Meet Your Economic Summit Facilitator, Steven Stewart
The inaugural Perth and Kinross Economic Summit takes place on Wednesday 9 September at Perth Concert Hall. Bringing together 300 business leaders from across the area to identify the actions needed to drive sustainable economic growth, the event will be facilitated by Steven Stewart, Co-Chair of Perth and Kinross Business Partnership and a former journalist with more than 35 years’ experience in media and communications.
Steven was the Founding Director of his own consultancy, Kinnoull Communications, after serving for many years as Director of Communications at Stagecoach Group, currently sits on the Perth and Kinross Local Employability Partnership and is a board member for both Developing the Young Workforce Tay Cities, and Perth Theatre and Concert Hall.
He is an active supporter of several youth employability initiatives and is passionate about his home city of Perth, helping lead the creation of the Perth Story, a narrative designed to promote the city and wider region.
The Summit is billed as: Growing Perth and Kinross: Unlocking Business Growth Through Skills, Investment and Collaboration. What do you hope to see emerge from discussions on the day?
This is a pivotal moment for our region, and I hope the Summit moves us beyond just conversation and towards practical action. Perth and Kinross has enormous strengths, but unlocking growth needs businesses, educators, investors, and the public sector working together with a shared purpose. If delegates leave with new partnerships, fresh ideas, and a clearer understanding of how we can work together to address skills challenges and attract investment, then the Summit will have achieved something meaningful. Most importantly, I want people to leave feeling optimistic about the opportunities ahead for our region.
How does your past experience help in your role as facilitator?
Throughout my career, I've worked with businesses of different sizes, sectors and stages of growth, decision-makers with different political perspectives, and funders each with their own objectives. That's given me a broad perspective on both opportunities and challenges. As Co-Chair of the Perth and Kinross Business Partnership, I regularly engage with business leaders, policymakers and community stakeholders, helping to connect different viewpoints. And the guiding light for my own consultancy was "Better conversations. Positive partnerships. Smarter impacts." That's the approach I want to bring as facilitator - creating an environment where people feel able to contribute openly, draw out key themes and keep discussions firmly focused on outcomes.
How does the work of Perth and Kinross Business Partnership dovetail into the work of other stakeholders such as the local authority, and the wider business community?
The Business Partnership is all about providing a strong voice for business while working collaboratively with organisations that share an interest in our region's prosperity. We have a close and constructive relationship with Perth and Kinross Council, economic development teams, education providers, skills agencies, and business networks. Our role is often to bring perspectives together, identify common priorities and help turn strategy into action. Economic growth is a shared responsibility, and we'll achieve the best outcomes if all stakeholders get behind a common vision for Perth and Kinross. (See more about the PKBP below).
You have spoken openly about the need for a Pride in Perth. Can you elaborate on this from an economic growth perspective?
Pride in Perth is about confidence and ownership. Places that grow successfully are places where businesses choose to invest, talented people choose to stay and visitors choose to return. Creating that sense of pride means celebrating what makes Perth and Kinross distinctive while being ambitious about its future. When people feel positive about where they live and work, they become advocates for the area. That helps attract investment, strengthen communities, and support economic growth. But the other vital factor is ownership. Instead of leaving it to others, we need everyone playing an active role in designing solutions to our challenges, grabbing the opportunities, and shaping the future for our region.
Business leaders from across private, public and third sector are invited to attend Perth and Kinross Economic Summit. Places are free but limited, and must be booked in advance.
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Perth & Kinross Business Partnership (PKBP)
Formed in 2024, PKBP works collaboratively with representative organisations across the region to make it the best place in Scotland to do business, and to drive sustainable growth and prosperity in local communities. Open to all businesses in the area, PKBP covers the key economic sectors and main centres across Perth and Kinross.
The partnership is focused on improving communication and connections with business, giving them a stronger national and local voice to engage with decision-makers and funders, as well as promoting the attractions and strengths of the area more effectively.
Several of PKBP's founders have established Perth and Kinross Opportunities Trust, which is progressing plans to transform the vacant former RBS bank building in South Street in Perth into an enterprise, skills, and employability hub.
