Scottish Cities Alliance

Insights from the new Co-Chairs of the Alliance, Cllr Cammy Day, and Cllr Grant Laing, Scottish Business Insider, 11th October, 2024

As we step into our roles as the new co-chairs of the Scottish Cities Alliance, we are both honoured and excited to collaborate and guide our nation’s cities towards a bright future.

Our role is to elevate Scotland’s profile among global investors and as leaders from different parties, we recognise the necessity of working effectively across political lines.

For Scotland to reach its economic and social potential we need to bring together leaders from across the nation – something which the alliance has a unique capacity to deliver on.

This commitment to collaboration and transcending political, as well as regional divides, will help to create the right conditions for innovation and sustainable development within our cities.

Representing two different cities, our approach is strengthened by the varied perspectives we bring as co-chairs, as it allows us to bring a level of consideration to our strategies and ensures that we address the needs of all member cities.

With Scotland placed second only to London regarding investment in the UK, we stand in a strong position from which our collective strengths can be leveraged to attract investment.

Our recent roundtable dinner at the V&A in Dundee was testament to the collaborative spirit that we aim to foster in this next chapter of the alliance. The event brought together city leaders and key stakeholders to discuss the importance of decarbonisation and large-scale retrofitting.

Whilst a hugely beneficial and informative shared learning experience, it is the subsequent collective action that we ultimately must take to be our focus.

One of our greatest strengths lies in our ability to unite diverse stakeholders – from local authorities and political leaders to institutional powerhouses and market innovators – through events. This includes highlights like our own events programmes held annually in London, Scottish Cities Week and at UKREiiF, as well as profiling opportunities for investment in Scottish cities at other events such as the UK Government’s International Investment Summit, taking place on 14 October.

Such events present a significant opportunity for Scottish cities to build upon our collective potential and continue to attract global investment opportunities for Scotland to fuel economic growth.

The road ahead is filled with opportunities, but it is only with collaboration and shared commitments to our cities and our people that we’ll be able to take full advantage and build a successful and sustainable future.

The Scottish Cities Alliance will keep telling Scotland’s story, attracting investment, and driving positive change for our country. Together, we will empower our cities to rise to challenges, deliver on our ambitious local and national goals and deliver for Scotland.