JULY 2006
31/07/2006 - Constructing a Better Future for Corby
A joint venture training company formed by Corby Borough Council and Rotherham-based training specialist MET-UK Ltd is gearing up to open its new, dedicated training premises for a September intake. The new centre - The Corby Training Academy - on the Oakley Hay Industrial Estate, Corby, will provide construction-based training up to City & Guilds Level 1 Certificate for 36 Yeap 9 and 10 pupils, in partnership with Corby Secondary Heads and the Excellence Cluster. This is the third phase of the ACE project - Aciotn in Corby for Employment - following the Linwood Skills Centre in Canada Square, and the recent opening of the Tresham Skills Centre on the St James Industrial Estate, Corby. Looking to the future, the Council has even more ambitious plans and is working with Tresham Institute, and partners including the North Northamptonshire Development Company, emda, English Partnerships, Northamptonshire Enterprise Ltd and the Learning and Skills Council, to find land, raise funding and secure a complete rebuild of Tresham's current Town Centre campus in Corby. This will release 9 acres of land for development as part of the wider Parkland Gateway regeneration project. The Academy has the Council's full backing - with providing the premises at a peppercorn rent, contributing £20,000 from the Partnership Development Fund, and loaning the Centre £30,000 at a low interest rate to enhance the facilities to provide adult courses in gas and electrical trades. The Academy will also provide a trianing resource for Corby Borough Council's workforce, with an immediate programme to accredit the Council's plumbers to Corgi registered status, and accredited training for future intakes of Modern Apprentices. This year the Council has recruited 3 Modern Apprentices, 2 New Deal trainees and has offered permanent employment contracts to 2 New Deal trainees from the 2005 intake. As capacity allows, the centre will expand to provide a variety of other retraining opportunities with the Council eventually planning to open a huge 20,000 sq ft, state of the art construction academy at Priors Hill, as part of the planning agreement for the 5,100 home urban expansion. Councillor Pat Fawcett, Leady of Corby Borough Council, said: "The future is bright for Corby! As the Borough expands we want to make sure that local children and local people can gain the skills and experience they need to capitalise on the huge expansion in construction, engineering, environmental techniques, retailing, leisure and recreation aarising from new development and growth." For more information please contact Madelyn McAlpine at Corby Borough Council om 01536 464020, or email: madelyn.mcalpine@corby.gov.uk
31/07/2006 - emda Helps Boost East Midlands Economy
The East Midlands Development Agency, emda, has once again exceeded its expectations, with new figures published by the DTI showing that the agency's performance has helped boost economic development in the East Midlands. For the 2005-06 financial year, figures just released show that emda and its partners: Created 8,193 new jobs in the region, and helped 4,260 people to get a job; Created or attracted 2,208 new businesses to the region; Helped 7,869 businesses to imprive their performance, and assisted 400 businesses to engage in new collaborations with the UK knowledge database; Attracted £88million of private sector investment to regenerate deprived areas; Regenerated 107 hectares of brownfield land; and Helped 14,562 people in their skills development, including 650 through the "Skills for Life" strategy, and 701 supported to achieve a level 2 qualification or its equivalent. Announcing the latest results, Minister of State for Industry and the Regions Margaret Hodge, said: "emda has shown what a valuable role it plays in improving the economic performance of the East Midlands. Working with its partners, it is making a real difference and I am pleased that nationally, as a network, the RDA's have exceeded all of their core targets. "Not only has emda achieved its ouput targets, but it has been able to build on similar successes from last year and greatly improve the economic prospects of the East Midlands. "Their results are very encouraging and show that they continue to rise to the Government;s challenge to make a concrete difference to regional economic development". Jeff Moore, Chief Executive of emda, added: "I am absolutely delighted that emda is continuing to make a significant contribution to the strength of the East Midlands. The emda board and the whole staff team have worked hard and shown real commitment over the past year. But all our achievements have only been made possible by the enormous support of our partners across the region. "emda has had a number of notable successes during the past year and we continue to attract national and international attention for our groundbreaking work. Lat year we set up 'blueprint' - the region's innovative regeneration vehicle that has brought together the public and private sectors to stimulate sustainable urban regeneration. At the former Avenue Coking Works near Chesterfield, one of the most contaminated sites in Europe, we started using the latest remedial technology to make land fit for development. "Lastly but perhaps most significantly one of our key activities last year was to embark on a major consultation exercise within the East Midlands to review and update the region's vision and Economic Strategy. Thousands of people from all over the region, our partners business people and the general public responded to the review, showing a real enthusiasm and commitment to the regional agenda. Or revised Regional Economic Strategy 'A Flourishing Region' will shape the direction of not only emda's but the region's resources over the coming years. As we move into a much more challenging economic climate it is imperative that we - with all our partners - actively translate those priorities into action if we are the do real justice to the people of the East Midlands and become a truly flourishing region." For more information on emda and the Regional Economic Strategy, please visit the East Midlands Development Agency Website.
