Reliable and evidence based economic and labour market intelligence plays a crucial role in shaping future policy decisions.

Slims Consulting has been providing economic intelligence to public sector agencies for more than ten years. Services delivered include annual Economic Statements benchmarking the performance of a geographic area across all the main economic and labour market indicators, with a specific commentary on population trends and projections.

In addition to annual reports, we provide an ad hoc information request service for public sector agencies and access to a range of data and reports through an online subscription service available through our website.

Our intelligence is used by clients to:

• monitor economic performance against local and national targets
• identify economic trends – both historical and projected
• inform policy & strategy development
• assist resource allocation decisions
• inform options appraisals, feasibility studies and business plans

National and regional economic reviews

Slims Consulting was commissioned by Scottish Enterprise (SE) to provide a set of comprehensive economic reviews for each of their operating regions and Scotland as a whole. This work was the first time SE had attempted to assess the contribution of each of their operating regions toward the targets set out in the Government Economic Strategy. The work also looked at the likely impact of the recession on economic and labour market conditions within each of the regions. The reviews included analysis and commentary on the performance of each region against the three main drivers of growth: increasing productivity, labour market participation and population.

Glasgow economic audit

Slims Consulting has been commissioned three times by Glasgow City Council to carry out economic audits of the city’s performance which have become crucial to shaping the city’s ongoing economic strategy 'A Step Change For Glasgow'.

The most recent report provided analysis across all the 'step change' themes and benchmarked Glasgow’s economic performance against equivalent cities throughout the UK and Europe, as well as reporting on topics such as the impact of the Commonwealth Games and Glasgow’s priority industries. Slims Consulting Managing Director Chris Brodie presented the key findings from this work to an international audience at the 2009 State of the City Conference.

Annual economic statements

Slims Consulting continues to produce the Annual Economic Statements. Our statements are modelled around the Government Economic Strategy to provide robust analysis on how local authority areas are contributing to the Scottish Government’s targets. Each reviews an area's performance based on key economic and labour market indicators and from analysing this information considers its short-term economic prospects.

Monthly economic monitor

Slims Consulting provides an Economic Monitoring service which tracks the progress of the economic recovery in Scottish local authority areas. The economic monitor provides monthly commentary on trends in employment, unemployment, economic inactivity and property related activity. It is an invaluable tool for anyone interested in the economic prospectives of their particular part of the country.

Monitoring and evaluation framework for the Clyde Gateway URC

The Clyde Gateway urban renewal company (URC) has an ambitious vision to transform parts of Glasgow’s East End over the next twenty years. Slims Consulting is part of a consortium helping the URC to define its starting position on themes such as learning, employability and health and to develop a framework for tracking progress over the lifetime of the project. This work has been critical in linking the strategic objectives of the URC to existing social and economic conditions in the area.

To find out more about how to sign up for our subscription services, or to discuss your own research requirements contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it