Menu
 
Home | News | Plan launched to make south a greater place
 
News | 15th September 2020
 

Plan launched to make south a greater place

Enterprise body to make area centre for opportunity, innovation and growth

 
 
 

THE new economic development agency for Dumfries and Galloway and the Scottish Borders has published its first operating plan.

It sets out its ambitious plans to put the south on the map and ensure its economy flourishes.

South of Scotland Enterprise (SOSE), which went live on April 1, is committed to listening to the people of the south, doing things differently and empowering everyone to help make the south an even greater place to live, work, visit and learn and invest in.

The plan focuses on the rest of the financial year, along with some achievements and priorities as it looks to a wider period of consultation to develop its strategic action plan.

Professor Russel Griggs, chairman, said: “We’re here in the south, for the south and with the south and we truly believe the time is now for the south.

“We have the chance to take this forward with both hands and put our region firmly on the map.

“Collectively, our region will flourish and the future will be brighter than it ever has been and we want to do this with those who live and work here.

SOSE was formed by the Scottish government to work with the people and communities in the south to establish the region as a centre of opportunity, innovation and growth.

To date, its focus has been on working as Team South of Scotland (Team SOS) with both councils and other partners to mitigate the impact of the coronavirus pandemic. 

Since May, the SOSE team has administered more than £12m of government funding to almost 300 businesses.

“It’s made it clear it intends to support the region to recover and look to a positive future not only through investment but also through tailored support which businesses and communities really need.

Prof Griggs added: “We’re the first of Scotland’s public agencies, whose legislation promotes a wider view on the economy and how it has an impact on all we do.

“Jobs are important to us but so are communities and the environment.

“We want to make sure that everyone, no matter who and where they are, has an opportunity to fulfil their ambitions.

“We are one of the first to have Fair Work running through all our activities.

“How we treat people matters to us and we want to ensure this runs through our region, too.

“We’re here and able to listen first-hand to what businesses, communities and individuals need and respond.”

This week the government published its Programme for Government which focuses on creating new, good, green jobs and SOSE is committed to supporting this activity.

Nick Halfhide, interim chief executive, said: “Like any other start-up organisation, it will take some time for us to settle in and build our capacity and capability.

“We expect it to take us about three years so the operating plan details where our efforts and resources will be focused on the rest of 2020/21.

“We have set out the work underway to develop our ambitions for our region.

“This includes developing our action plan which will, after extensive consultation in the south, define our longer-term priorities.

“It will guide our focus on and investments in all we have been established to do.”

Cabinet Secretary for Rural Economy and Tourism Fergus Ewing said: “SOSE is key to delivering the best for the people of South of Scotland and they are focused on helping the local economy thrive.

“The agency’s first operating plan is key to this and will guide their work over the next seven months ahead of the publication of their full Action Plan in 2021.

“This milestone could not come at a more important time for the economy. The pandemic has significantly impacted many across Scotland and rural areas have been particularly hard hit.

“I look forward to watching SOSE continue to grow and deliver its plans for the region and the positive results this will yield.”

To view the Operating Plan visit www.southofscotlandenterprise.com/who-we-are/accessing-our-information

 
 
Would you like to support us?

The Eskdale and Liddesdale Advertiser is our community owned local newspaper and even in today’s troubled times, we aim to bring you local news and articles in an impartial, responsible and factual way.

We hope you have enjoyed reading this free article but we need your support so we can keep delivering quality journalism that’s open and independent and keeps you up to date with what is happening in Eskdale and Liddesdale.

Every reader’s contribution, however big or small, is so valuable to us.
 
 
‘Owned by the Community...Published for the Community’
Do you have a story?

Please get in touch if you have a story or article you would like to see published.

Related Articles

A quality quartet

Another healthy contingent of fine young men put theirnames forward…

 

Eighty years since Victory in Europe

A poignant reminder of resilience and unity rising from adversity…

 

New Post Office opens on Tuesday

It’s countdown now until the new post office opens on…

 

End of Langholm banking era as BoS closes its doors

Scotland’s oldest bank bows out of High Street The Bank…

 

High-powered visitors

Va-va-vroom! Langholm’s Kilngreen had some very special visitors last weekend…

 

Goat group presses Council

Campaigners want protected status David Braithwaite, Chairman of The Wild…

 

20 might be plenty, but is anyone heeding the signs?

