WITH the end of the year fast approaching, now is the time to take stock of the last twelve months and set goals for the year ahead.

2016 seems to have been an eventful and unpredictable year and there are many lessons to be learned from the change of direction sought by many. With work underway building on our relationships across the globe, Edinburgh and Scotland need to make sure it supports the services and businesses required to successfully trade internationally.

Edinburgh was recently recognised as the UK’s Best Entrepreneurial City of the Year for its access to skills, and its ability to attract talented individuals by providing a high standard of quality of life. Also for its start-up and entrepreneurial culture, and access to valuable support networks.

Edinburgh was ranked third in the ‘Good Growth for Cities Report’, PwC’s annual index of economic wellbeing in UK cities, and readers of European Business Magazine voted it the ‘best city to locate your technology enterprise’. Edinburgh Council also announced last week that the city will host Eurocities in 2018 when it will welcome leaders of Europe’s major cities to the capital.

These recent announcements put the city in a strong position as we look towards our future. There is huge opportunity on our doorstep and a real sense of change, heightened no less by the prospect of a City Deal. Plans are being drawn up for the City Region Deal proposition and a framework is being developed to draft a City Vision, a vision for the city that will be a living, evolving process of progress that will reflect the views of its citizens and communities. It would go a long way to delivering some of the visionary plans that can transform the City into a world leading economic and cultural centre.

As the Vision takes shape and as we refine the proposal for the City Region Deal we should be cognisant of our heritage of beauty and creative thinking. In a world where we are overloaded with facts and data, recognising the importance of imagination and culture can differentiate us and ensure we do not destroy the very essence that makes us what we are.

What is critical is for decisions to be made and implementation to start quickly. Edinburgh is a prosperous city with a strong economy. Enterprise and innovation are here in abundance with many new businesses starting up around creative ideas.

But what makes Edinburgh the city it is and how can we ensure we invest in its success to accelerate economic growth?

Edinburgh has a strong reputation for creative thinking, a built heritage that provides a backdrop of beauty and culture which contributes to the fabric of our city. It provides nourishment to its citizens, feeds technological advancement, new business ideas and a drive to innovate and look for new ways of doing things. That is why we are an entrepreneurial and successful city that must continue to grow on the international stage.

So with the New Year fast approaching and resolutions to be made, businesses and the business community as a whole should perhaps take a step back to consider how creative thinking and innovation can benefit growth.

As a city we have many goals and ambitions, but I imagine our resolutions to focus more on building on Edinburgh’s ‘essence’ than meeting targets.

Firstly let’s set a vision for the future physicality of the city that blends the new with the old, respecting and protecting our heritage but ensuring we are a modern, digital and smart city.

Then we need to commit to investing significantly in our creative and cultural wellbeing which will encourage creative thinking and imagination, providing access to all our citizens.

Thirdly, support and encourage innovation and enterprise through collaboration between education, business, arts and public sector. As Einstein put it, ‘knowledge is great, imagination is greater’.

On behalf of the Edinburgh Chamber, have a Merry Christmas and prosperous New Year!

CEO, Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce, Liz Mcareavey