26/07/2006 - A Flourishing Vision for Northamptonshire
Partners and organisations are celebrating the launch of the new Regional Economic Strategy (RES) which sets out the priorities for transforming the East Midlands into 'A Fourishing Region' by 2020. The vision is bold and ambitious, but the new RES outlines the main challenges and priorities for action in each sub-region, or county across the East Midlands. The southern sub-area covers Northamptonshire where a number of key challenges have been identified. These include making the most of its close proximity to the South East and London, and the economic opportunities made possible by being at the centre of the Milton Keynes and South Midlands (MKSM) growth area. The projected housing growth and associated investments will also reinforce Northampton's economic significance, while regeneration taking place in Corby will ensure it benefits from opportunities elsewhere in Northamptonshire. The key priorities for tackling these issues are: Transport and logistics; Land and development; Enterprise and business support; Employment, learning and skills. Co-ordinated by East Midlands Development Agency (emda), the publication of the RES follows one of the biggest consultations ever undertaken in the region. Over 1,400 stakeholders and partners were consulted at more than 200 events and road shows. A dedicated website also registered more than 20,000 hits from members of the public across the East Midlands who contributed ideas and outlined their hopes for the region’s future. The vision for the region is that by 2020 the East Midlands will be made up of growing and innovative businesses, where skilled people are employed in good quality jobs; where we all feel part of healthy, inclusive communities and live in thriving attractive places. Three themes are key to achieving this vision. They are underpinned by ten priorities, which are: Raising productivity (Employment learning and skills; Enterprise and business support; Innovation), Ensuring Sustainability (Transport and logistics; Energy and resources; Environmental protection; Land and development), Achieving equality (Cohesive communities; Economic renewal; Economic inclusion). Approved by Government, the strategy belongs to the region, and forms a shared vision for the future successes and aspirations of the East Midlands. The RES is reviewed every three years to ensure it meets the challenges of the changing priorities of a 21st century economy. Now that the RES is complete the next step will be to produce a comprehensive action plan with key partners to ensure the East Midlands achieves the aims identified within the Strategy. It is anticipated this will be ready by early next year. Bryan Jackson, emda’s Chairman said: “It is clear that for the East Midlands to thrive and to compete with the best in Europe and the world, we must build on our distinctive strengths to ensure that our economic growth creates a prosperous and sustainable region, where everyone has the opportunity to achieve their potential. "This is the region's strategy, not emda's, although we will play our full role in realising its aspirations. To make the step change required to drive the East Midlands’ economy forward the strategy must be owned and delivered by all those businesses, stakeholders and individuals that can make that difference. The East Midlands is becoming an increasingly mature and self-assured region, clear about the joint efforts needed to progress its shared ambitions and prepared to take some of the difficult decisions needed to bring them to fruition." Ann Tate, Vice Chancellor at The University of Northampton, added: "The University of Northampton fully supports the vision and strategy set out in the RES. The attraction and retention of graduates, and the skills and knowledge of our staff will be vital to achieving the goals of the RES and we are committed to playing a full and active role with emda in ensuring that Northamptonshire goes from strength to strength." For more information on the RES, please visit the emda website.
