Business News Round Up (01/03/2024)
Scottish attractions see visitor numbers rise 17%
Visitor numbers to Scottish tourist attractions were up 17.2% last year, despite cost of living and inflationary pressures. Attractions across the country recorded 48,685,638 visits last year, an increase of 7,133,336 on 2022, as the sector saw numbers return to pre-Covid levels. Data from the Moffat Centre at Glasgow Caledonian University and the Association of Scottish Visitor Attractions (ASVA) shows free attractions racked up 30,605,269 visits – up 4,354,960 on the previous year. Edinburgh Castle remained in the top spot as Scotland’s most popular paid-for attraction, with visitor numbers increasing 41.5% to 1,904,723. The National Museum of Scotland remains the number one free attraction, with numbers increasing 10.8% to 2,186,841. The National Galleries of Scotland recorded a 43.8% increase to 1,836,057, while St Giles Cathedral – up 37.6% to 1,473,211 – and Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum – up 32.2% to 1,283,882 – also had a busy year.
https://www.insider.co.uk/news/scottish-attractions-see-visitor-numbers-32239528
GM colleges secure £8.4m funding to address skills gap
Nine Further Education colleges have secured over £8.4m of funding from the Government’s Local Skills Improvement Fund to help address the skills gap across Greater Manchester. GMColleges developed a response to the government’s Local Skills Improvement Plan, focusing on four key sector areas: education workforce, construction, health, digital and engineering, manufacturing with main cross-cutting themes of digitization and net zero. The capital investment is being made in green technologies, anatomage tables and electric vehicles along with the creation of immersive learning environments. The projects will see the colleges implement a collaborative approach to enhance the curriculum offer and open up new progression opportunities through the development of new courses, improved learner experience through AI and augmented reality and provide new technologies to teach. They will also develop software alongside teaching and learning resources to teach in the immersive learning environments, while upskilling the workforce and increasing employer contributions and partnerships.
UK’s economy hit as international student numbers decline by a third
Imposed immigration restrictions on international students are raising concerns among university leaders, who predict potential damage to the UK’s economy. The enrolment of overseas students has witnessed a significant drop by one-third, emphasizing the economic impact of these measures. Universities UK (UUK), the representative body for mainstream universities and colleges, is expressing concerns over the adverse effects of the government’s recent restrictions on international students. The combination of new immigration regulations, substantial increases in visa fees, and potential cutbacks on graduate work entitlements is negatively impacting the attractiveness of the UK as a study destination. Comprehensive data from over 60 UK universities highlights a 33% decline in the issuance of study visas compared to the same period last year. A separate survey conducted by UUK involving 70 universities indicates a significant drop of over 40% in enrolments for postgraduate taught courses since the implementation of immigration changes in January.
https://en.econostrum.info/uks-economy-hit-international-students-decline/
Northern regions set out manifesto to turbocharge economy through net-zero focus
Thousands of business leaders, politicians and education institutions are setting out a “manifesto for the North”, outlining how new investment can revamp transport routes, improve income, and turbocharge the net-zero transition for the region. The manifesto for the North is being delivered by a coalition consisting of more than 800 businesses, along with education and political figures at the annual Convention of the North. The new manifesto calls for a new strategic approach to energy, trade, investment, and transport to transform the region into a powerhouse that boosts the national economy while assisting with the net-zero target for 2050. The organisations will call for the next Government to help them develop plans that would grow the regional economy by £100bn and deliver a million new jobs by 2050.