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    Technical Notes 2022, Issue 29 - City Deal Project - Online Business Survey for Business Incubation Space Feasibility Study

    • Report by:

      Ann Davie, Depute Chief Executive

    • TN Number:

      029-22

    • Subject:

      City Deal Project - Online Business Survey for Business Incubation Space Feasibility Study

    • Responsible Officer:

      David Gear, Place & Business Development Manager

    • Publication:

      This Technical Note will be published on the Council’s website following circulation to Members. Its contents may be disclosed or shared out with the Council.

    Section

    1. The purpose of this Technical Note is to update Elected Members on work associated with the Bishopbriggs Town Centre Regeneration that is underway as part of the Council’s City Deal Project – ‘East Dunbartonshire Place & Growth Programme’.  
       
    2. As part of the Outline Business Case development for the Bishopbriggs Town Centre Regeneration project element, work is being undertaken to examine potential options for business incubation space for small businesses and enterprises.  Business incubators can produce a wide range of benefits including (but not exclusive to): new start-up ventures; new networks; employment; business retention, growth and innovation. These types of benefits support objectives set out in the Council’s City Deal Project. 
       
    3. Officers have procured a specialist professional consultancy team to undertake a feasibility study to examine what options exist to locate and deliver this type of space in or around Bishopbriggs Town Centre.
       
    4. The consultant team will prepare options that take into account need and opportunities, sector specialisms, the costs of developing and running such a centre, and possible ownership and operating models.  The financial and economic assessment will include a projection of new job creation, Gross Value Added (GVA) and Value for Money (VFM). If viable options are identified and selected through Outline Business Case development, further work will be undertaken to prepare a detailed Business Plan to assist in the delivery of the business incubation space.
       
    5. The consultants are currently undertaking a range of desk top studies including an assessment of: the property market; possible site options; benchmarking and comparators; business sector and growth opportunities; and market conditions.
       
    6. Consultation is also being undertaken, and this includes discussions with relevant Council services (covering - Economic Development, Estates, Planning); Business Gateway; the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB); Chambers of Commerce (CofC); Bishopbriggs Loves Local; Bishopbriggs Community Council; #BetterBriggs; Facilities Management Companies; local land owners; and New College Lanarkshire.
       
    7. Consultation with potential users will also be undertaken to strengthen the evidence base and help inform options. Working closely with the relevant Council services, Business Gateway, FSB and CofC, the consultants will engage with potential users via an online survey. This online survey will go live on the Council’s website on the 21st February 2022 for three weeks, closing on 13th March 2022.  A media release will be issued on the 18th February 2022 in promotion of the online survey and it will be further promoted through social media (Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn).
       
    8. It should be noted in this initial consultation stage, Officers are not presenting any fixed solutions and consultation work will gather information as part of the feasibility and options exercise. The feasibility work will identify any viable option(s) for inclusion in the Outline Business Case.
       
    9. Updates on the City Deal Project, including outcomes of this work will be included in a future report to on the City Deal project to a future meeting of Council.