Economic Development

The local government’s role in Economic Development is guided by the Scottish Government’s priorities and strategies. In partnership with organisations across all sectors, the Council is working on a strategic plan and operational level to maximise economic benefits through its strategies, decision making, investment and services. Economic Development Annual Review 2017-18

The Moray Council’s many functions, which aid the economy of Moray include:

Industrial Estates - the portfolio of serviced land and available business premises in all major towns throughout Moray is one of the Council’s major contributions to Economic Development.

Roads and Harbours - the service provides significant investment through upgrading and improvements to the road network, which in terms of the economy maintain the efficiency of distribution of goods and services. (Trunk roads such as A96 and A95 come under the responsibility of Transport Scotland.) It also funds and maintains the Council-owned harbours (Buckie, Burghead, Hopeman, Findochty, Portknockie and Cullen.)

Promotional Facts and Figures - the Council works with the business community and the Moray Economic Partnership to support business growth and inward investment, promoting Moray as a great place to live, work and visit.

The Moray Economic Partnership (MEP) is a formal partnership to support the local economy of Moray. It is part of the Community Planning framework and provides leadership and strategic direction for the economic strand of the Community Planning Partnership. The economic partnership members are Moray Council, Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE), Moray College UHI, Skills Development Scotland (SDS), Moray Chamber of Commerce (MCC), NHS Grampian, Highlands and Islands Transportation Partnership (Hitrans), Moray Strategic Business Forum Cairngorms National Park Authority and Third Sector Interface Moray (tsiMoray). The partners all have key individual influences on the economy which are increased through acts of cooperation, coordination and collaboration on a jointly devised programme of activities focussed on skills and training, culture and tourism, development, transportation, inward investment and business growth. The partners are stakeholders in the implementation of the Moray Economic Strategy.

Economic Development & Planning

The council invests in:

• Business Support
• Community Wealth Building - Find out about Community Wealth Building, which aims to retain wealth within the local economy and place increased control in the hands of local people
• Town Regeneration - through funding, support and development of initiatives such as Elgin – City of the future study, Elgin Business Improvement District (BID), Moray Towns Partnership, Keith Conservation Area Scheme, Moray Towns Together project and Markets.
• Tourism - the Council contributes substantially to support visitor attractions and information through VisitScotland, Tourist Information Centres, museums, parks, outdoor recreation, events and festivals.  
• Film Liaison Service
• Funding – in addition to providing information, support and advice the Council funds & supports programmes such as Rural Action Plan for Moray (Learning Centres, Sustainable Travel Towns Project, Business Sites), Knockando Woolmill, LEADER project
• Planning - designation of sites in development plan, determining planning applications, preparing masterplans

Environmental Health, Trading Standards, Building Standards all provide advice, and help businesses to deal with essential procedures to keep business compliant with legislation and help look after the interests of business where appropriate.  Those services also help maintain the interests of the wider community and environment.

Housing the Council’s Housing stock is an essential component of the local economy, particularly in its role of attracting, or retaining people in jobs, but also in the continuity of construction and maintenance work.

Education plays a critical role (along with its partners) in preparation for the job market; the various training functions in the Council also link to local employment opportunities and apprenticeships.