315°

THE RDA MAGAZINE FEB 2009 ISSUE 17

Support packageImmediate financial helpfor businesses

Bold ambitionsPreston sets its sights onmajor growth

Landmark yearBuilding on Liverpool’s08 legacy

SUPPORTINGBUSINESSNew finance measures introducedto help Northwest companies

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THE THIRD DEGREE

Peter Watson

BUSINESS

More cash aid to combat effects

of recession

Action plan to support manufacturing

Key projects to spearhead

innovation drive

SKILLS AND EDUCATION

Skills drive for SME sector

Funding boost for flexible

materials industry

PEOPLE AND JOBS

Seizing a ‘Preston Guild’ opportunity

Workington builds on civic pride

Maritime park to woo waterfront visitors

First ERDF projects win funding approval

INFRASTRUCTURE

Canal schemes transform

urban landscape

Green light for £30 million sports village

Ticket to ride for business and tourism

QUALITY OF LIFE

More resources to boost

Northwest tourism

World-class venues lure 2012 teams

Lasting legacy of ‘A year like no other’

REGULARS

People in the region

Event highlights

Getting in touch

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CONTENTS HIGHLIGHTS

OUR VISION:

‘A dynamic, sustainableinternational economy whichcompetes on the basis ofknowledge, advancedtechnology and an excellentquality of life for all.’

CONTACTS

NWDAErica Boardmanemail: erica.boardman@nwda.co.uktel: 01925 400 217

visit www.nwda.co.uk &www.visitenglandsnorthwest.com

315°

SUPPORT PACKAGEThe NWDA has respondedto the economic downturnwith a multi-millionpackage of support toprovide businesses withimmediate help.

BOLD AMBITIONSFar reaching plans toregenerate the centre ofPreston and drive itsambitions to become theNorthwest’s third city arebeing boosted by majornew developments.

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THE RDA MAGAZINE FEB 2009 ISSUE 17

LANDMARK YEARLiverpool’s Year as Capitalof Culture has finally cometo an end with the vitalmessage that 08 may begone, but not forgotten.

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we published “The Northwest Economy –a joint response to changing economicconditions”. This set out a range of initiativesto help address some of the more immediateconcerns over cash-flow, investment, andskills. The establishment of a Joint EconomicCommission for the Northwest, chaired byRegional Minister Beverley Hughes andinvolving major public sector agencies, hasalso been a significant step forward. You willread more on these initiatives within thisedition of 315°.

Government believes that stability andleadership is crucial during this time ofchange and I have been asked by theSecretary of State for Business LordMandelson to extend my term as NWDAChairman by up to a year. During this yearI am keen to ensure that relevant businesssupport is in place and that progresscontinues on significant projects, includingthe new Regional Strategy. The first stage ofconsultation on this will take place betweenFebruary and April 2009.

There is no doubt that the current businessclimate is likely to remain challenging.In 2009, it will be vital to continue to worktogether and continue the investment thathas supported regional regeneration andgrowth in the past.

Whilst this tough business climate isclearly affecting business, the Northwest hasbuilt a strong platform over recent years.This is largely as a result of partnersidentifying, agreeing and delivering keypriorities, a process on which the Agencyhas led. A national evaluation of RegionalDevelopment Agencies, commissioned bythe Department for Business, Enterpriseand Regulatory Reform (BERR), is dueimminently and I am confident this will showthe significant impact that RDAs have madeon the economy over the past five years.

The Agency continues to work closely withGovernment, providing regular updates onhow economic conditions in the Northwestare changing and what we are doing torespond. Recently, the region was fortunateto host a meeting of the Cabinet for thefirst time in its 300 year history. Held inLiverpool, this was an excellent opportunityto evidence first-hand a range of projectsand programmes in which the Agency andits partners are investing, including thesignificant regeneration legacy left by Capitalof Culture.

The Cabinet visit was also an opportunityfor us to discuss with Government the issuesfacing the Northwest economy. I believe weare now robust and diverse enough to dealwith the challenges ahead, particularly givenour strengths in energy, defence, scienceand innovation. However in these challengingtimes, we cannot be complacent and it willbe vital for us to work even more closely withboth business and the public sector.

We recognise that access to finance andcash-flow are major issues for businesses,so last September, jointly with Government,

CHAIRMAN’S MESSAGE

SUPPORTING THEREGION INCHALLENGING TIMESAs we begin 2009, it is hard to believe the speed of change that the economyfaced during 2008.

Bryan Gray CBE,Chairman,February 2009

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THE THIRD DEGREE

“WE SEE OURSELVES, ALONGWITH THE NWDA, AS BEING ONTHE FRONT LINE IN TERMS OFBUSINESS SUPPORT. WE ARESTANDING UP AND BEINGCOUNTED BECAUSE WE'RE HERETO HELP LOCAL BUSINESSESTHROUGH DIFFICULT TIMES ASWELL AS MORE FAVOURABLEECONOMIC CONDITIONS."

PETER WATSON MANAGING DIRECTOR

BUSINESS LINK NORTHWEST

Peter Watson was appointed asManaging Director of BusinessLink Northwest (BLNW) inSeptember 2006. Since then, hehas overseen its transformationinto a highly efficient businesssupport organisation with a first-year customer satisfactionrating of 90% from the 86,000businesses it has worked with.He is a former senior executivein the UK and European printindustry and has an MBAfrom the Henley BusinessManagement College.

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We see ourselves, along with the NWDA,as being on the front line in terms of businesssupport. We are standing up and beingcounted because we’re here to help localbusinesses through difficult times as well asmore favourable economic conditions.

How are you working with the banks?Given the current lending market, we are

working with the banks to ensure they act asintermediaries and direct such businessesstraight to us so we can help them to exploreother avenues of finance and support themin becoming more investment ready.

Are you making it easier for companiesto access support?

Absolutely. We have modified the way weoffer intensive, one-to-one support so thatbusiness support and company healthchecks are available to all Northwestbusinesses. In the past this kind of directservice was only available to companiesin priority sectors and/or companies withgrowth potential, but now almost anybusiness can access intensive support tohelp it to survive and thrive.

Is everything very much one-to-one advicethese days, then?

No. There’s also a wealth of informationon our website which can be accessed 24/7,including health check tools and businessguides. Our telephone service can also beaccessed without having to provide too manypersonal details, which is ideal for busyentrepreneurs.

So there’s a real demand for support atthe moment?

Yes, there is a real demand out there forour help. Our website has an online tool formeasuring how financially healthy acompany is, and details things that can bedone to improve it, which was used over1,000 times in November – that’s ten timesits normal usage and it’s continuing to grow.Not surprisingly there is significant interestin this area of our work at the moment.However, we offer much more than that,and currently offer 30 different free-to-usebusiness support services across the region.

What sort of people are yourbusiness brokers?

Our brokers have had direct experience ofrunning a business successfully, or havebeen involved in a large company at a senior

level. They’re often people who want to givesomething back to the business community– they want to harness their experiences andskills to help others.

I truly believe that as the primary gatewayfor business support, we are here to helpbusinesses through the difficult times aswell as better times and we are wellequipped to do that. There are manyindividuals at Business Link with realpractical experience of managing andsteering organisations through an economicdownturn, including myself!

Obviously some sectors are still registeringgrowth despite the tough economic climate.Is Business Link Northwest still offeringsupport to these companies, too?

At present a sizeable number of small andmedium size companies are unsurprisinglyconcentrating on survival rather than long-term planning. But there are exceptions andsome companies are thriving.

That’s why we’re working with the NWDAon initiatives such as the £10 million HighGrowth Programme, which is specificallyaimed at those businesses that have thepotential to expand but need specific supportin order to do this.

Are there any other ways in which you’reworking with the NWDA?

Yes - we’re producing a new businessperformance index and are starting to feedbusiness intelligence back to the Agency.This will keep them informed about theregion’s business landscape and help toshape policies and programmes designed toassist companies in difficult times.

So what do you think the next 12 monthswill hold for Northwest businesses?

I think there are some difficult times ahead,which is why we have equipped ourselves withthe necessary tools and expertise to providean increased level of support to helpcompanies through this challenging period.

We’re also encouraging businesses toinnovate as well. We have just appointed anInnovation Manager and are in the processof recruiting a number of InnovationBrokers. Companies still need to keep aneye on the future and think about theirlonger-term sustainability, even when thegoing does get tough.

