Andrew Ralton Email & Phone Number

Edinburgh, Scotland, Gb

Since starting in this role I have been closely involved in the strategic development of projects and initiatives to support the Midlothian economy. I have been directly involved in the production of five key sector action plans as part of the Midlothian Economic Development Framework (MEDF), namely: Life Sciences, Earth Sciences, Construction, Education, and Public Sector. These established a baseline performance framework for measuring each sector in terms of contribution to employment, gross value added (GVA), business start-ups, business research and development, etc.; setting ambitious targets across a range of indicators for monitoring and review purposes.Other projects that I am involved with include: the Edinburgh Science Triangle, researching and producing the Economic Land Supply Consolidated Report, producing labour market intelligence reports, supporting elected members in the Industrial Communities Alliance Scotland pressure group, supporting senior staff in delivering the Midlothian Business Loan programme, and other projects to support local business, and economic development.The aims of the Edinburgh Science Triangle project are to promote place, promote science parks, and encourage community and knowledge transfer between academia and commerce. This project will increase the amount of knowledge transfer activity and corresponding economic development by (a) increasing the demand for research and expertise from universities by individual enterprises (b) helping businesses adopt good innovation practice and to commercialise, successfully leading to higher survival rates and greater business growth, and (c) attracting more inward investment as a result of increased marketing of a stronger, integrated and flourishing science and technology sector. The project has secured over £1M in funding, including almost £0.5M from Europe, the balance coming from Scottish Enterprise and other partners.

This role involved supporting the delivery of Midlothian's economic development priorities within the Section, as well as with colleagues across the Division and the wider Council organisation. This has also included working with external agencies, such as VisitScotland, Scottish Enterprise Edinburgh and Lothian, Historic Scotland, Edinburgh Film Focus, ESEP Ltd; as well as working with local businesses through the Midlothian Tourism Forum (MTF) to facilitate business development opportunities and the promotion of the Midlothian identity to leisure visitors, tourists, businesses, and all other relevant parties.

In my role here as development officer I was required to develop innovative ways to promote the East Lothian section of the North Sea Trail long distance footpath to visitors and residents, as well as attempting to engage support for the project from local businesses and other stakeholders. Responsibilities included: organising special promotional events such as the East Lothian Walking Festival, North Sea Trail Day, and the North Sea Trail business seminar; preparing material for web and print publishing, including researching, writing, and editing copy, and photography; leading on researching and creating content for a series of visitor orientation panels; budgeting for financial projections for European funding; building relationships with internal and external stakeholders; assisting with external funding; reporting to a project board comprising of senior officials.Websites: http://www.northseatrail.org/http://www.nave.no

This role involved managing and updating Microsoft Access databases of records of rights of way and access; implementing countryside access projects for path signage; working with volunteers and setting tasks for small groups and individuals preparing and updating risk assessments and ensuring health an safety requirements were met for a safe working environment; and preparing promotional and membership material for voluntary organisation. In addition, I was the first point of contact for members of the public and others providing impartial advice in answer to their queries on local access issues, in close cooperation with local authorities, and land managers. This required a sound knowledge of access legislation and land management concerns in order to negotiate practical solutions to sometimes complex and sensitive access disputes.Website: www.scotways.com

Assisting students and researchers within the library.

Carrying out seasonal market research health surveys and also tourist and day-tripper surveys.

Assisting visitors by providing interpretation and guided tours as part of the museum service at Prestongrange Industrial Heritage Museum, and John Muir Birthplace Museum.Website: http://www.eastlothianmuseums.org

Warehouse duties, collating and despatch of orders.

Assisting with light-engineering work, and despatch of orders.

Diploma In Business Advice And Counselling, Business Advice And Counselling

Ba (Hons) Tourism Management, Tourism, Business, Interpretation, Visitor Management, Customer Care, Management Information Systems

First class degree achieved.

Hnd Rural Recreation And Tourism, Rural Recreation, Tourism, Business, Environment, Agriculture, Arboriculture

Nc Heritage Studies With Tourism, Jewel And Esk Valley College, Heritage, Tourism, Environment

'O' Grades