Over the years, the Scottish Government has made so many…

 

Highland surprise on the North Coast 500

The North Coast 500 is a 516-mile scenic route around…

 

Preliminary meeting focusses on Townfoot's hole in the ground

Particular issues discussed in advance of June’s public forum In…

 

Victory in Europe (VE) Day commemoration events

Langholm, Ewes and Westerkirk community council is working with Langholm…

 

Return of full Post Office is first-class news for town

Elizabeth and team are all trained up and ready to…

 

Goat petition reaches MPs

4,000 anti-cull signatures handed over Conservative politicians John Lamont MP…

 

A healing moorland…

Sphagnum moss wound dressings during the Second World War By…

 

Heilan’ Coos and Fell Ponies join the Tarras Valley family

The cows and ponies will play their part in restoring…

 

NHS D&G announces massive funding shortfall

Board seeks public support to manage £33.6 million funding gap…

 

4,000 signature petition to be handed to politicians

Oxygen Conservation’s disregard prompted massive response A local petition with…

 

Scottish Woodlands plan ' voluntary' Environmental Impact Assessment for Warblaw

Scottish Woodlands, which has been developing the woodland creation design…

 

As the last bank closes, a Cash Hub opens

Temporary facility will open in Holmspun with better hours of…

 

NatureScot tells the E&L “culling the goats is legal”

Oxygen Conservation lays the blame at Government’s door Part of…

 

New health team sought for Canonbie Surgery

Husband and wife medical partners to hang up their stethoscopes…

 

18-month trial of 20mph has begun

A7 Action Group discuss various issues The A7 Action Group…

 

No caravans or motorhomes to cross Milntown bridge

Far-reaching effect on the community as Ewes Water site has…

 

Confirmation received that cull has already begun

Gilly Fraser delves further into the feral goat debacle Oxygen…

 

Some beautiful moments in LAODS’ latest show

Annie Get Your Gun is chock-full of love, laughter and…

 

2025 Common Riding AGM

New faces in official roles he trustees and members of…

 

Parking restrictions and 20mph limit from next week

By the end of March, the speed limit throughout the…

 

A well-used community resource for over 30 years

Mairi Telford Jammeh takes a look at what goes on…

 

Goat cull company tackled by councillor

Meeting with CEO of Oxygen Conservation requested Councillor Male has…

 

Wheatley has “No plans for housing in Eskdale

Scotland’s second largest social landlord is also “not considering the…

 

Langholm Town Band do well in regionals

By Christine Calvert This weekend saw the latest contest outing…

 

As predicted, D&G raise Council Tax by 9%

Furthermore, they will “implement increases inselected fees and charges relating…

 

Community Council hears from concerned residents

Number of derelict sites in the town is a major…

 

Huge local reaction to news of proposed goat cull

Social media alight and petition raised following announcement by Oxygen…

 

NFUS retiterates its opposition to National Park in Galloway

NFU Scotland has once again made clear its opposition to…

 

D-day for Council Tax rises across the area

Dumfries and Galloway Council will make decisions today about the…

 

THEY'RE GOING TO CULL THE GOATS!

In what will be a hugely unpopular decision, Oxygen Conservation…

 

Sitka spruce going, going, gone!

A big task for the Tarras Valley team over the…

 

D&G Council Tax set to rise between 5 to 10%

…and the same for Water Rates…possibly 9%. Budgets are to…

 

Caroline Street is still railing against its railings

As angle of fence increases, council budgets for repairs to…

 

U15 gold medal for Langholm’s Aoiffion

Amazing 12 year old athlete makes her mark in her…

 
 
Kelso Races
requires mailchimp logins and wired up to a list
Join our mailing list
Keep up to date with all that’s going on at the E&L
This website uses cookies
This site uses cookies to enhance your browsing experience. We use necessary cookies to make sure that our website works. We’d also like to set analytics cookies that help us make improvements by measuring how you use the site. By clicking “Allow All”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyse site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts.
These cookies are required for basic functionalities such as accessing secure areas of the website, remembering previous actions and facilitating the proper display of the website. Necessary cookies are often exempt from requiring user consent as they do not collect personal data and are crucial for the website to perform its core functions.
A “preferences” cookie is used to remember user preferences and settings on a website. These cookies enhance the user experience by allowing the website to remember choices such as language preferences, font size, layout customization, and other similar settings. Preference cookies are not strictly necessary for the basic functioning of the website but contribute to a more personalised and convenient browsing experience for users.
A “statistics” cookie typically refers to cookies that are used to collect anonymous data about how visitors interact with a website. These cookies help website owners understand how users navigate their site, which pages are most frequently visited, how long users spend on each page, and similar metrics. The data collected by statistics cookies is aggregated and anonymized, meaning it does not contain personally identifiable information (PII).
Marketing cookies are used to track user behaviour across websites, allowing advertisers to deliver targeted advertisements based on the user’s interests and preferences. These cookies collect data such as browsing history and interactions with ads to create user profiles. While essential for effective online advertising, obtaining user consent is crucial to comply with privacy regulations.