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For further information:www.businesslinknw.co.uk

As the downturn really starts to bite, what’sthe most common problem you’re seeing?

The availability of finance for businesses inthe Northwest has changed significantly overrecent months, which is why, with theNorthwest Regional Development Agency(NWDA), we have brought forward the launchof the Access to Finance programme. It’sdesigned to help businesses to diagnosetheir financial needs and provide them withthe guidance and skills that they may needto secure funding. We can also offerinformation about relevant public and privatesector finance options and provide abrokerage service on to possible providers.

What resources are you introducing to dealwith this problem?

So far we have appointed an Access toFinance Manager and a team of six specialistfinancial brokers, and we plan to double thisnumber. They are working alongside ourcurrent team of business brokers tocomplement the existing service, and havesignificant financial and business experience.

PETER WATSON

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“IT’S IMPORTANT IN CHALLENGINGTIMES SUCH AS THIS THAT THEAGENCY REPRIORITISES ITSBUDGETS AND ITS INVESTMENTPLANS, AND THAT’S WHAT WE’VEBEEN DOING TO ENSURE THATBUSINESSES HAVE GOT SOMEWHEREELSE TO GO FOR FINANCE OTHERTHAN THE BANKS.”

STEVEN BROOMHEADCHIEF EXECUTIVE,

NWDA

The Northwest Regional DevelopmentAgency (NWDA) has responded to theeconomic downturn with a multi-millionpound package of support designed toprovide businesses with the immediatehelp they need.

Initiatives include new ways in whichcompanies can access finance, extra fundingto help businesses that are bucking thetrend and continuing to grow and simple yetimportant measures to speed up paymentsto businesses.

A new economic ‘supergroup’, the JointEconomic Commission for the Northwest,has also been established to help ensure theregion ‘acts as one’ in protecting bothbusinesses and families. Along with theNWDA, the group, which is chaired byRegional Minister for the North West,Beverley Hughes, includes GovernmentOffice for the North West, Learning andSkills Councils, the Strategic Health Authorityand Highways Agency, among others.

CHALLENGING TIMESThe Agency’s Chief Executive Steven

Broomhead explains: “It’s important inchallenging times such as this that theAgency reprioritises its budgets and itsinvestment plans, and that’s what we’vebeen doing to ensure that businesses havegot somewhere else to go for finance otherthan the banks.”

The support includes a new £10 million

Transition Loan Fund, which is helping toimprove the finance options available to newand existing businesses in the region.

“This is part of a package of measures weare putting in place in the Northwest tosupport businesses facing difficulties inaccessing finance and improve cash flow,”explains David Read, the Agency’s Head ofFinance for Business.

As part of this support the Agency isenhancing its existing small business loanproduct to provide lending to the region’sSMEs. The loans of between £3,000 to£250,000, are designed to help businessesthat have a viable business plan but are unableto secure finance from traditional lenders.

STRONG DIALOGUEAlso new is the £140 million Venture

Capital Loan Fund (VCLF), available fromApril 2009, half of which will come from theEuropean Regional Development Fund(ERDF) programme. The fund is designed tostimulate innovation, R&D and growth in theregion’s SMEs by providing finance tobusinesses that are unable to raise capitalon the commercial market because of thefinance gap.

As Read explains, private venture capitalistsare now often unwilling to make investmentsbelow the £2 million mark: “Over the last fewyears they’ve been doing bigger deals andhaven’t been particularly keen in supportingearly stage businesses,” he says.

NEWS

BUSINESS

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MORE CASH AID TO COM

Businesswomen will benefit fromthe new Women’s Enterprise ActionPlan, co-ordinated by the NWDA andNorthwest Women’s EnterpriseForum. Aiming toincrease the numberof women-ownedenterprises, thescheme will runalongside the searchfor the best female-led businessesat the Northwest Women in BusinessAwards 2009.

Advanced Medical Solutions, aWinsford research and developmentcompany focusing on high-performance polymers for thehealthcare market, has received a£275,000 selective finance forinvestment grant from the NWDA.It will help AMS, founded in 1991,to merge its two present sites,safeguarding 99 jobs and creating41 new positions.

The NWDA has awarded a £140,000‘Grants for Business Investment’ toMonumental Games,allowing the onlinegames developer toestablish a Salfordbase, safeguarding23 jobs and creatingan additional 32 jobs by 2010.

RedEye, an online marketing andanalysis company with a base inCrewe, has been awarded £185,000NWDA funding to support itssoftware development programme.Established in 1997, RedEye helpsclients, including William Hill,Asda and Warner Breaks, sell moreand communicate better throughthe Internet.

Manchester is the UK’s best city forbusiness outside London, says areport by real estate specialistsCushman & Wakefield, based onresponses from 500Europeancompanies.Manchester ranked14th in a survey ofleading businesslocations, second for availability ofoffice space and tenth in terms ofvalue for money.

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“We’re doing our bit with our resourcesand we’re also hoping that the banks willcontinue to provide new lending andrenewing existing facilities at the right pricefor businesses,” says Broomhead.

During this economic downturn theNWDA is maintaining dialogue with a seriesof bi-monthly meetings with seniorrepresentatives from all the major banks inthe Northwest. The first meeting led to ajoint action plan to promote awareness ofpublic sector products within the banks,especially those now under the auspices ofBusness Link Northwest, such as the Accessto Finance service.

TARGETED SUPPORTThere is further support for growing

businesses too, with the new £10 millionHigh Growth Programme. “Whilst the focushas been on the challenges and the coolingof the economy, we must remember as wellthat this is a diverse economy in theNorthwest and some businesses are actuallydoing very well,” says Broomhead.

The programme is targeted at around1,000 businesses that have the potential togrow by around 20% a year, and, therefore,have the greatest impact on the growth ofthe regional economy. The programmeinvolves mentoring and working withconsultants who have specific experience ofthe areas where a business wants to improve.

All the new initiatives are part of the timely

Business Support Simplification Programme(BSSP), a Government programme that isreducing the number of national supportschemes from over 3,000 to a moremanageable 30 Support for Business products.

Anne Boyd, the Agency’s BSSP regionalleader, said: “The principle of theprogramme is about consistency and makingbusiness support easier to understand andeasier to access.”

All the new Solutions for Businessproducts can be accessed through BusinessLink Northwest (BLNW).

And the Agency, along with England’s eightother RDAs, have also committed to payingsuppliers within ten days in order to allowcompanies to retain a steady cash-flow.

But Broomhead remains upbeat that theregion’s economy is strong enough to survivethe worst of the impending recession.

“We’ve had a good last ten years andwe’ve got some good insulators against thedownturn, such as the defence andnuclear technology sectors, environmentaltechnologies, and even some aspects ofcreative and new media industries.

“My message for 2009 is let’s berealistically optimistic about the nature ofthe economy,” he adds. “We must not talkourselves into further difficulty.”

For further information:www.nwda.co.uk

EXPERT ADVICE BENEFITSLOCAL COMPANIESFat Media is a digital marketing companybased in Lancaster. Managing DirectorMichael Gibson has recently signed thecompany up to the High Growth Programme.

“We highlighted several areas where wethought we needed more support, such asadvice on corporate finance, particularly foracquiring businesses and engaging with othercompanies on joint ventures,” he explains.

Manchester-based Mass Spec has alsoenrolled on the initiative. The companyservice and repair mass spectrometers,which are used to carry out analytical testssuch as assessing the purity of a drug.

But following a major contract win, theyare now branching out into sales. “We’venever sold new instruments before, just ourservices, so we’re in a completely newmarket,” explains executive directorBarrie Nixon, who hopes the High GrowthProgramme will help fill any knowledgegaps around areas such as sales,marketing and importing.

“You’ve got to use the experts and thisis the ideal opportunity. It just seems likeall the parts of the jigsaw have cometogether at the right time,” he says.

For further information:www.businesslinknw.co.uk

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OMBAT EFFECTS OF RECESSION

Support for business – A rangeof new finance measures are

helping Northwest companiessurvive the economic downturn

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BUSINESS

The manufacturing sector remains thebackbone of the Northwest economy, andwith a new Manufacturing Strategy ActionPlan (MSAP) set to be launched by theNorthwest Regional Development Agency(NWDA), 2009 looks to be a crucial one forthe sector’s development.

