Some of Glasgow’s leading employers and business leaders were at a major employment and skills summit, as part of the Keep Glasgow Working campaign, supported by the Evening Times.

The Joining Up Provision event highlighted the need for additional support for employers and businesses, as well as skills and training opportunities for job-seekers.

In his address at the summit, Tom Millar, operations director of Reed in Partnership, said: “Even before the recession, Glasgow’s business growth was static and we have an economy with a gap of around 5,000 businesses relative to other cities our size.

“Not only do we need to get the right type of provision in place … but we also need to create more energy amongst people in the city to both acquire new skills and to then put these into good effect.”

The event included a session where employers could put questions to a panel with speakers from Reed in Partnership, Glasgow Chamber of Commerce, Skills Development Scotland, Job Centre Plus, Glasgow Works and Glasgow West Regeneration Agency

Stuart Patrick, Chief Executive of Glasgow Chamber of Commerce, said: “Our members require additional support and advice around issues such as employment law, skills, training and access to finance, and we remain determined to provide that.

“For example, we will be launching a new HR Forum, in March, with MacRoberts and Hudson, to help employers mitigate risk relating to the recession, such as having to make redundancies Businesses have shown a very high demand for support and advice and bodies such as Glasgow City Council have been bringing forward finance.”

For more information go to www.keepglasgowworking.com