Comment posted Campbeltown and Dunoon – recession risk factors by Simon.
Better late than never – the Sunday Herald featured the report last weekend. Sometimes the print media is just quicker, sharper, more professional and less self-indulgent …. 
Simon also commented
- Newsie, Any sign of this “considered response” or are you still considering???
Mmmm?
- Newsie, “For Argyll has been taking time to produce considered responses to the risk these two towns are vulnerable and is working on separate analyses of each”
Have I missed your considered responses?
Or have you not yet considered them enough?
- Newsie, can you try sorting out your operation before you start bleating on again about somebody else’s failings??
Increasingly we are seeing the latest posts sandwiched between two much earlier posts and it appears (as above) that the last post is the latest post: which it’s not.(four posts above came in after your last post on May 30*).
It’s not rocket science newsie and since you are soooo good at pointing out the failngs of others, how they could be better, more on the ball and more up-to-date – why not try sorting out your site pronto; as an example.
* Your last post mentioned ‘shortly’ – since over 24 hours have elapsed – can you define shortly please?
Recent comments by Simon
- White smoke rises from Councillor Duncan MacIntyre’s chimney as two-man College of Cardinals settle a deal
J – well let’s be honest they SNP are doing it at a national level – so why not a local level??? - White smoke rises from Councillor Duncan MacIntyre’s chimney as two-man College of Cardinals settle a deal
Quite right Nick. Makes you wonder why Newsie claimed it was McCuish who removed the moratorium? - School closures: Russell commits to centrality of educational benefit – without clarifying the current meaning of the term
What’s the population increase amongst those of school age in Islay? Tiree? Bute? Cowal? - Russell to make parliamentary statement on rural schools today
Here is the Education Secretary’s statement made at Holyrood today.http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-22885333
- Strachur Post Office under threat of closure
Dunoon Lad – apologies – I stand corrected.
( see Newsie that’s how you admit you’re wrong….)
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Better late than never – the Sunday Herald featured the report last weekend. Sometimes the print media is just quicker, sharper, more professional and less self-indulgent ….
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Simon,
I’m sure if you wanted to pay the salaries for a full journalistic team then FA could deliver to the same timescales as a national newspaper.
In fact if you’re paying the wages I might apply to be the education correspondent.
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Both Campbeltown and Dunoon grew in part due to their strategic locations for ferry connections and sea trade, and the gradual decay of these links in the age of road transport now needs more central government effort to reverse this decline. There’s been no lack of discussion in FA of the issues, but it remains to be seen whether the government has the vision to understand how important they are – or whether the government is so concerned with beating the independence drum that it fails to attend to the detail of how this country ticks.
pp
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That sounds like an argument for a town center vehicle ferry service to Dunoon. Or, if not, for profits to be capped on the existing monopoly service. The whole area has been blighted for years because of a lack of true competition. The only good thing about the current monopoly situation is that it will make that apparent.
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Not intended as an argument for a town centre vehicle ferry service, or for capping WF’s profits – but I would argue for much improved passenger facilities at both Gourock station and Dunoon town centre, and for some form of statutory protection against unreasonably excessive vehicle charges (not profits) on the WF route.
It might be that a decent passenger ferry service could be designed to integrate the Dunoon – Gourock and Kilcreggan – Gourock services, with the return of a Helensburgh link and the scope for future route expansion. But not, please, under the auspices of SPT as presently constituted.
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Vehicle charges are only unreasonable if the company makes an excessive profit so it amounts to the same thing. Interesting though that you are advocating that with a monopoly vehicle service there has to be price control.
I of course disagree about the passenger only service. The current debacle amply demonstrates what has been said all along – that small boats cannot provide a reliable service. Once you scale them up to be big enough to be reliable it becomes crazy for them to be passenger only as it is carrying vehicles that generates revenue.
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I agree, there were also many more self made export industries and the addition of US forces in the area for a considerable time, with both of these now well in the past there are very few companies that are developing new growth export businesses.
I certainly have a number of companies and product in development to add long term export industry and sustainability of jobs and opportunity in new sectors including food, however with Argyll And The Isles Strategic Tourism Partnership, Business Gateway and many more seemingly local enterprise organisations falling short of aiding, supporting and utilising local businessesn with export growth strategy things will take a long time to improve.
The rural recession could last 10 – 15 years, we have to adopt a buy local, buy british strategy and sew the seeds now, largely in technology and food for the future, in my honest opinion.