As the latest data from the Office ofNational Statistics confirms, the Northwestis the largest manufacturing employer in theUK, accounting for 368,000 jobs, 13.1% ofthe national total. The region is also the topUK region for manufacturing turnover,generating sales of £60.5 billion, around13.2% of the total UK figure.

The MSAP aims to provide a regional

framework of funding and support to ensurethat this success continues.

It has been developed in consultation withregional businesses and other public sectorbodies, and is informed by the Government’snational manufacturing strategy, ‘NewChallenges, New Opportunities’, launchedby the Department for Business, Enterpriseand Regulatory Reform (BERR) and theDepartment for Innovation, Universities andSkills (DIUS), in September 2008.

As Chris Rowlands, Sector Leader forAdvanced Engineering and Materials at theNWDA, explains: “The MSAP will give us aclear framework for defining the interventionsthat the public sector can put in place to

assist manufacturing in the long term. “We can build on existing things like the

Manufacturing Advisory Service (MAS), whichhas been very successful. We will enhanceand add to it in order to drive forwardperformance of this huge sector.”

CATALYST FOR SUCCESSThe MSAP supports the generation of a

modern manufacturing sector in the regionthat will be innovative, enterprising, highlyskilled, and well led. To achieve this, theMSAP has actions which support thesingle aim of raising productivity in theregion through increasing manufacturing’scontribution to GVA.

ACTION PLANTO SUPPORTMANUFACTURING

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The actions are broken down in a numberof themes, and the NWDA and its partnersare working collaboratively on all of these.Partners have agreed to lead the analysisand to come together as a working group toshare ideas.

The themes are: ensuring that spaces,places and infrastructure are suitable formanufacturing; increasing business start-ups; and improving access to informationon markets and change, which will be ledby the NWDA.

The Manufacturing Institute will lead on‘improving the image of manufacturing’;EEF, the Engineering Employers Federationon ‘Increasing innovation’; and the North

West Universities Association on ‘improvingthe interaction of business and education’.

Andrew Semple, regional spokesperson forEEF is hopeful that the MSAP will be a catalystfor continued manufacturing success.

“The strategy is a recognition of theimportance of the sector. It focuses on thepractical steps to be taken to improve itsproductivity and competitiveness, and theinitiatives at a regional level that can besupported to help achieve these aims.”

Two initiatives are being introduced inconjunction with the MSAP.

A Manufacturers’ Forum, planned to beformally launched during 2009, will overseeand advise on the MSAP’s implementationand act as an industry-led lobbying body.

Adam Buckley, Deputy Director of theManufacturing Institute says its role is tocontinually look at the MSAP and asksearching questions about objectives andwhether certain elements need realigning inlight of the changing economic situation.

ECONOMIC CLIMATEA Manufacturing Portal, aimed at both

manufacturers and investors, is also beingestablished. It will provide information onthe manufacturing sector and where to gofor expert advice and support.

Given the downturn in the economy overthe past 12 months, the launch of the MSAPis perfectly timed, providing the region’smanufacturers with the support and fundingthey need to get through what is expected tobe a challenging year.

One of the strengths of the region’smanufacturing base has been its diversity.The Northwest is the UK’s largest regionalcentre for chemical manufacture, employingover 43,000 highly skills people in 800companies, including 30 of the world’s top50 chemical companies.

It is the largest centre of aerospacemanufacturing production in the country andas the second largest centre for automotive inthe UK, also accounts for 12% of UK automotiveturnover, 18% of coke, petroleum and

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DOOR OF OPPORTUNITYSpecialist door manufacturer Clark Doorin Cumbria epitomises the resilienceand innovation that is the hallmark ofNorthwest manufacturing.

Having survived one naturalcatastrophe when the company was allbut wiped out in the floods of 2005,managing director Paul Ashley isprepared for whatever the economicdownturn can throw at him.

"Out of adversity comes opportunity,and we've tried to carry that lessonforward," says Ashley.

He says that for manufacturers tothrive, they need to be constantly lookingto improve their process efficiency, andthey need to invest in innovation.

Clark Door has recently been testingits new acoustic sound-proof doors withresearchers at Salford University, to finetune and improve the new designs.

"You've got to identify market nicheswhere you can be world class and youneed to innovate to differentiate youroffering to your competitors – innovate interms of lower cost designs, and innovatein terms of providing additional benefits.That’s the Holy Grail, to make somethingthat’s better that's also cheaper."

Manufacturing excellence – A new actionplan aims to support growth in the sector

“THE MSAP WILL GIVE US A CLEARFRAMEWORK FOR DEFINING THEINTERVENTIONS THAT THE PUBLICSECTOR CAN PUT IN PLACE TOASSIST MANUFACTURING IN THELONG TERM.”

CHRIS ROWLANDS SECTOR LEADER, ADVANCED ENGINEERING

AND MATERIALS,NWDA

nuclear fuels, 16% of transport manufacturingand almost 11% of food and drink.

“Its diversity is one of the reasons whymanufacturing in the Northwest is relativelyresilient to current economic conditions,”says Buckley. “That’s not to suggest that itwon’t be significantly affected and we’re notremotely complacent about what is in store,but it has shown in the past that it has thestrength and the dynamism to cope withmost things and come through the otherside stronger and wiser.”

For further information: www.nwda.co.uk

New opportunities – Cumbrian companyClark Door has been working withSalford University to develop aninnovative new product

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KEY PROJECTS TO SPEARHEADINNOVATION DRIVE The Northwest is leading the drive toencourage innovation in business,communities and public services – an areaseen to have a vital role to play in helpingthe region emerge from the economicdownturn with a more sustainable anddiversified economy.

According to the UK Innovation Survey2007, carried out by the Department forInnovation, Universities and Skills (DIUS),around 33% of businesses in the Northwestdo not innovate, with 80% of the GVA gapbetween the region and the UK average putdown to lower productivity. To tackle this, anumber of key projects are underway toencourage Northwest companies to harnessthe business benefits of innovation.

An increasingly competitive businessenvironment is driving businesses to seekgreater returns from ‘higher value added’activities in order to survive and grow, accordingto the Northwest Regional DevelopmentAgency’s (NWDA) Head of Innovation andKnowledge Transfer, Jim Keane.

“The primary driver is how innovation canassist businesses of all sizes to add greatervalue to the activities they undertake”, he says,“and this is never more important than inthe current economic climate.”

Businesses will need to go beyond thetraditional view of innovation as a linearprocess, starting with basic research throughdevelopment, leading to production and

acceptance, according to Jim. He believes it isnecessary to adopt a wider approach where“the concept of innovation is more collaborative,it’s about open access to ideas. Innovation isjust as applicable to processes as well asproducts – it’s more holistic now encompassingall aspects of the business and not justabout science and technology,” he says.

This is one of the aims of the Knowledgeto Innovate (K2i) programme, a three yearNWDA funded scheme designed to assistbusinesses who recognise the importanceof innovation but require practical assistanceto take their knowledge and experience tothe next level.

INNOVATION AGENDAEighteen months into its delivery, the

programme is currently working with morethan 250 businesses in the region, helpingthem develop new or improved products,services and processes and addressmarket innovation.

Geoff Birkett, who leads the K2iprogramme, said: “All businesses need toremain competitive and K2i can ensure thatbusinesses realise their potential and do notget left behind. If a business has an innovativeidea but needs support to see it through,then this is the project that can help.”

Other schemes underway to promote theinnovation agenda include the NWDA andERDF funded Innovation Vouchers project, atwo year joint initiative launched in October

2008 designed to proactively providesolutions to immediate problems whilstencouraging longer term businessengagement with the Northwest knowledgebase. Provision of a cash voucher, valued atup to £3,000, and through brokering contactbetween SMEs and the experts in the region,the scheme aims to encourage 1,100businesses to interact for the first time withthe region’s higher and further educationinstitutions over the next 2 years.

Business Link Northwest is alsostrengthening its innovation support tocompanies through recruiting an innovationchampion, John Chisholm, who will beresponsible for a team of innovation brokers.An innovation specialist brokerage servicewill provide SMEs across the Northwest withsupport on innovation-related businessissues, with the existing targeted sectorbrokerage service being enhanced by theintegration of Innovation Specialists.

