Editing Perth, Scotland (section)

==Economy==
[[File:Perth Concert Hall, Perth, Scotland.jpg|thumb|right|[[Perth Concert Hall (Scotland)|Perth Concert Hall]]]]

The strength of Perth's economy lies in its diversity, with a balance of large companies, the public sector, a broad range of small and medium-sized enterprises and many self-employed business people. The development in [[renewable energy]], insurance, manufacturing, [[leisure]], health and transport is stimulating employment. The largest employer in the city is Perth and Kinross Council which employ 6,000 people. Other main employers include [[NHS Tayside]], [[SSE plc]], and [[Perth College UHI]] (part of the [[University of the Highlands and Islands]]). The leading international transportation company [[Stagecoach Group]] also has its global headquarters in the city.<ref name="Fair City19">Perth and Kinross Council, ''The Fair City of Perth – An application for City Status'', p.19.</ref>

Perth was formerly headquarters of insurance firm [[General Accident]]; however, since General Accident merged with [[Norwich Union]] to form [[Aviva]], the office has been primarily used as a [[call centre]].

Perth's city centre is situated to the west of the banks of the River Tay.<ref name="Perth City Centre Map">{{cite web |url=http://www.perthshire.co.uk/index.asp?tm=27 |title=Perth City Centre Map |publisher=Visitscotland |access-date=22 December 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081206055414/http://www.perthshire.co.uk/index.asp?tm=27 |archive-date=6 December 2008 |url-status=live}}</ref> The pedestrianised portion of the High Street, which runs from the junction of [[St John Street, Perth|St John Street]] to Scott Street, is the main focus of the shopping area.<ref name="Perth City Centre Map" /> The centre has a variety of major and independent retailers. The major retailers are largely based on the High Street, St John Street and in the St John's Centre. Independent retailers can be found on George Street, St John Street, Princes Street, Methven Street, the [[High Street (Perth, Scotland)#Old High Street|Old High Street]] and Canal Street.<ref name="Perth City Centre appraisal" /> A £3&nbsp;million pound project for the High Street and [[King Edward Street (Perth, Scotland)|King Edward Street]] provided new seating, lighting and the laying of natural stone in 2010.<ref name="Perth shopping streets">{{cite web |url=http://www.thecourier.co.uk/News/Perthshire/article/10984/perth-shopping-streets-get-3-million-makeover.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110220071540/http://www.thecourier.co.uk/News/Perthshire/article/10984/perth-shopping-streets-get-3-million-makeover.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=20 February 2011 |title=Perth shopping streets get £3&nbsp;million makeover |publisher=The Courier |date=18 February 2011 |access-date=18 February 2011}}</ref> A retail park, constructed in 1988, exists to the north-west of the city centre on St Catherine's Road, and provides eight purpose-built units.<ref name="St Catherine's Retail Park">{{cite web |url=http://www.pradera.com/pradera-properties/perth-st-catherines-retail-park |title=Perth: St Catherine's Retail Park |publisher=Pradera |access-date=6 March 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110715111322/http://www.pradera.com/pradera-properties/perth-st-catherines-retail-park |archive-date=15 July 2011 |df=dmy-all}}</ref>

[[McEwens]] department store was in business on St John's Street for almost 150 years. It closed in March 2016.<ref>[https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-tayside-central-35890292 "McEwens of Perth department store closes with the loss of 110 jobs"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211102203945/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-tayside-central-35890292 |date=2 November 2021 }} – BBC News, 24 March 2016</ref>

Before the [[credit crisis]], Perth's economy was growing at 2.6% per year, considerably above the Scottish average of 2.1%. Since the credit crisis, growth has slowed considerably, though still remained above the Scottish average.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.investinperth.co.uk/article/4529/Economic-Profile |title=Economic Profile |publisher=Invest in Perth |date=15 July 2013 |access-date=2 October 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131004234633/http://www.investinperth.co.uk/article/4529/Economic-Profile |archive-date=4 October 2013 |df=dmy-all}}</ref>

The Perth economy is ranked in the Top 10 enterprising [[demographics in Scotland]], with an average of 42.6 registered enterprises per 10,000 residents putting it well above the Scottish average of 30.1.