Over the last six months, Slims Consulting has been working with Clyde Valley Community Planning Partnership (CVCPP) to develop a refreshed Economic Strategy for the Glasgow City Region. The Strategy has been formally adopted by the CVCPP Leadership Group, and Slims Consulting has now been commissioned to work with Senior Officers to develop an Action Plan to translate the Strategy into delivery.  We are working with three thematic groups to explore the potential for shared delivery and joint working to meet the aspirations of the Arbuthnott Report, and are helping the Partnership prioritise activities that will boost economic growth and increase the employment rate across the City Region.

Slims Consulting is delighted to be working with Riverside Inverclyde, Inverclyde's Urban Regeneration Company.  To date, we have carried out economic appraisals of proposed developments and work related to its second Business Plan.  Riverside Inverclyde has big plans for the area and we are proud to be involved with their work.

Over the last 30 years, Inverclyde’s population has reduced by around 20%, with a large proportion of this decrease having occurred amongst young people.  Current population projections predict that these trends will continue.  Slims Consulting is currently working with Inverclyde Council and its partners on a high-profile project to determine:

· The causes of Inverclyde’s depopulation over this period

· The scale and nature of migration flows to and from Inverclyde

· What Inverclyde Community Planning Partnership can do to stem population decline

The team has conducted extensive socio-economic analysis and carried out primary research with communities, young people and stakeholders.  We have also examined areas that have experienced similar levels of population decline, to see how they dealt with it and how they responded.  This interesting project is in its latter stages, and will report in the next two months.