In addition, there are a range of otherinnovation related support programmeswhich are close to introduction. These aimto assist businesses through the short termissues; increase collaborations around newideas from the knowledge base; and toencourage retention and further investmentin the long term assets of the businesses.

For further information: www.nwda.co.uk /innovation

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REAL TIME AIM FOR THE BIG TIME Lancashire based business RealtimeUK,currently one of the leading computer-generated (CG) animation companiesin the country, enlisted the help of theK2i programme to help them developthe business.

The company, which works withpremier games developers and publishersincluding Sony Computer Entertainment,Evolution Studios, Juice Games andNamco, were introduced to K2i by theirBusiness Link adviser, where theyreceived professional mentoring.

As a direct result of K2i’s advice, thecompany were able to increase theirstaff on both the digital creative and non-production sectors.

Managing Director Tony Prosser, said:Knowledge to Innovate helped us examineour company’s structure and productionprocesses and analyze the way we work.Their consultants helped us benchmarkour business against similar operationsin the UK, identifying key performanceindicators and helping us set new targets.

“Their input has really helped ensurewe are equipped to meet the challengesof further expansion and adopt a processfor continuous innovation.”

For further information: www.k2i.org.uk

Innovating for success – The NWDA isworking to nurture a business culture of

innovation throughout the region

RealtimeUK – The company hasincreased its staff following supportfrom the K2i Programme

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NEWS

Thousands of businesses in the Northwestare being offered the chance to ‘raise theirgame’ via an innovative range of skillsprojects targeted particularly at the smalland medium enterprise (SME) sector.

Over the next three years over £20 millionis being invested by the Northwest RegionalDevelopment Agency (NWDA) in a bid toenhance leadership and management skillswithin smaller businesses.

Amita Chawda, the Agency’s LeadershipDevelopment Manager, says: “We have agreat deal of evidence about the current andfuture needs of our businesses, based onconsultations with them and an analysis ofthe existing skills in the Northwestcompared to other regions.

“We have developed three priorities, notjust for the Agency but for our strategicpartners, funders and providers, whocollectively share the challenges.”

They are: to develop demand so thatbusinesses are aware of the skills supportavailable to them, to improve supply and tomeasure the impact. The Agency hasagreed three large-scale projects to matchthe priorities.

The programme, which will support 9,200businesses over three years to 2011, is thenational ‘Train to Gain’ Leadership andManagement initiative. It is being boosted in theregion by Agency funding of £6.5 million tobroaden the base of companies who can benefit.

The money will extend the national offer,which targets businesses employingbetween five and 249 people, to those withup to 999 staff.

Following the success of the pilotLeadership Development (LEAD) Programmefor SMEs with less then ten employees –

whose participants increased their salesturnover by an average of £200,000 perannum – the Agency is investing £9.5 millionin a three-year programme.

ENCOURAGING COLLABORATIONIt will target 2,000 businesses to enable

owner/managers to take part in a ten-monthprogramme built around masterclasses,coaching, business exchange, theory-basedwork and peer to peer networking.

The first 25 businesses have already beenrecruited by the University of LancasterManagement School, which ran the pilot andis now developing an overall LEADprogramme framework.

The third major project, to be launchedlater this year, is a £4.9 million three-yearregional mentoring programme to supportbusinesses with an annual turnover of lessthan £1 million.

The Agency’s emphasis on skills is alsohighlighted by an investment of over£40 million to support higher education (HE)in the region, the majority of which will bespent in Cumbria.

“We want to raise the aspirations andprogression opportunities in Cumbria, toopen the door to HE, to up the game,” saysDr Michele Lawty-Jones, Head of Skills andEducation at the NWDA.

It has also agreed £9.9 million of fundingfor Burnley’s new college and universitycampus, a joint initiative between BurnleyCollege and the University of CentralLancashire (UCLan), which is due to open inSeptember, and £3.2 million towards themajor redevelopment of Blackburn College.

Leadership drive – Lancaster UniversityManagement School is leading the developmentof the LEAD Programme for SMEs

For further in formation:www.nwda.co.uk/skills

New pathways into employment inthe media industrywill be created bythe University ofSalford and theBBC following apartnershipagreement between the twoorganisations that will lead to newjoint courses, enterprise training andstudent placements within the BBC.

Over 250 new and emergingbusinesses are being nurtured in theUniversity of Central Lancashire’sMedia Factory incubator enablingUCLan to come second nationally andtop regionally in the latest HigherEducation – Business and CommunityInteraction survey.

Liverpool University and the RoyalLiverpool University Hospital have beenawarded £5 million to establish aBiomedical ResearchUnit focused on‘translationalresearch’ intopancreatic diseasesthat will allowpatients to benefit more quickly fromscientific breakthroughs.

Funding of £90 million is in place tofacilitate the relocation of Blackpooland Fylde College to a site within theSecond Gate area of the town centre.Phase one of higher educationdevelopment will be completed inSeptember 2009.

Lancaster University’s incomefrom collaborativeresearch withbusiness rose from£7 million to£11.5 million in2006-07, moving theuniversity into the top tier of UKHigher Education institutionsgenerating wealth through workingwith business.

The University of Cumbria has beenawarded a further £26 million fromthe NWDA. The investment willtransform the Cumbrian economy byencouraging graduate retention andhelping people move to higher valueemployment over the next eight years.

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SKILLS AND EDUCATION

SKILLS DRIVE FORSME SECTOR

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Innovative Northwest companies involvedin producing some of the most advanced,high-tech materials have received afunding boost from the Northwest RegionalDevelopment Agency (NWDA).

The Agency is investing £400,000 to meetthe training needs of businesses from theAdvanced Flexible Materials (AFM) sector,and help ensure that the region retains itsmarket leading position.

England’s Northwest has one of thehighest concentrations of AFM companies inthe world, producing high added valuematerials that are widely viewed as a‘platform technology’.

Several other important clusters makeuse of AFM products, including aerospace,automotive, chemicals, construction,biomedical, environmental technology,maritime and sport.

The investment will fund skills developmentin two key areas – new product developmentand balanced sourcing, a concept thatencourages businesses to move the productionof lower value commodities abroad, allowingcapacity to focus on higher value commodities.

According to Bill Mills, Director ofNWtexnet, the regional cluster organisationfor the AFM sector, balanced sourcing willhelp to keep jobs and high value productionin the Northwest.

“Essentially many products, such as anon-woven textile for a filter, can be mademore cheaply overseas, freeing up thecapacity of regional businesses to concentrateon hi-tech products,” he explains.

“But making this jump can be a hugemove for some of the region’s smallerbusinesses, which is why part of the NWDAinvestment will go towards specific trainingin this area.”

Crucially, adds Mills, the training will besector specific and cover the legislativevariations of the many industries that useAFM products.

Mark Hughes, the NWDA’s ExecutiveDirector of Economic Development, says:“The right skills are critical to the economicdevelopment of the region, ensuring vitalsectors remain competitive and productive.In the case of the AFM market, this is evenmore important given the region’s highconcentration of AFM companies and thepotential to grow as Europe’s leading centrefor the sector.”

NEW TECHNOLOGYOther NWDA investment is also being

used to conduct trials into new areas suchas atmospheric plasma technology, amethod of coating a material or usingplasma techniques, either to colour it or give

it special properties, such as waterproofing.Until now this process could only be

carried out inside a vacuum but Northwestcompanies are looking at ways to carry outthe process.

It is expected to deliver significantenvironmental benefits as it reduces thequantity of dyestuff used, which in turnradically reduces the amount of water andchemicals that are used.

LEADING INNOVATIONNorthwest companies also lead the way in

medical textiles, with electro-spinning thelatest method of controlling fibres at thenano-scale. This technology allowscompanies to create 3D structures such as‘bridges’ for people suffering from a clefpalette. These can then be fitted and naturalcells encouraged to grow around them.

Collaboration is also underway with theaerospace and automotive industries.The development of a new 3D weavingtechnology is now enabling AFM specialiststo supply components woven from ultra-lightcarbon fibre as an alternative to traditionalaluminium parts.

