The initial challenge for Forums was to develop Action
Plans for improving business support services and eradicate
duplication where this was found to exist. The plans were
submitted to the Executive in October 2001 and a number of
actions are ongoing to redesign services, improve and
streamline access to services and better co-ordinate
between agencies.
Click
here
for an overview of Action Plan progress across Scotland
Click
here
for detail of the progress by individual Forums
A number of Forums were able to build on an existing
history of strong partnership working. In other areas the
Forums have been a significant catalyst for more effective
joint working. They have provided fresh impetus and focus
for existing partnership working. In all areas a strength
of the process has been the engagement of the business
community in service design and redesign. Ministers
recognise the commitment to the process at local level,
particularly of business representatives, and welcome this
continuing commitment and input. The scale of change in
progress is considerable.
Resources released by streamlining services will
continue to be available for local reinvestment to improve
services and address identified gaps in service
delivery.
Within the Scottish Enterprise area, we are building on
the success of the Small Business Gateway to deliver an
expanded single
Business
Gateway for all businesses. This will further
streamline access to business support services, and provide
a range of core products and a consistent level of services
to businesses, complemented by services at a local level to
reflect local needs. Businesses in the Highlands and
Islands area will also be given a first-stop entry
mechanism through the establishment of a
single access point to all local and
national business support services which will be accessible
by contacting directly individual LECs in the HIE area.
There is a high level of expectation that Forums will
deliver the actions contained in the plans. Most Forums
have clear targets and milestones in place to enable them
to demonstrate progress and the Executive will continue to
support the Forums in progressing the Action Plans.
The Enterprise and Lifelong Learning Committee have a
continuing interest in the Forum process. The Central
Support Team will also continue to work with Audit Scotland
who reported on the Forum process to the Audit Committee of
the Parliament in late 2002.
Link to Audit Scotland report. A follow up
report was published in June 2004.