I also agree that there needs to be new cost effective large boats delivering passenger tourism to Argyll as in the 1800s and early 1900s, with the reduction in long breaks in Scotland in favour of short breaks and day attractions any current strategy needs to be consigned to the bin, with a new innovative, modern ethical and economic approach to building new growth industries and tourism.
I dont have the confidence any longer in the strategies delivered at regional, tourism or Scottish Executive level, i would like to see many more people coming together to develop new industry, ideas, but more importantly that Enterprise organisations begin to offer a business angel and investment service, success in modern business requires being first to the fnishing post, Argylls monthly meeting, third sector and often non-urgent approach at economic growth is hampering the benefits and shared economic development of these important and once thriving industrial regions.
With the future automation of most work related tasks, everyone needs an automated companion or semi-automated employment role to ensure future sustained employment, and with Google generating £37,000 million from advertising last year there is plenty of opportunity.
If everyone invested in supporting and using local businesses, making ethical decisions on long term growth instead of short term gain, or operating an elusive lifestyle business, Argyll would be a fantastic affluent place with opportunity to everyone, including people with the most deep rooted personal or social problems.
Definitely a key issue for further investigation..
Good post,
Nick
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Do you know that was one of the best posts ive seen, Ive been down the Business Gate Way route and it shocked me that while I was growing a business from a standing start to its fourth year, so that we as a family could live in Argyll and work in Argyll and grow in Argyll. The advise from Business gateway was to out source any work that we had to out source companies all out with the Area.I found the entire process out of date and waste of good time.
I did look into doing that and found that alot more help was actually made to companies on the borders of our area in other enterprise zones. They did not advise to out source work but to use local employment as you would expect.
I would say thats why Argyll is not moving forward regardless what their gathered figures show. (we asked ten people who where looking for funding and support what they thought about our service) and guess what everyone is delight with us and how well we are doing.
Take a walk down to any Argyll based job centre and see how well your doing. Anyway it made much more sense for us to operate somewhere else. So anyone looking at either setting up a business or moving a business to Argyll would find the same answer, easier somewhere else. Why would anyone move to a area with a family where schools are on a danger list of shutting? Would anyone move to a rural area where the local school was under threat? So what happens they stop coming and the school lasts another few years and shuts, along with shops, pubs, everyone out of work and place now dead. If I had time I would go on.
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Thanks Iain, you have confirmed what I am continually advising authority organisations, i would predict that Business Gateway and other enterprise organisations have an implied contract to ensure so much work is provided outwith the locality against local sustainability.
We have two significant problems, tourism is low, not for any other reason that noone knows or cares what or where Argyll is, much as i love the area, its pedigree on the UK or international stage is poor, awareness is also poor, branding is poor, along with poor accessibility to its best features and assets. Considering cycling has been a big part of tourism there arent even cycle lanes, this fundamentally contributes to ever decreasing tourism and shows that Argyll is not at all at the cutting edge of tourism, it is as if everyone is working to some hidden strategy in the opposite of success.
The second problem, as you have pointed out is the sever lack of retention of business, the lack of growth for small remote and export businesses, my advice would be along with your own, dont even consider moving or starting a business in Argyll, the success rate of sustainable startups must be one of the lowest in The UK, it doesnt and shouldnt have to be that way, there are no incentives for growth export businesses in Argyll, unfortunately if businesses are relying on tourism and affluent yachters im very sorry, those days are gone, and probably wont return until 2020.
Heres a question that further proves our point, what is the difference between Vestas, Argyll and the Isles Tourism Partnership, Machrihanish Dunes, Visit Arran, Heart Of Argyll, Jellyfish Digital and Destination Loch Fyne.
Vestas recieved millions from Enterprise funding, employed many staff from their parent company and many out of Argyll, they are nowhere to be seen. Argyll and the Isles strategic tourism partnership received £60,000 from Visit Scotland for marketing, Machrihanish Dunes have been awarded millions towards their development, Visit Arran have been awarded £60,000 from Visit Scotland for marketing, Heart Of Argyll has been awarded well in excess of £100,000 for marketing and event development. How many people do they employ, none. How many times to they proactively promote the area, none, its all passive.
My companies Jellyfish Digital and Destination Loch Fyne have grown exponentially over the last 7 years, i have invested in excess of £1.5million of research, development and time to deliver a professional digital marketing platform to create and develop tourism, neither were successful in start up grants from Business Gateway, and neither are able to attract grant funding from Visit Scotland because they arent run by volunteers. In fact many people in some respected businesses didnt even answer my letters, which shows the lack of concern for the social welfare of local society and development.
