Events

Place-based Inclusive Growth; SURF Annual Conference

Thursday 29 August, COSLA Conference Centre, Edinburgh

What do we mean by Inclusive Growth? Can it really regenerate poor and disconnected places and communities? Where is it already happening and what is transferrable to differing place and contexts?

Over recent years, SURF conferences and its wider work has helped to shift national and local policy towards the complex realities of place, poverty, partners, processes and resources.

Major national, regional and local agencies, across all sectors, are altering strategic focus towards better connecting their priorities and resources, with varied local circumstances and opportunities.

At this year’s SURF Annual Conference, leading politicians, academics and practitioners from community, private and public organisations, will help us explore the connections between challenges and assets, policy and resources, infrastructure and aspirations.

Award winning projects and progressive agencies will fill an ‘Inclusive Places and Projects Marketplace’ of experience and resources.

We will even have an award winning comedian to have us all leaving with a smile, while helping us keep it real.

Programme

9.30am                 Registration and networking with tea/coffee and music by Fèis Phàislig

10.00am               Welcome and Setting the Scene – Kate Wimpress, Chair & Andy Milne, CEO, SURF

10.20am               What are we talking about? – Russell Gunson, Director, IPPR Scotland

10.40am               Prioritising Place – Steve Dunlop, Chief Executive, Scottish Enterprise

11.00am               Coffee, pastries and chat; with music by Fèis Phàislig

11.20am               Inclusive Reality – Martin Avila, Development Director, Kinning Park Complex

11.40am               Growing Consensus? – Electronic Voting Session

12.00pm              Place, Policy and Practice – Panel Session; Russell Gunson, Steve Dunlop, Martin Avila and David Cowan (Scottish Government)

12.30pm               Lunch with exhibitors at our Inclusive Places and Projects Marketplace.

1.30pm                 The National Policy Perspective – Aileen Campbell MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Local Government and Communities

1.50pm                 Partners in Place – Panel Session; Aileen Campbell MSP, Geraldine Campbell (SCRIG), Fraser Carlin (Renfrewshire Council), Karen Orr (RIG Arts), Nick Skelton (Peter Brett)

2.30pm                 Including Community Culture – Janey Godley, Comedian

2.45pm                 Summary and What’s Next? – Andy Milne, Derek Rankine and Emma Scott, SURF

2.55pm                 Thanks and close of conference – Kate Wimpress, Chair, SURF

3pm                       Sharing Success – tea/coffee and networking in an Inclusive Places and Projects Marketplace

Booking

SURF Members were given a priority booking period for this year’s Conference prior to opening out to our wider network. The Conference is now FULLY BOOKED.

If you would like to be added to the waiting list or have any queries please contact emma@surf-old.local