​THE swingeing cuts forced on the private-public partnership, Gloucestershire First, could lead to the creation of a more focused organisation to promote the county’s economy.

That’s the view of business leaders following last week’s announcement that the county council is slashing in half the £1.4 million core funding it provides to the organisation.

It means Gloucestershire First will no longer be able to give external grants, promotion of tourism is being reviewed and a question mark hangs over the 40 jobs within the organisation.

Gloucester MP Richard Graham said there was a need to promote the county for business, but it had to be done by “a smaller, leaner operation closer to business, based in the city and focused on specific goals and outcomes”.

He said: “For instance, the Regional Growth Fund is open to bids – and I’d like to see Gloucestershire First focusing on areas of deprivation and high public sector employment that would benefit from more private investment and opportunities for the young.

“Gloucestershire First could work with companies like Norvilles and planners to see how we can regenerate abandoned factories like theirs in Hatherley Road. A contribution from the Regional Growth Fund could make the figures stack up.

“And rather than spend time ruminating on different structures for a Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP), Gloucestershire First could identify business transport, infrastructure and skills priorities – so that when the time is right and budgets available our county can resolve some of the issues left over from the previous Government.”

Suzanne Hall-Gibbins, director of Gloucestershire Chamber of Commerce and Business Link, said: “Changing and difficult times bring with them opportunities to do things differently.

“There is clearly a need to reduce the amount of duplication and confusion that is felt by the private sector about who does what in the county.

“We have the relationships going forward to do this. Gloucestershire First has a pivotal role in co-ordinating and positioning Gloucestershire as a place to do business and a place to come and do business.

“We are working very hard with them to ensure that the voice of local business is heard and co-ordinated at a strategic county level and that the reach of this voice is deep and broad.

“Gloucestershire has a great deal to offer and we need to shout louder about what we have and work harder with those that are already here.”

Mark Owen, chairman of the Gloucester branch of the Federation of Small Businesses and MD of Moose Marketing and PR, said: “Obviously this is not good news but it was not entirely unexpected, as all organisations funded wholly or partly by local government are inevitably going to come under scrutiny.

“At the same time it is not all bad news. The fact that Gloucestershire First will concentrate on attracting new business and supporting existing businesses means its essential functions will continue.”

He welcomed the cost-cutting move of Gloucestershire First from its Shurdington headquarters to Gloucester Docks saying it would make it more accessible. “I just hope that the tourism function continues as they provide a global shop window on the whole county which is heavily reliant on tourism,” added Mr Owen.

Here Gloucestershire First’s chief executive David Owen explains why he believes it is vital that the work of his organisation continues.

GLOUCESTERSHIRE First, the place promotion agency for the county, deals with hundreds of relocation inquiries every year – many from businesses looking to manage costs while continuing to work in a great environment.

In January 2011 Gloucestershire First will practise what it preaches and relocate to Llanthony Warehouse in Gloucester Docks.

As a business our income comes from a mix of private and public sector funding – all of which we invest in the economic wellbeing of the county – and the economic pressures of the past few years have seen us have our busiest, and most successful, period ever.

At the same time as working to attract new investment in the county, such as Brooks engineering, Horizon Nuclear and the Warranty Group, we have supported more than 120 local businesses on whom recession has had a dramatic impact. We have also provided the right tools for literally thousands of individuals to get back into employment.

Each year Gloucestershire First generate over £2 million of global media coverage for the county through our tourism promotion activities, support hundreds of local businesses through our very successful Parklife activity across the county’s business parks, convert inward investment inquiries into real jobs for Gloucestershire, such as those mentioned above, secure grants for businesses in our rural communities, help hundreds of people in the county receive the right support to find jobs, and much more.

Our success is built on a deep understanding of Gloucestershire business and a real passion for the county and its economy.

Our ability to deliver quickly and spot opportunities for Gloucestershire meant we were able to distribute millions of pounds during the floods of 2007 to local businesses, and more than £8 million through the rural renaissance programme to rural-based businesses over the past few years.

In the past few weeks alone, we’ve secured support that will see Gloucestershire at the forefront of super-fast broadband roll out.

We are also an organisation that recognises the need for continuous improvement and change. Over the coming months we will be re-focusing the business to ensure that we continue to deliver for Gloucestershire, albeit with reduced cash. Working with partners such as chambers of commerce, the Federation of Small Businesses, local authorities and others, we will be focusing on attracting inward investment and tourists; improving business and encouraging innovation (partly through expansion of the Parklife programme); connecting education and skills with the needs of the economy; developing our main, growing sectors of the economy and working with partners to create improved planning environment and infrastructure.

Gloucestershire’s economy has proved the strength of its diversity and its resilience through the economic downturn of the last few years.

Our role continues as the champion of business in Gloucestershire and, its dynamic individuals and success stories.

And in true Gloucestershire style, look to us for hard work and results.