For further information:www.nwtexnet.co.uk

FUNDING BOOST FOR FLEXIBLEMATERIALS INDUSTRY

Embroidery technology – Being employedto strengthen a composite structure

A technical textile being used inshoulder surgery – The textile actingas a replacement joint

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Far-reaching plans to regenerate thecentre of Preston and boost its ambitions tobecome the Northwest’s third city, will addnew impetus to its best-known celebration,the Preston Guild.

By 2012, the date of the next Guild, evidenceof the £750 million scheme to transform theheart of the city will be only too apparent.

The Tithebarn project, first conceivedalmost ten years ago, has reached outlineplanning application stage – a decision isexpected in the first half of this year.

The massive regeneration scheme by thePreston Tithebarn Partnership, a jointventure between developers Grosvenor andLend Lease, is a “once every Preston Guild”opportunity (Preston was given the right tohold a Guild Merchant every 20 years when itwas first granted a Royal Charter in 1179).

Anchoring the 1.5 million sq ft retail andleisure complex will be the departmentstore John Lewis – their next nearest outletsare at Manchester’s Trafford Centre and inLiverpool – and a new, larger Marks &Spencer store.

There are also plans to create specialist,high-quality food markets – Preston’sanswer to Southwark’s Borough Market inLondon. Restaurants, bars, a multi-screencinema, a new bus station, extra car parkingand up to 400 homes will be included.

Tithebarn will underpin the work started

by the Preston Vision Board, established withthe support of the Northwest RegionalDevelopment Agency (NWDA), which aimedto attract private and public sector investment.

Mike Brogan, Assistant Director of CityProjects at Preston City Council, says:“For years, Preston has hidden its lightunder a bushel. Now I believe that we haveachieved the status of ‘third city’ in theNorthwest and we want to capitalise on that.”

CHANGING PERCEPTIONSPublic consultation revealed that 81% of

people who responded believe Tithebarn willencourage more visitors and 78% said itwould boost the status of the city.

Richard Coppell, Senior DevelopmentManager at Lend Lease, says: “This willplace Preston back on the map as a first-class shopping destination. The amount ofpositive feedback was a great endorsementof the plans for new, high-quality shopping,living, working and entertainment facilities.”

To enhance the city further still, Prestonis eventually aiming to achieve Purple FlagAccreditation, an international standard forthe way town and city centres are managedat night. It will be launched this year bythe Civic Trust following its successfulNightVision Programme, for which Prestonis already a pilot city.

But Preston has set its sights onregenerating much more than its retail heart.

PEOPLE AND JOBS

SEIZING A ‘PRESTONNEWS

Investing in Salford’s regeneration hasalready met its original target of£550 million ofprivate sectorinvestment by 2020,Chris Farrow, ChiefExecutive of CentralSalford URC tolddelegates to theannual meeting. Central Salford hasnow raised its sights to £4 billion.

Rochdale Development Agency hasappointed Pat Rattigan as Director ofPhysical Regeneration. Formerly AssistantDirector of Planning and EconomicDevelopment at Tameside Council,Rattigan will work alongside RochdaleCouncil to attract investment, createnew jobs and boost the local economy.

Carlisle Renaissance has submitted itsfirst Action Plan, setting out its longand short-termpriorities, to theNWDA, Carlisle CityCouncil andCumbria CountyCouncil. Work toimprove CastleStreet in the city’s Historic Quarter isdue to start early in 2009.

Work has started on a new £1.9 millionbusiness centre in Maryport which itis hoped will create up to 40 new jobs.Part funded by the NWDA via WestLakes Renaissance, the project willcreate a high quality managedworkspace for small to medium sizedcompanies.

Improved access to treatment for somemental health conditions will beavailable to Northwest people sufferingfrom depression and anxiety with theannouncement of a £43 millionprogramme by the Increasing Accessto Psychological Therapies scheme.It will produce an extra 500 specialistsover the next three years.

Minister for the North West, BeverleyHughes, awarded Charter Status to fourlocal authorities -Lancaster,Blackburn-with-Darwen, Oldhamand Wyre – at anawards ceremony atThe Lowry, Salford.Forty-two authorities have now receivedthe charter, launched in 2000 andawarded for an authority’s commitment tothe development of its elected members.

Retail centre – Plans for the Tithebarn project includea major new retail and leisure complex for Preston

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The two main squares, the 800-year-old FlagMarket, surrounded by the Harris Museumand Courts, and the Georgian Winckley Square,with central parkland, have both been thesubject of architectural design competitions.

The area between the station, with quicklinks via the West Coast Main Line to Londonand Glasgow, and the University of CentralLancashire (UCLan) a ten-minute walk away,has been targeted as a central businessdistrict, ideal for high spec office space.

The potential of the city’s docklands, whichhouse Europe’s biggest single dock basin(it’s three times the size of Liverpool’s AlbertDock), has been under scrutiny for some

years. With a technical solution to the long-standing water quality problem nowunder consideration, Preston hopes to attractdevelopment partners to make the most ofits water assets.

“We are working with our Dutch twintown of Almelo, which is developing itswaterways, to see whether we can shareideas,” says Brogan.

LONG TERM VISIONNow Preston has established a Preston

Vision Company Limited, to drive delivery ofsome of these plans.

Ian Whittaker, the NWDA’s Policy andPartnership Manager for Lancashire, says:“The new company is an evolution forPreston Vision from visioning and strategyto a focus on delivery. The timing is perfectto build on the opportunity provided byTithebarn and Preston Guild.

“We have supported Preston in its workto develop a vision for the city but now is thetime to begin delivery for real.”

“The Preston area has been an importantcentre of growth for the region over the last10 to 15 years. The city of Preston now hasthe chance to realise its ambitions at theheart of that growth.”

For further information:www.preston.gov.uk

THE CITY’SUNIVERSITYCHALLENGE

The University of Central Lancashire(UCLan) has “a symbiotic relationship”with Preston, according to its Vice-Chancellor Malcolm McVicar, who is alsoChairman of the Preston Vision board.

“The university is importanteconomically to Preston and the city isimportant to the university,” he says.“We are hoping the university will continueto grow, develop and be strong and it canonly benefit as the city develops, too.

“One of our challenges is to encouragetalented graduates to stay in Preston, tobecome the business leaders andentrepreneurs of the future. We have anumber of schemes to help us to achievethis and we can already see it happening,particularly in the media field.”

He believes Preston is “clearly” now theregion’s third city and believes the newPreston Vision Company must encouragethe private sector to be involved in thecity’s future development.

GUILD’ OPPORTUNITY

Higher education – The University ofCentral Lancashire plays an important rolein Preston’s economic growth

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PEOPLE AND JOBS

WORKINGTON BUILDS ON CIVIC PRIDEA series of ambitious regeneration projectsis helping to bring new life to the formersteel town of Workington, an important hubin the Cumbrian economy.

Following the completion of a £50 millionshopping centre for the area, built with aninvestment of £10 million from theNorthwest Regional Development Agency(NWDA), several major initiatives are nowunderway to rejuvenate the area, includingthe redevelopment of Derwent Forest, aformer Ministry of Defence site.

“Workington shares similarities withmany other Northwest towns and over timehas seen a decline in the traditionalindustries that supported its growth andprovided much of its employment,” explainsCharles Holmes, Head of Regeneration atAllerdale Borough Council.

“This decline has contributed to pockets ofworklessness, higher levels of deprivationand lower levels of skills.”

Holmes believes the town’s new retailoffering will encourage people to shop inWorkington while also providing it with“a vibrant new town centre that gives peoplea sense of pride and ownership in the place

where they visit, live and work.”Many people employed in the shopping

complex found jobs after taking part inRoutes to Work, an innovative employmentprogramme developed by the council andtargeted at local people.

ENERGY SECTORRoutes to Work has helped over 500

people find work with retailers, as well aslocal construction companies such asThomas Armstrong, who are currentlybuilding the new Energus building, home ofthe National Nuclear Academy at Lillyhall,between Workington and Whitehaven.

Energus will be a world-class centre forskills, training and business support for theenergy sector, and will also house the new£10 million University of Cumbria campus inWest Cumbria. “The region’s links to nucleardecommissioning and new nuclear buildpotential are the strategic context foreverything we're doing in West Cumbria,”says Andrew Sproat, Senior DevelopmentManager at the NWDA.

Lillyhall is also a prime location forattracting businesses to the area, with a

new Inland Revenue call centre being thelatest addition, which is due to open its doorsearly in 2009. The new centre is expected tocreate up to 350 new jobs for the area.