These severely hamper growth, are an example of how ambition and enrepreneurs are swept under the carpet. Business Gateway and Enterprise organisations are not fulfilling their roles or being at all enterprising.
In 3 months time i will be in a position to announce several businesses and products which can be rolled out across the UK and world attracting millions of pounds of revenue, employment opportunities, and the most important thing, A GROUP OF COMPANIES THAT ARE NOT SUCCESSFUL BY THE AMOUNT OF GLUTONOUS PROFIT THAT IS MADE, BUT BY HOW MANY PEOPLE IT CAN EMPLOY IN A SUSTAINABLE LONG TERM WAY. I have two fantastic tourism brands pending finalisation and the opportunity to revitalise business, increase new opportunity and hopefully lead the way in flying the flag for a modern Argyll where business has the right to equality, to support, and to success.
Argyll and Bute Council, Business Gateway and the Highlands and Islands Enterprise should reconsider policy on growth, investment and working with entrepreneurs, otherwise its more businesses that will gladly relocate to a place where they do invest in sustainable growth, and where local businesses are the first point of call for work, advice and investment.
Weve already begun an assessment of websites commissioned by Argyll Developers at AWDA which i believe will show that in excess of £1,000,000 of web design business alone has been lost due to outsourcing, some of which is even international!
I’d like to discuss more about proposing a strategy to these enterprise organisations to encourage change, this and third sector control of Argyll is stifling development and growth, its like noone else is allowed to be successful here……
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Yes Agree with all that you have said there. Read a great article this morning and took away one quote “Corporate employees operate based on policy: thats what keeps them from having to think. Entrepreneurs depend thrive on having the freedom to constantly grow and change, to make new connections, and ask questions that shake everything up. To an entrepreneur group think is like Kryptonite”? Thought that fitted just right in there.
Ive seen lots of people over the years ask for figure’s that show a list of companies that where given funding and help as start ups, i.e how many that year and a list of which ones are still trading. Now you have to think thats not a hard days work getting that info is it?
Business Gateway are now really running the same courses as they did 10 yrs ago, how to build a web site, how to do very basic accounts,Marketing just the same old same old work shops. Giving out thousands of leaflets. There should be one box that needs to be ticked that says do before you start your businesshave enough money to make it work Yes / No if No leave the room and dont waste your money.
Long story short, we use a web designer from the Lake District, accountant from Kent web hosting in Cumbernauld (seven web sites) we live here but dont employ anyone from Dunoon, easier to get skills across the water, now looking at setting up across the water with both businesses. Sad really
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I really liked your statement about Kryptonite Iain, its absolutely true, i think there is an element of requiring a foot in each camp, however when it comes down to it, if anyone disagrees with them they ostracise anyone with an alternate and often correct view.
The good lifestyle doesnt make up for the interfering types, that said third sector does contribute and play an important part, just not where commercial and entrepreneural development occurs.
I would like to grow something in Argyll, connect with entrepreneurs to develop new export businesses, and work to enhance the survival rate of new businesses, the only way would likely to attract private investors outside the region, but this would give people the opportunity to do what they love, and do it well, without the private investment and stress, skills and oppressive tasks of running a business.
If anyone is interested in this id be delighted to hear from anyone, just get in touch with Argyll.org.
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Is there a link available to read the report ?
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Yes there is and we’ll add it shortly. There is also the first Rural Scotland in Focus report, which was released in 2010. We’ll link that as well.
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Newsie, can you try sorting out your operation before you start bleating on again about somebody else’s failings??
Increasingly we are seeing the latest posts sandwiched between two much earlier posts and it appears (as above) that the last post is the latest post: which it’s not.(four posts above came in after your last post on May 30*).
It’s not rocket science newsie and since you are soooo good at pointing out the failngs of others, how they could be better, more on the ball and more up-to-date – why not try sorting out your site pronto; as an example.
* Your last post mentioned ‘shortly’ – since over 24 hours have elapsed – can you define shortly please?
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Newsie, “For Argyll has been taking time to produce considered responses to the risk these two towns are vulnerable and is working on separate analyses of each”
Have I missed your considered responses?
Or have you not yet considered them enough?
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Newsie, Any sign of this “considered response” or are you still considering???
Mmmm?
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