South of Scotland Enterprise Summer tour 2023

Summer tour offers latest chance to find out about SOSE’s plans

South of Scotland Enterprise is visiting locations across the region this summer to speak to communities, businesses and social enterprises through its new summer tour.

SOSE Chair, Professor Russel Griggs, and Chief Executive Jane Morrison-Ross will take part in the tour which will include a series of in-person, online and inclusive sessions.

What is the summer tour about?

  • The summer tour is an opportunity to come and talk to SOSE to find out more about the region’s economic and community development agency.
  • It is also an opportunity to hear how South of Scotland Enterprise is working with others, including through the South of Scotland Regional Economic Partnership, to address the big issues impacting our economy, such as housing, transport and skills.
  • There will also be a chance to discuss new opportunities the region faces, as well as SOSE’s new Five Year Plan.  

Book your place

Dates and locations of the summer tour are:

All sessions (outwith Border Union and Dumfries shows and informal afternoon drop-in sessions) will run from 6.45pm to 8pm.

The online session on Wednesday 2 August runs from 1pm. 

The timings of the informal afternoon drop-in sessions are to be confirmed.

Agricultural shows and informal drop in sessions included

An entry fee is required for Border Union and Dumfries shows where SOSE will have a stand. All other events are entirely free to attend.

In addition, the afternoon events on Monday 31 July in Galashiels and Wednesday 16 August in Dumfries will run as more relaxed drop-in events, where we will share our information in a more informal way.

Previous engagement tour

The summer tour sees SOSE once again visit locations across the region to speak directly and listen to the people of the South of Scotland.

The engagement tour during late 2021 and early 2022, saw 25 in-person and online sessions held with close to 750 people having their say on what they believed to be the opportunities and challenges for the South’s economy.

This engagement played a critical role in the development of its first Five Year Plan launched earlier this year.  

What if I cannot attend a session?

Anyone who cannot attend one of the dates can still contact SOSE to find out more about them and its work or provide feedback via www.southofscotlandenterprise.com/contact-us.

Jane Morrison-Ross, Chief Executive of SOSE, said:

“The summer tour will see us return to venues across the region to share our plans for the next five years with communities, social enterprises and businesses and hear first-hand on the future challenges and opportunities as they see them.

“Some of the discussions in the last engagement tour led to some really positive projects, such as the Hike and Bike Hub social enterprise in Galashiels, and we believe bringing different people together in this way helps harness ideas.

“I would encourage anyone keen to find out more about South of Scotland Enterprise, our plans and our work with partners to come along to one of our summer tour dates.”

Professor Russel Griggs, SOSE Chair, added:

“From the first day of SOSE, we have been committed to listening to the people of the South.

“Our summer tour is the latest chance for businesses, communities, social enterprises and individuals to come and speak to us about the support we provide and how we can work together to solve some of the issues our region faces.

“I am really looking forward to our summer tour and would encourage anyone keen to speak to us or hear more about our plans and ideas to come along to one of the sessions.”