projects

Business Planning

North East Adventure Tourism 
Client - North East Adventure Tourism 

MKA Economics led the business cases of four adventure tourism projects seeking funding from Opportunity North East. This included multi-million pound investments at Glenshee Ski Centre, Transition Extreme, Gravitate North East and new mountain bike trails in Huntly for Huntly Development Trust. 

Dundee Levelling Up Fund
Client - Dundee Industrial Heritage Trust

MKA Economics was commissioned to lead the economic case for two business cases being formulated by Dundee Industrial Heritage Trust and Dundee City Council to make bids for Levelling Up funding to enhance the visitor appeal of Discovery Point and to establish a new National Centre for Comic Culture in Dundee. 

Economic Impact Assessment

Highland Park Distillery
Client - Edrington

MKA Economics was commissioned to assess the economic impact of Edrington's Highland Park distillery in Kirkwall, Orkney. This was to assess the economic benefits it brings to the local, regional and national economies to guide its future investment in light of the new National Planning Framework 4.

Canal Park, Banff
Client - Aberdeenshire Council 

MKA Economics carried out an independent economic assessment of the proposal to develop a Morrisons supermarket at Canal Park, Banff. Aberdeenshire Council made a preliminary decision to sell Common Good Land to Morrisons Ltd for a supermarket development, following statutory consultation, and to seek Court of Session approval. The socio-economic impact assessment was conducted to inform this decision. 

Various Renewable Developments
Clients - Various

MKA Economics has led the Socio-economic, Tourism, Land Use and Recreation Assessment of a number of renewable investments across Scotland, including onshore and offshore wind proposals, pumped storage schemes, green hydrogen production, anaerobic digestion facilities, solar arrays, battery storage facilities and grid infrastructure investments. 

Event Impact Assessment

Event Impact Assessments 
Client - Various

MKA Economics has led the event impact assessment of over 80 events over the last decade, including the Caledonian Challenge, Dunbar SciFest, Eilean Dorcha Festival, Fringe by the Sea, HebCelt, International Sheep Dog Trials, John Muir Festival, Scottish Open, Oban Live, Pedal for Scotland, SkiffieWorlds, T in the Park, Tiree Music Festival and the Wickerman Festival. MKA Economics deploy 'EventImpact' compliant assessments, which includes visitor and business surveys to ascertain impact to guide the future development of sustainable events.

Policy Support

Review of Shared Services  
Client - Inverclyde Council and West Dunbartonshire Council 

MKA Economics was commissioned by Inverclyde Council and West Dunbartonshire Council in 2022 to review the implementation of Shared Services in regeneration and environmental services, and to make a recommendation on the options for shared services going forward. 

Market Research and Mapping

Valuing the Scottish Local Food and Drink Sector
Client - Scotland Food and Drink

MKA Economics have been commissioned in 2018, 2020 and 2022 to measure the value of Scotland's local food and drink sector, to help inform policy and project support for this increasingly valuable growth sector. 

VisitAberdeen Evaluation
Client - Aberdeen and Grampian Chamber of Commerce

MKA Economics conducted visitor and business surveys to collate the views of local businesses on the actions and activities of VisitAberdeen, the new destination management organistion for Aberdeen City and Shire.

Caithness and Shetland Accommodation Audit
Client - Highlands and Islands Enterprise

Working with Breakthrough Business Support, MKA Economics completed the accommodation audit for Caithness and Shetland. MKA Economics led the demand side assessment, including the consultation phase with key industry bodies and demand generators to assess future drivers for growth in each area. 

Option Appraisal

New Host Option Appriasal
Client - Developing the Young Workforce North East (DYWNE)

MKA Economics was commissioned in 2022 to complete an option appraisal of identifying a new 'host' arrangement for delivering DYWNE services across the North East. The option appraisal was a consultative based assessment of a long list of 20 potential hosting options (including Higher Education, Further Education, Third sector, public and private sector) hosting arrangements. The assessment was completed in line with HM Treasury Green Book Guidance to present a preferred option to be taken forward by the DYWNE board.

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