Elsewhere, the port of Workington is halfway through a ten-year redevelopment, whichhas seen investment from the NWDA throughWest Lakes Renaissance. The funding hashelped to develop infrastructure such as newberths and storage facilities, which havegiven the port a platform from which it canstart to diversify and develop.

MAJOR REDEVELOPMENTBut by far the biggest regeneration project

is the transformation of the 1,000 acreDerwent Forest, one of the largest brownfieldsites in the UK, acquired by AllerdaleBorough and Cumbria County Councils fromthe Ministry of Defence last August.

The NWDA has provided £1.42 million tohelp secure and market the site, and IanHaythornthwaite, the Agency’s ExecutiveDirector of Resources, believes it representsa huge opportunity to build a high qualityleisure and commercial complex, with anoutstanding natural setting.

“Redevelopment of the site could make asignificant contribution to regeneration inCumbria, helping to attract more visitors andbusinesses to the area, as well as creatingjobs,” he says.

For further information:www.nwda.co.uk

Public art – The Hub is one of the public realm schemesthat has helped to transform Workington town centre

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will complete the pedestrian link from MannIsland to Albert Dock.

Working with adjoining land ownersBritish Waterways and Gower Street Estates,developers Countryside Neptune LLP andofficers from the local planning authorityand World Heritage Site, National MuseumsLiverpool is developing detailed plans tobring back to life this historically importantarea through a combination of walkways,interpretations boards and brides acrossthe ends of the dock that will complete thepedestrian link from Pier Head/Mann Islandto Albert Dock.

NEW ATTRACTIONSThese new pedestrian links will make it

easier for visitors to move between theattractions, encouraging longer stays and amore fulfilling experience.

Other phase two initiatives includeimprovements to the lighting, streetfurniture and signposting around AlbertDock, mooring facilities at Salthouse Dockfor boats using the new Leeds/Liverpool

canal link and new signage at KingsWaterfront.

Famous Liverpudlians – and the city’sadopted sons and daughters – will also becelebrated adjoining the piazza at KingsWaterfront in a series of 100 inscribed plaques.

Chosen by readers of the Liverpool Echo,the plaques will cover various themes includingpublic service, sport and music, with the likesof former Liverpool manager Bob Paisley,music impresario Brian Epstein, and actor RexHarrison among those to be immortalised.

Work is also continuing on the new Museumof Liverpool on Mann Island, which has beenbacked by a grant of over £32 million fromthe NWDA.

The museum will focus on the creativity andindustriousness of the city, and is seen asone of the major legacies of Liverpool’s yearas European Capital of Culture. It is estimatedthat when it opens in 2010, the museum willattract more than 750,000 visitors a year.

For further information:www.liverpoolvision.co.uk

Transforming a lost piece of Liverpool’sseafaring heritage into a major new visitorattraction is central to the latest wave ofimprovements along the city’s waterfront.

Canning Maritime Park, centred onCanning Graving Docks immediately southof the Pier Head, is being developed as partof phase two of the city’s WaterfrontConnections project.

The Northwest Regional DevelopmentAgency (NWDA) has invested just over£1.9 million into the Waterfront Connectionsprogramme, with a large part of thatinvestment targeted on Canning.

Along with a series of other infrastructure,environmental and public realm improvements,investment in the Maritime Park is designedto strengthen the waterfront’s role as amajor international destination.

VISITOR EXPERIENCEAccording to Alistair MacDonald, Project

Manager at Liverpool Vision, theConnections programme will improve theoverall visitor environment and developlinkages between Kings Waterfront, AlbertDock, Mann Island and the Pier Headhelping to “establish the waterfront as acoherent, single destination, as opposed toa collection of independent attractions.”

Echoing these views, Mark Hughes, theNWDA’s Executive Director of EconomicDevelopment, says this latest funding will“help to maximise the impact of these andother attractions at the waterfront, helpingto boost Liverpool’s visitor economy.”

Canning Graving Docks are owned byNational Museums and are still used as anoccasional berth for ship repairs. The docksplayed a vital role overhauling boats involvedin the Atlantic convoys of the Second WorldWar but are currently off limits to the public.

The new investment will bring life backto this historically important area, with newwalkways and interpretations boards, aswell as a series of four new bridges that

MARITIME PARK TO WOOWATERFRONT VISITORS

Taking shape – The WaterfrontConnections project will enhance

new and existing attractions atLiverpool’s famous waterfront

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PEOPLE AND JOBS

FIRST ERDF PROJECTSWIN FUNDING APPROVAL

Barrow Waterfront – NWDA and ERDFinvestment is enabling a new access roadfor the Waterfront Business Park

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The green light has been given to the firstround of projects to receive investmentfrom the European Regional DevelopmentFund (ERDF).

Among the early beneficiaries of the halfa billion pounds injection of European cashwill be a new gateway into Liverpool, majorinfrastructure improvements at a keybusiness park in Barrow, and a number ofnew support packages aimed at boosting theregion’s excellent record in addressing theneeds of business and the environment.

The fund is managed by the NorthwestRegional Development Agency (NWDA) andaccording to the Agency’s Director ofEuropean Programme, David Malpass, it willsupport a diverse range of different projects,from business support programmes totourism initiatives, activity focusing oninnovation and development to work with thedisadvantaged and unemployed.

“There are a lot of smaller projects…so the money is going across the wholeregion,” says Malpass. “With some of thebusiness support programmes the idea isthat they are cross-regional, so the moneywill go where the demand is greatest.”

Over the next seven years the Northwestwill receive £521 million from the ERDF –more than any other English region – with themoney for each project usually being matchedby other public or private investment.

The funding will be closely aligned to theEU’s Lisbon Agenda as well as theNorthwest Regional Economic Strategy andamong the targets are a £1.17 billionimprovement in the region’s Gross ValueAdded (GVA) and the creation of over 26,000new and sustainable jobs.

INFRASTRUCTUREAround £212 million from the ERDF

programme is ‘ring-fenced’ for Merseyside,and one of the first projects to receivefunding is the new Lime Street Gateway,which is to receive just over £2.4 million,with the Agency providing a separateinvestment of £3 million.

Designed to improve visitors’ firstimpressions of the city, and continue thetransformation of Liverpool into a world visitordestination, just over £2 million of the NWDA’sfunding will be spent on public realmimprovements around the station, with £906,000going towards the Highways Scheme, involvingthe demolition of buildings that currentlymask the main entrance to the station.

The arched gable end of the listedVictorian station will be revealed, and therewill be improved pedestrian access to andfrom the station, as well as better links tothe city’s cultural quarter.

As Malpass explains: “Through improvinga major transport gateway into Liverpool city

centre, this project will improve links to keyareas of the city, including the commercialdistrict and waterfront, and importantly, itwill support plans to develop and grow thecity’s knowledge corridor.”

The NWDA and ERDF are also sharingthe cost of the first project in Cumbria toreceive investment from the programme,with the building of a new £10 million accessroad for the Waterfront Business Park inBarrow-in-Furness.

Designed to provide access to the newbusiness park and help remove traffic fromsurrounding residential streets, the road ispart of the wider £200 million developmentof the waterfront, which is expected to create1,500 new jobs.

BUSINESS SUPPORTSubstantial ERDF investment is being

channelled into the £140 million VentureCapital Loan Fund, to be launched in April2009, which is designed to stimulate growthand innovation amongst SMEs, and afurther £3 million will go towards a HighGrowth Programme to help the region’sbusinesses achieve higher levels of growth.This will be matched by an additional£7 million from the NWDA.

Award-winning environmental businesssupport service ENWORKS has also received aEuropean boost, with a £2.5 million investment,matched with £6.1 million from the Agency.

The additional support and investmentwill allow ENWORKS to assist 1,500 moreNorthwest companies, while also helpingthe region’s businesses to save a further£31 million in energy and waste costs.ENWORKS will also be using the funds tocut the region’s carbon output by 125,000tonnes, as well as helping industry save760,000 tonnes of water.

Another of the region’s key environmentalbodies, Envirolink Northwest, will also berunning an initiative funded through ERDF.As the NWDA’s regional cluster body forenergy and environmental technologies,Envirolink Northwest will be taking theNorthwest Waste Technology Virtual Centreof Excellence to its next phase, with£2.7 million of ERDF money, matched by£4.3 million from the NWDA.

