Consultancy Services

We offer a wide range of consultancy services, centred around four main areas of expertise:

• Economic Impact Assessment
• Policy Evaluation
• Economic Audits & Reviews
• Key Industry Studies

In each of these areas we have extensive experience in:

• Area Regeneration
• Learning and Skills
• Worklessness, Employability and Training Programmes
• Business Support and Competitiveness
• Tourism
• Innovation and Commercialisation
• Construction Sector Studies

A fuller description of our skills and experience is set out below.

On other pages, our case studies provide more detail on some of the individual projects in which we have been involved, while our client list shows the organisations that use our services. 

 Economic Impact Assessment

Public and private sector organisations are increasingly looking to value the economic impact of policies, programmes, developments and events. These assessments can be carried out for a number of reasons, but are often done to:

• inform an options appraisal; 
• demonstrate value for money in the case of public sector investment; 
• inform future decision-making and resource allocation; 
• demonstrate the actual or expected impact of a programme / development in order to secure public or private sector funding; or
• comply with planning legislation or other legal requirements. SLIMS have extensive experience of carrying out economic impact assessments in a range of settings.

We offer particular expertise in measuring the impact of mixed-use development and regeneration projects, commercial and office developments and assessing the impact of major sporting, cultural and entertainment events. The following section sets out some of the selected experience of the SLIMS team in this field.

Contact Chris Boyd if you wish to take advantage of the skills SLIMS has to offer in relation to Economic Impact Assessment.

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Policy Evaluation

Effective evidence on the successes – and lessons from – policy delivery has an increasingly important role the policy process, particularly where choices have to be made around where scarce resources should be invested. In this climate, independent, robust analysis and evaluation of the impact of policy interventions is invaluable to:

• help inform future policy decisions;
• aid in the process of sharing best practise;
• identify which parts of a policy are having the greatest impact;
• and assess the effectiveness, and continuing relevance, of a policy against its original aims and objectives.

The SLIMS team has built up a significant body of experience in effective and high quality evaluation of projects, programmes and policies.

Contact Chris Brodie to find out how we can help you.

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Economic and Labour Market Intelligence

Effective economic and labour market intelligence play a key role in informing the work of public sector organisations involved in economic development, planning, employability and training, further and higher education and workforce development. Our work has been used by clients to:

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

It is essential that the data and analysis contained within these reports are robust, concise and policy relevant if they are to be of any use. The SLIMS team have extensive experience of providing bespoke economic intelligence to suit clients specific needs in a range of settings.

Please contact Susan Mackay to find out how we can help you.

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In 2005, Scottish Enterprise reviewed their approach to supporting Scotland's industries and identified a set of Priority Industries. These industries include six sectors that are thought to have the potential to grow faster than the Scottish average and which have global markets: energy, financial services, food & drink, life sciences, tourism and electronic markets. Six further industries have been identified with the potential for strong growth in specific regions of textiles, aerospace, shipbuilding & marine, chemicals, construction and forestry.

As part of our core services to members, we carry out a performance review for each of our member areas in relation to these Priority Industries. In addition, we have also carried out several key industry studies for a variety of clients. These reports included consultations with key local and national policy makers and figures within the industries, as well as detailed desk-based research.

Please contact Chris Brodie to find out how we can help.

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