Council leader visits city business to talk growth

Wednesday, 29 June 2011 09:20

On Monday 27th June, RESPONSE was given the opportunity to shape its home city as part of the Future Glasgow exercise, at an event organised by SCDI and Glasgow City Council.

Councillor Gordon Matheson, the Leader of Glasgow City Council, who launched the Future Glasgow project earlier in the year, and Dr Lesley Sawers, chief executive of SCDI met employees at RESPONSE to ask them for their input into the project, which aims to set the course of Glasgow’s development over the next 50 years through partnership working and extensive public consultation.

After providing staff at RESPONSE with an overview of Future Glasgow, Cllr Matheson opened the floor for discussion. Through direct consultation with communities, and working in partnership with business and other stakeholders, the project is designed to move Glasgow towards a prosperous and sustainable future with strong civic direction that gives clarity of purpose, strategic priorities and leadership.

RESPONSE, which earlier this year celebrated its 20th anniversary, provides outsourced customer contact services to partners such as SKY, US Embassy, Student Loans Company and Hiscox.
Brian Bannatyne, managing director of RESPONSE said: “It is great to have the opportunity to work alongside Glasgow City Council and the SCDI to learn more about how we can contribute to the city’s future economic growth. At RESPONSE we believe it is vital we engage with our people in order to harness their huge potential, which is exactly what the Future Glasgow exercise is setting out to achieve.

“To build upon the success that Glasgow has already achieved it is vital that businesses such as RESPONSE have an opportunity to share their vision for how the city can maximise its tremendous potential in the years to come.”

Glasgow’s City Leader, Councillor Gordon Matheson said: “Visioning exercises have served the city very well over the past 25 years. They have helped us to transform Glasgow, and the city is now physically changed for the better and has successfully hosted a series of massive events that have showcased what we can do to the world.

“The support we’re getting from organisations like RESPONSE to the Future Glasgow exercise is vital in helping us establishing the sort of city we all want to have in 2061."

Dr Lesley Sawers, chief executive of SCDI said: “RESPONSE is one of Glasgow’s largest private sector employers; it is now 20 years old and continues to innovate in a very competitive sector. We believe RESPONSE will remain at the forefront of supporting the future development of Glasgow’s economy and also shaping positive changes through its distinctive employee engagement and visionary approach to growth.”
Over the coming weeks Cllr Matheson will meet businesses of different sizes from a variety of sectors to discuss a number of key themes including, economic strategy, education, health, housing, planning and development, the continued regeneration of the city centre, sustainable development,  tourism, transport and employment. After engaging with organisations, Future Glasgow’s recommendations will inform the draft city vision to be published in autumn 2011.

To date Cllr Matheson has met with Woolgar Hunter, High Voltage Instruments and will also meet with staff from Royal Mail.