SAFEGUARDING JOBSThe first phase of the initiative supported

the development of the waste management,recycling and technology industries withinthe Northwest, and helped to divert morethan one million tonnes of waste fromlandfill, as well as creating and safeguardingnearly 450 jobs.

However, as with much of the Agency’scurrent work, helping the region to ride thecurrent economic downturn is the mostpressing concern.

“The overriding position is that theERDF funding is still to be used forinnovation and as part of the sustainableagenda,” explains Malpass. “But there isthe realisation that the current economicdownturn might mean that the focus is nowmore around safeguarding jobs thancreating new ones.

“In the short term that is going to be thefocus of the programme but in the mediumterm we obviously want it to be nailed to theoriginal objectives.”

For further information:www.erdfnw.co.uk

LOW CARBONECONOMY GOALInvestment from the Northwest ERDFProgramme is helping to fund twoinitiatives that will help the region in itspursuit of a low carbon economy, and anoverall cut in C02 emissions of 25%.

The Carbon Reduction Capital PurchaseAwards will stimulate and support SMEsto invest in carbon reducing technologies,with £2.2 million from the ERDFprogramme, matched by £7.8 million fromthe Agency.

The Carbon Reduction DemonstratorAwards will concentrate on SMEs involvedin developing carbon-reducingtechnologies, with grant funding of£1.1 million from the ERDF and£4.1 million from the NWDA.

Both projects will run until March 2012and will directly contribute towardsmoving the region towards a low carboneconomy, a goal that underpins theAgency’s vision to deliver sustainableeconomic development. The programmeswill also help the region cement itsposition as a centre for world-classenvironmental technologies.

Lime Street Station – An artist’simpression of the public realm work thatwill transform the station entrance

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NEWS

INFRASTRUCTURE

Transport Secretary Geoff Hoon hasannounced government funding of up to£165,000 to improve access toManchesterInternationalAirport, the UK’sfourth largest. Theinvestment willfund the building oftwo new sections ofroad: between the M56 Manchesterairport spur and the A555, and betweenthe A555 and the A6.

Nelson’s £4.5 million bus and railinterchange is up and running. A keypart of the town centre’s regeneration,the interchange is a joint schemeinvolving Lancashire County Council,Pendle Partnership, backed by £1 millionNWDA funding, and Pendle Council.

Project ACCESS, the £20 millionscheme launched in 2004 by theNWDA to supplybroadband andfast Internetconnections toCumbria and partsof North Lancashire,has given access tohigh-speed Internet technology to99.8% of businesses and citizens acrossthe sub-region.

Up to 1,200 jobs will be created by theredevelopment, by the Stobart Groupand Halton Borough Council, of 3MG,the Mersey Multimodal Gateway atHalton, near Liverpool. With £4.3 millionNWDA funding, work on the 43.8-acresite should be completed by 2010.

Twenty-five hectares of brownfield landin West Derby, Liverpool, will betransformed into a woodland, featuringup to 20,000 native trees. A legacy of thecity’s year as European Capital ofCulture in 2008, the project has receivedover £700,000 of regeneration funding,including £440,000 from the NWDA.

Architects have been invited to takepart in an international competition todesign an education, conference andseed productioncomplex at theNational WildflowerCentre, Knowsley.Supported with£100,000 fundingfrom the NWDA, thecompetition is run by the Royal Instituteof British Architects.

The completion of two major canal projects– both backed by the Northwest RegionalDevelopment Agency (NWDA) – is furtherevidence that the region’s historicnetwork of waterways still has animportant role to play.

Two hundred years after it was built, amajor milestone in the restoration of theManchester, Bolton and Bury Canal hasnow been achieved, with the completion ofthe first section of restored canal atMiddlewood, Salford.

Meanwhile in resurgent Liverpool, a newcanal link at the city’s famous Pier Headmeans that for the first time in over acentury, canal boats will be able to navigatethe Leeds & Liverpool Canal straight intothe heart of the city.

As well as bringing new life to thewaterways themselves, both projects areset to play an influential role in the widerregeneration of the areas through whichthey pass.

“Canals have transformed cities and townsacross the whole of the Northwest over thelast 15-20 years,” explains Alan Carter,Business Development Manager at BritishWaterways, the national organisation whichlooks after the UK’s 2,200 miles of canalsand navigable rivers.

“They play a pivotal role in the regeneration

of communities, with more and more towncentres being built around the canals inareas such as Stalybridge and Failsworth.Today people want to live, work and socialisebeside water which is demonstrated acrossthe whole of the Northwest.”

RESTORATIONThe 15.2-mile long Manchester, Bolton

and Bury Canal is the last major waterway inManchester to be restored. It was once vitalto the transportation of coal and cottonduring the Industrial Revolution but wasfilled in during the 1960s.

Although the first section to be reopenedis just 437m long, restoring it was a majorengineering feat and included the creation ofa new tunnel under the Salford Inner reliefroad and the construction of a new seven-metre deep lock - the third deepest lockwithin British Waterways’ whole network.

Costing £5.9 million, the Middlewoodsection reconnects the canal to the rest ofthe UK’s inland waterway network via theRiver Irwell, and paves the way for therestoration of the canal to its terminuses atboth Bolton and Bury.

Mark Hughes, Executive Director ofEconomic Development at the NWDA,explains: “Restoration of this section ofthe canal has significantly improved thearea for local people and visitors, and is a

Pier Head – Liverpool’s new canal linkwill bring a new look to the Pier Headwhen it opens in the spring

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step forward towards greater regenerationin Salford.

“Waterways are also a part of our heritageand it is excellent that this piece of historyhas been restored to benefit the local areaand future generations.”

Carter agrees: “The restoration of canalscan have an immense impact locally. Therevitalised canal will now animate thesurrounding area (and) in particular theMiddlewood restoration will be the focus ofa £600 million development of housing andleisure facilities.”

In Liverpool, the £20 million canal linkwill open in the spring and is part of anambitious scheme to bring a new look toLiverpool’s world-famous Pier Head.

INTERNATIONAL QUALITYThe public realm works around the new

link were completed last autumn at a cost of£8 million and include new paving, an areato stage events and improved lighting, whileCanada Boulevard has been completelyreplanted with sycamore and maple,replacing the previous unhealthy trees.

A series of new mooring facilities for boatsarriving along the canal have also beenadded to Salthouse Dock, and two massivefour tonne lock gates, built by localengineering company Twinbridge, now formthe centrepiece of the Mann Island basin.

The regeneration of the Pier Head andMann Island, home to the new Museum ofLiverpool, is part of a developmentprogramme designed to create a visitordestination of international quality. In totalthese new developments will deliver£260 million of new investment, attract1.2 million visitors per annum and create913 additional jobs.

“Transforming the waterfront has beenone of our main priorities in regeneratingLiverpool,” says Cllr Warren Bradley, CityCouncil leader.

“At the heart of that is the Pier Head. It is an area which is known throughout theworld and is the core of our World Heritagesite. It has been under–used and notfulfilling its potential. It is a place whichboth local people and visitors should regardas a must-see attraction.”

Robin Evans, Chief Executive at BritishWaterways, is confident that developmentslike this can bring much wider localbenefits. “The link will bring animation tothe waterfront and rejuvenate communitiesthe canal passes through creating jobs andbringing economic benefits to the region,”he says.

And it is the bigger role that canals canplay in improving communities that reallyexcites Carter. “Canals have an integral role

to play in the 21st century, not only on theleisure side, where we’re encouraging thehealthy and environmental use of the canalsfor walking, cycling and boating butin waterside regeneration.

“We are influencing and enabling billionsof pounds of regeneration activity alongsideour canals and rivers. Waterways willcontinue to develop, despite the morechallenging economic climate over the nextyear or so.”

For further informationwww.britishwaterways.com

Restored waterway – The completedMiddlewood section of the Manchester,Bolton and Bury Canal

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A £30 million community sports village hasbeen given the go-ahead, in time to offerthose inspired by the London 2012 OlympicGames and Paralympic Games theopportunity to become fitter and more active.