25/07/2006 - University wins Europe Funding
The University of Northampton's Northampton Business School has been awarded over £238,000 of European funding to develop a new concept in management training. The funding, provided by the European Social Fund, that promotes employment opportunities for all, is to be used to develop and pilot a new 'Bite Size E Learning' qualification in Small and Medium Sized Enterprise (SME) Management. 'Bite Size' will provide accessible, manageable and relevant training in no longer than 30 minute chunks, which is aimed at developing the skills of managers within SMEs and improving the competitiveness of the businesses in which they are employed. Dr Simon Denny, Associate Dean of Northampton Business School, comments: "Many small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) recognise the importance of developing their management team but the day to day pressures of running a business and the cost involved means that it is a luxury that many cannot afford. 'Bite Size' is a new and innovative way of enabling managers to undertake development opportunities whilst in the work place, using learning to benefit the business and their own career progression at little or no cost to the business". The pilot scheme commences on 1 September, 2006 and will last 18 months. During that time the course content and delivery will be developed and tested by individuals and companies wishing to take part in the project. There will be nearly 200 topics developed covering all aspects of SME management including Customer Care, Finance, International Trade and Marketing, amongst others. Those participating will help in the development of the course whilst providing feedback on the elements of the course they complete for their SME Management qualification. The University is looking for SMEs and individuals within the East Midlands who have a commitment to developing their staff to take part in the pilot. "This is an exciting opportunity for the University - one that can really make a difference to how management training can be delivered and the businesses in which those managers work," continued Dr. Denny. For further details on how to take part in the pilot, please contact Wray Irwin or Pam Cormack on 01604 892371, or email wray.irwin@northampton.ac.uk
21/07/2006 - Language Training Courses for Local Businesses
Companies in Northamptonshire can take advantage of a free business language training programme in French, Spanish or German. The new project is funded by the European Social Fund and the Learning and Skills Council, with the aim of improving the skills of local employees. The courses are being delivered in your area at Montsaye Community College, Rothwell, near Kettering, in conjunction with the University of Luton, which is co-ordinating the courses throughout the East Midlands. The programme aims to give employees from small and medium enterprises a basic grounding in the language to help them communicate in Europe and beyond. Courses take place in French, Spanish or German (subject to demand) one afternoon a week from 4pm to 8pm, beginning in September for 12 weeks, and lead to recognised business language qualifications. To find out more about the programme, please see the Northamptonshire Languages Information Flyer, or contact Liz Littler at liz.littler@luton.ac.uk
20/07/2006 - £11m Boost for Town Centre
Huge investment is set to pour into Kettering town centre as part of an initiative to revitalise the town. Plans include a new theatre & 100-bedroom hotel in a scheme that is hoped will aid in the promotion of the town as a top destination for conferences and holidays. Kettering Council is set to recieve a total of £5m from the Government to begin the regeneration of the town, with £4m being directed to Kettering itself and the other £1m going to Rothwell and Desborough. At the same time, £6m plans are progressing for a 500-seat replacement for the McKinlay Theatre and hotel currently on the Kettering Leisure Village site. Phoenix Leisure Management Ltd, the company behind the investment, will work work alongside recent developments that have already seen the creation of 10 conference rooms. It is hoped that bewteen 40-50 jobs could be created through the project, with the hotel planned for a May 2008 opening. Kettering Leisure Village director Dave Atkinson spoke to Northants News about the plans: "Kettering Leisure Village has gone through a lot of changes in the last few years and these should be the last elements of development. We are hoping to create an integrated site with space for a range of events, including meetings, conferences and weddings. With the hotel, it means that we can accommodate large-scale events over two or three days, the kind that we want to attract the area". The investment comes at a time when Kettering Borough Council is competing with other developing towns in the county - namely Corby, which has multi-million pound projects planned. Leader of Kettering Council Terry Freer said: "Our shopping centre is the sixth most prosperous in the East Midlands in terms of gross turnowver and the lease value of shops and that should be celebrated as a remarkable achievement... Everyone wants to see high class shops and we want to attract national retailers to Kettering". Schemes currently underway in the area include plans to buuild offices and apartments, regenerating dilapidated areas and revitalising Kettering into the vibrant shopping town its residents want.