Now that Dunfermline has been granted city status, we have an incredible opportunity to do something very special for Scotland’s eighth city.
With strong foundations to build on historically, culturally and socially, we need to come together as a community to think big on how we improve our prosperity and economic growth, to inspire enterprise and renewal in the here and now and for future generations to come.
After all, Dunfermline is the birthplace of one of Scotland’s most famous international visionaries, philanthropist and entrepreneur, Andrew Carnegie. Bringing Carnegie’s innovative legacy into the 21st century to maximise job creation, skills development and well-being now the “Auld Grey Toun” has become a city seems both a fitting tribute to Carnegie and an economic imperative in our challenging global environment.
Fortunately, there’s much scope to grow Dunfermline City’s economy through investment in renewable energy and high-tech innovation for instance and vital city centre regeneration.
Ideally, the city needs a focal point for this rejuvenation, or a "lighthouse project" - a transformative, multi-stakeholder collaboration with community engagement and opportunity at its heart.
An example of a co-ordinated and focused approach like this lies not too far away in Kilmarnock in Ayrshire where a new community-based urban regeneration project has recently opened.
Based on the former Johnnie Walker site in Kilmarnock, the HALO Digital, Cyber and Innovation Park is a net zero, mixed-use development providing both its occupants and the wider community with a dynamic commercial, educational, cultural and leisure hub. It’s the brainchild of Kilmarnock-born and bred entrepreneur Dr Marie Macklin, who wanted to give something back to her hometown left far behind in terms of prosperity and investment.
This Halo Centre is so much more than just office space: it has an exciting feel to it where entrepreneurs can thrive and grow as part of an innovative digital and cyber community. The HALO prides itself on its net zero carbon credentials, with rooftop solar panels and a world-class battery storage unit, electric vehicle chargers, a solar carport and e-bikes available for use.
As well as providing a commercial hub, the HALO’s ethos of living, working, learning and play includes space for community meetups, leisure opportunities and cultural events.
It’s an inspirational place to visit and a creative place to work according to the businesses that have chosen to relocate to this hub. And its thanks to Marie’s vision and determination that it’s been such a success so far, with real knock-on benefits for business and the local area.
In Dunfermline, with our economy in reasonably good shape, a well-educated workforce, the new Fife College campus and a planned University Hub on site plus our growing population and central location, we are in a great space to create new jobs and an exciting social centre to bring our home-grown businesses and citizens together in our very own HALO based in the city.
Dynamism, partnership, opportunity and sustainability all under one roof, for the benefit of all - I think Mr Carnegie would approve.
Douglas Chapman is SNP MP for Dunfermline and West Fife
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