Strand 2.2: Enterprise

Pain Point

Enterprise culture

• Limited start-up culture; despite original plans for Stranraer-based engine for change, no enterprise agency presence locally; no entrepreneurial skills building/sharing; no co-location or hot-desking spaces to promote collaboration; no support to de-risk start-up business.

• Limited trades capacity in town - difficult to get help for domestic jobs. Limited young people looking to pursue a trade or set up their own business. Without demand, the College can’t run higher level construction courses which continues the shortage of trades people.

Solution

Enterprise Hub

• Furniture Project/Reuse Shop expansion on Zero Waste Park site will provide support and infrastructure for new-starts.

• Develop as Stranraer’s enterprise hub for advice, mentors, incubation.

• Explore Enterprise Zone benefits for Stranraer.

• Work with CodeBase or other skill providers to strengthen tech skill base.

Rebrand Trades

• College/Academy should push Trades as a worthwhile destination

Business Support

• Reintroduce Business/Enterprise Support to the town and district.

• Provide trailers/vans for pop-ups on the waterfront eg seafront seafood shack, bakehouse, street food. (See Strand 3.)

‘Meantime opportunities’

• Work with agents to animate empty premises to model potential, bring life to the high street and offer entrepreneurs low cost spaces, de-risking start-ups. (See Strand 5.)

Volunteering

• Link projects like Unexpected Garden growing to Volunteer Hub to grow skills for work.

Next Steps

• Work with partners to scope potential and focus efforts.

• Discussions with service providers on current services, routes and gaps eg Trades pathway or shared customer support systems for self-employed tradespeople

• Workshops with key partners to review user issues and identify routes in

• Further engagement with service users to map journeys, needs and gaps

• Action planning co-design with service providers and service users

PARTNERS: Dumfries & Galloway Council, Dumfries & Galloway College, SoSE, Business Gateway, enterprise support agencies, Stranraer Academy, Stranraer Development Trust www.creatingstranraer.co.uk