easier for businesses to access the services offered by Fife Council 24/7. The Fife Economy Partnership s website has been revised and relaunched as a FifeDirect mini-site. 16

17 7. Future Challenges Economic Context Scotland s economic growth in 2016 is predicted to be the slowest since Ernst & Young Scottish ITEM Club has downgraded its GDP growth forecast for 2016 for 1.2% percentage points lower than they forecast six months ago and the Fraser of Allander Institute revised its growth forecasts for 2016, 2017 and Scotland now faces a third consecutive year of slowing GDP growth, partly as a consequence of the oil price slump, but also due to underperformance in the service sector. Ongoing trading conditions will remain challenging for Scottish businesses and there will be a period of uncertainty following the results of the EU referendum and consequent constitutional uncertainty. The past year has seen the labour market continue to strengthen with a fall in the claimant count levels as shown below. Universal Credit was introduced in Fife in April 2016 for all new claimants for out of work benefits. People Claiming Jobseekers Allowance March 2015 March 2016 Fife Scotland UK Fife Scotland UK Jobseekers Allowance (JSA) claimant rate (% of population aged 16-64) Number of JSA claimants (monthly average) Source: Claimant Count, NOMIS Crown Copyright 2.7% 2.4% 2.0% 2.5% 1.8% 1.6% 6,327 84, ,849 5,846 62, ,006 General Economic Challenges and Opportunities Adapting to the reduction in investment by the Oil and Gas sector. Responding to business needs following the EU Referendum result and securing alternative funding for Employability and Business Support projects post Sustaining the response to recent and potential job losses due to company and office closures, particularly in Central and West Fife. 17

18 Increasing People s Employability and Skills - Challenges and Opportunities To increase the number of Fife businesses recruiting Modern Apprentices. To increase the proportion of businesses who are engaged with schools and offering work placements as part of Developing Young Workforce activity. To extend the Talent Academy and Raytheon Quadcopter pilots to other businesses in the manufacturing sector. Piloting Taste the Industry workshops in Fife schools in partnership with Tennent s Training Academy and Tree of Knowledge; if successful, to roll out to majority of Fife schools. Launching 4 to Fortune in Fife. A challenge where teams of young people from Fife convert 4 seed money into as much as they can in a four week period. A competitive business location - Challenges and Opportunities Fife can invest up to 1.4m from the Scottish Government/COSLA Vacant and Derelict Land Fund during This funding will help to remediate sites in Kirkcaldy and Levenmouth. City Deals Edinburgh and South East Scotland - detailed negotiations continue with both the UK and Scottish Governments to establish an infrastructure fund, regional skills, digital and low carbon programmes. Tay Cities - Dundee, Angus, Fife and Perth & Kinross Councils are developing an outline proposition for submission to the Scottish and UK Government. The focus of the deal is likely to be on innovation and investment. Review of Scottish Business Rates System Pressure from Fife Council helped to trigger the Scottish Government s review of non-domestic rates announced in March Fife Council launched an online consultation to feed into the Scottish Government s planned review. Delivery of an effective Town Centre Strategy Agree on a practical action plan with partners to implement a revised Town Centre Strategy by September Pursue and facilitate mixed tenure town centre living opportunities; by increasing the number of good quality, affordable living units. Undertake an analysis of sustainable, footfall-generating development opportunities within Fife s key centres. The ambition is to deliver strong town centres by tackling vacant and derelict buildings and sites to create long term resilience. Funding Support Launch a new Town Centre Investment Fund, the form of repayable grant, to replace the Town Centre Business Support fund. Between 2016 and 2018 deliver key projects supported by the Town and Neighbourhood Centres Capital Fund in Leven, Lochgelly, Cowdenbeath, and Inverkeithing. 6 project submissions with a total value of 3.2m were submitted in March

19 Growing Fife s Businesses - Challenges and Opportunities Assisting with the creation of a new Scotland-wide loan fund for businesses Business Loans Scotland and ensuring a seamless transition for customers to the new fund from the East of Scotland Investment Fund. Securing funding through the currently approved European Structural and Investment Funds to deliver enhanced financial assistance to businesses through to December The Business support programmes funded by the European Regional Development Fund over the next 3 years will focus on the growth of existing businesses rather than start-ups. Investing in Key Sectors and Moving to a Low Carbon Economy - Challenges and Opportunities Tourism Fife s Local Tourist Associations (LTAs) will continue to play a critical role in ensuring businesses engage in tourism activities. However, some areas are less engaged than others so there is a continuous challenge to keep all LTA member businesses informed and actively engaged. Fife is working towards World Host destination status by March To achieve this, half the employees of around 130 businesses will require World Host training. Energy, Low Carbon and Manufacturing Further changes to renewable energy subsidies may have a detrimental impact on future developments within this sector. This along with current low oil and gas prices are impacting heavily on Fife s engineering and manufacturing sectors with a number of companies closing or downsizing. Fife Council s Economic Development Team has developed a recovery support (package) for affected businesses through Business Gateway Fife and SMAS. Energy Park Fife Fife Council and Scottish Enterprise will complete improvements to the quayside and the capacity of the quayside to handle multiple vessels; they will continue to market the Fife Energy Park, in particular to companies involved in oil and gas decommissioning. Making Fife the Best Place to Do Business - Challenges and Opportunities Embed the one-council approach to communicating with businesses and maximise the opportunities offered by all relevant communications channels. Increase the use of FifeDirect business information pages with an ongoing programme of content improvement. Extend the joint working between the Corporate Procurement Team and the Supplier Development Programme to support more SME s to access public sector contracts. To support businesses in Fife to understand and effectively respond to the implications of the 2017 rating revaluation for non-domestic properties. 19