Events

With the recent re-opening of the retail, hospitality & tourism sectors our local towns and city centres are now open for business. These sectors have seen the biggest impact of COVID-19 and need support, collaboration and partnership working to ensure a positive recovery. We’ll be joined by Phil Prentice, Chief Officer, Scotland’s Towns Partnership and Alison Henderson, DACC CEO, as we discuss the importance of supporting our towns.

Phil Prentice, Chief Officer, Scotland’s Towns Partnership and National Programme Director of Scotland’s Improvement Districts

With 25 years of economic development experience across the public and private sectors, Phil’s role as Chief Officer of Scotland’s Towns Partnership is to drive sustainable change through collaboration and partnership. Towns are clearly back on the political agenda and our work in helping to deliver the Town Centre Action Plan has delivered a step-change in thinking and tangible progress.

Scotland’s Towns and smaller settlements account for 70% of our population base and aside from their significant economic contribution in terms of commerce and employment, they provide a living record of our history and heritage, they provide places where communities can meet, socialise and celebrate culture, and are hubs where people can live, access services, leisure, entertainment and transport.

Despite the numerous factors and pressures impacting on our towns, I believe that empowered communities can be energised to ensure that Scotland’s towns remain vibrant and continue to play a vital role in our nation’s future.

Alison Henderson, DACC CEO

Alison will speak about specific COVID resilience and recovery projects. DACC, in partnership with Angus Council & Dundee City Council, will deliver a My Angus, Buy Angus campaign and a Love Dundee Local app, providing packages of support to maximise the buy local message and get businesses making the most of the demand for local products and services.

Scotland’s Towns Partnership

Scotland’s Towns Partnership is Scotland’s national towns’ collective; representing and promoting the diversity of our towns and places, and supporting those organisations and groups that have an interest in or ownership of them.

Their role is to act as a hub for relevant news & resources, knowledge and good practice; to support learning and community through our events; to influence and share policies that impact towns, and to raise the profile of Scottish towns — for example through their Scotland’s Towns Week campaign which encourages towns to run activities and the public to use their local services.

Scotland’s Towns Partnership is also responsible for Scotland’s Improvement Districts, which fosters the development and continued success of Improvement Districts across Scotland.

Further Information: www.scotlandstowns.org  www.improvementdistricts.scot​