THERE can be no doubt the collection of live music, exhibition and conference venues which make up the Scottish Event Campus (SEC) have a positive effect on the Glasgow economy.

The SSE Hydro, alone, has been a huge success since opening in 2013, with the high-profile acts it hosts leading thousands of concert goers to descend on Clydeside every year. Such visitors provide a welcome boost the local economy by spending money on local bars, restaurants, taxis and hotels, and it has often been said the emergence of Finnieston as an increasingly popular place to eat and drink owes much to the draw of The Hydro.

But The Hydro is just part of the equation for SEC. The market in international conferences is highly lucrative and one SEC bosses are keen to command more of by attracting more such events to their doors. Chief executive Peter Duthie believes the SEC is holding its own and highlighted a best-ever month for exhibition business or the SEC Centre in May, with the pipeline of events looking healthy for the next two years.

However, Mr Duthie said SEC is constrained by its current capacity and needs to expand to realise its full potential. It wants to build a further exhibition and conference space on campus, and contends the investment would more than pay off in terms of the economic impact it would generate.

But SEC must first convince the Scottish and UK Governments, and Glasgow City Council, to part with the funds to make it happen.

It will be interesting to see how the talks unfold in the months ahead.