How Glasgow City Region gain economic insights with real-time data

The Glasgow City Region Intelligence Hub supports the economic development of eight member authorities by providing critical economic data and policy advice.  

The team helps local authorities in Glasgow City Region (GCR) and stakeholders make informed decisions about regional growth.  

For over two years, the team have used The Data City platform to gain insights into emerging sectors and drive key initiatives, such as investment proposals and innovation cluster mapping. 

Traditional analysis methods, like SIC codes, were no longer able to capture GCR’s rapidly evolving economic landscape.  

The Intelligence Hub needed a modern solution that could provide real-time, accurate data on niche and innovative sectors, particularly in Glasgow’s innovation districts.

They required a tool that would help them deliver timely insights to stakeholders, informing key decisions for the region’s growth. 

To meet these challenges, the Glasgow City Region Intelligence Hub adopted The Data City’s Platform and Real-Time Industrial Classification (RTIC) system.  

The platform enabled the team to identify emerging sectors, analyse local business clusters, and assess the innovation potential of companies. The ability to create custom sector classifications, and use alongside other sources, like Dealroom, made it a vital tool in their economic strategy. 

The Data City worked closely with Glasgow’s team to ensure the platform provided the precise insights they needed. This partnership allowed GCR to use real-time data to spot opportunities and drive policy more effectively. 

Since adopting The Data City platform, Glasgow City Region has changed how it analyses the local economy.  

The platform played a key role in shaping the region’s Investment Zone proposal, allowing the team to quickly identify innovative businesses and engage with key stakeholders. The platform also supported their mapping of innovation clusters, which was used to develop the Glasgow City Region Innovation Action Plan and skills programmes targeting high-growth sectors. 

In addition, The Data City’s import and export data proved invaluable in shaping Glasgow City Council’s international strategy, offering deeper insights into the region’s global business landscape.  

The platform’s real-time data and ease of use have empowered the Glasgow City Region to make more informed, data-driven decisions and accelerate its economic development initiatives.