The master plan for Orford Park involvesthe provision of a wide variety of leisure, healthand education facilities on one site whichwill transform 50 acres of a former landfillsite in Warrington, and has been approvedafter confirmation of funding support fromnational and regional sponsors.

The idea of creating a “cutting edge”sports village was first mooted 14 years agoby local councillors. Now Orford Park,adjacent to the A49 northern gateway to the

town, is scheduled to open in November 2011.Led by Warrington Borough Council, the

public, private and voluntary sector developmentwill include football pitches, sports centre,library and health centre.

Designed to assist the key regional andnational aim of increasing the number ofpeople participating in physical activity from22.8% to 34.9%, it will also help to promotehealthy lifestyles and improve lifelonglearning, the local skills base andemployability of local people.

Steven Broomhead, Chief Executive of theNorthwest Regional Development Agency(NWDA), which is investing £3.6 million inthe project, says Orford Park is an important

scheme for Warrington and the Northwestregion and something the NWDA is pleasedto support.

“Sport makes a huge contribution to ourregional economy with latest figures showingthat sport adds £3 billion to our economyevery year and supports 50,000 jobs.

“During times of uncertainty in the economyI’m extremely encouraged to see significantprojects such as this going forward.”

CUTTING EDGEThe project builds on the experience of

other developments like Leigh SportsVillage, also supported by the NWDA,according to Stewart Kellett, formerRegional Director Sport England North West.

He says: “This is a cutting edge projectfor the sports sector which builds on theexperience of other developments and goesbeyond the conventional approaches tofacility development.

“The council and local partners have takenup the challenge of promoting sustainableapproaches to growing and maintainingsports participation by putting sport at thecentre of their regeneration plans.”

“We are really excited about the prospectsfor this project. It will assist Sport Englandto deliver our target of one million morepeople playing sport by 2012.”

Paul Thorogood, Chief Executive of TheFootball Foundation, the UK’s largest sportscharity, says: “I am delighted that theFootball Foundation is supporting the OrfordPark project with our maximum grant of£1 million. Sport is playing a central role inhelping people to stay fit, strengthencommunities and promote responsibilityamong young people.”

The foundation has invested over£44 million into 832 community sportsprojects across the Northwest since it waslaunched in 2000.

For further information:www.warrington.gov.ukwww.nwda.co.uk

Promoting health – The Orford Parkproject will create new leisure

opportunities for the local community

Regeneration – A new sports centre ispart of the plans for the new development

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GREEN LIGHT FOR£30M SPORTS VILLAGE

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Business and tourism in the Northwest willboth benefit from the improved rail linkswith London following the completion ofNetwork Rail’s £9 billion upgrade of theWest Coast Main Line – Europe’s busiest.

More regular trains between LondonEuston and many Northwest towns and cities,faster journey times and 13 million additionalseats each year across the network will givea significant boost to business passengersand visitors to the region.

Cumbria, in particular, will benefit fromthe massive investment in the West CoastMain Line (WCML) following theintroduction of Virgin Trains’ new timetablein December 2008.

The fastest trains of the day to LondonEuston will take three hours, 12 minutesfrom Carlisle, three hours from PenrithNorth Lakes and two hours 37 minutes fromOxenholme Lake District.

NEW TIMETABLEThe first train of the day to London now

leaves Carlisle at 5.43am, arriving in Londonat 9.09am, more than 40 minutes earlier thanits predecessor.

Simon Caunt, Assistant Regional Directorof the CBI, who visited Cumbria three days

after the new timetable came into force onDecember 14, says: “The new Main Linetimes are very significant for Cumbria and fortourism in particular.

“One hotelier pointed out to me that visitorscould now leave London at 3pm – and sitdown for dinner in Ambleside around 7pm.”

FASTER SERVICESThe benefits are not confined to Cumbria.

Train services to the Northwest from Londonwill increase by 30% with Manchester linkedto the capital by Pendolino “tilting” trainsevery 20 minutes, including weekends, withjourney times cut by 13 minutes down to twohours 5 minutes.

Average journey times to Liverpool arereduced by 6 minutes, with additional peakhour trains stopping at Runcorn. Wigan,Warrington and Preston will all benefitfrom faster direct services between Londonand Glasgow.

The CBI’s Simon Caunt, says: “The frequencyof journeys and the shorter time are criticalto our members and the region – they bringthe Northwest closer to the city of London’seconomic focus.

“There are businesses in the Northwestwhich operate in a global market and

transport links – the main rail and airportlinks – are vital.”

He says a multi-partner approach fromorganisations including the CBI, inwardinvestment agencies and tourist boards, isneeded to communicate the message that theNorthwest is “an obvious place to do business”,promoting its improved transport links.

Steven Broomhead, Chief Executive of theNorthwest Regional Development Agency(NWDA), which has supported the upgrade ofthe WCML since work began, says: “This is astrategic link within the Northwest’s publictransport system and these improvementswill bring significant benefits.”

The upgrade of WCML, the busiest arteryin the UK, will also benefit freight as wellas passengers.

Tony Collins, Virgin Rail Group’s CEO, says:“The successful running of Europe’s busiestmain line railway is going to be a hugechallenge for the train operators andNetwork Rail. But I believe that within sixmonths we shall have a railway of which thenation can truly be proud.”

For further information:www.networkrail.co.uk www.nwda.co.uk

TICKET TO RIDE FORBUSINESS AND TOURISM

New benefits – The completed WestCoast Main Line upgrade has created

faster rail links for commuters

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According to recent research undertakenby the organisation, 90% of people surveyedclaim they are cutting back on spending, butless that half (45%) are planning to cut backon holidays, short breaks or day trips.

The research also suggests taking a breakis so highly valued that it is often the lastthing to be sacrificed.

These trends in themselves haveimplications for the wider visitor economy,but the research goes some way to showthat there are opportunities to promoteholidays at home, particularly if they areseen as offering a quality experience at agood value price.

In the Northwest, quality has been acornerstone of the region’s Strategy forTourism since its inception in 2003, with theregion’s five tourist boards working closelywith the Northwest Regional DevelopmentAgency (NWDA) to ensure investment ischannelled into a high-quality, distinctivetourism product.

VISITOR ECONOMYContinued investment is seen as

essential during these challenging times,particularly if the Northwest is to make themost of the changing face of tourism in theUK, according to Felicity Goodey, Chair ofTourism England’s Northwest.

“Whatever happens we must not losemomentum,” she says. “VisitBritain say therecession could cost 50,000 jobs and a£4 billion hit to the UK’s tourism industry.London may well be affected but theevidence here in the Northwest is that

24

Manchester has been crowned thebest ‘Sports City’ in the world for itssuccessful hostingof six internationalsports eventsduring 2008,including three worldchampion ships.The SportBusiness Sports City ‘Gold’Awards was presented toManchester City Council at theSportBusiness Sports EventManagement Awards 2008.

Cumbria’s Lakes Alive summer seasonof arts events generated around£1.25 million for the county. Thefestival, which ran from June 14 untilAugust 31, attracted over 220 of theworld’s leading outdoor performers andan audience of over 21,000.

Stuart Maconie, BBC Radio 2 presenterand ardent Lancastrian, spearheadedthe NWDA’s autumncampaign to promotetourism in theNorthwest. Stuart’sShort Stories forShort Breaks seriesfeatured seven travel diary-style pieceson the cultural highlights of the region.

Prime, the NWDA’s free quarterlymagazine promoting the region’scultural events and attractions, won abronze award at the Design BusinessAssociation’s Design EffectivenessAwards. The first three editionsgenerated an estimated 201,922 visitsto cultural venues, worth £16 million.

Heritage sites in the Northwestattracted over two million visitors in2007-08, making a significantcontribution to the £11 billion generatedby the region’s visitor economyaccording to the annual report of NorthWest Heritage Counts 2008.

Judges at the Lancashire Excellence inTourism Skills Awards citedcommitment anddedication as keyqualities amongwinners in all ninecategories. Organisedby Lancashire andBlackpool Tourist Board and supportedby the NWDA, the event, staged inSt Annes, attracted 67 nominations.

NEWS

QUALITY OF LIFE

investment in quality, distinctiveness andvalue for money can attract the visitor evenin adverse conditions.”

James Berresford, Director of Tourism atthe NWDA, agrees: “It is now moreimportant that ever for us to continue toinvest in the region’s visitor economy.Markets are changing and our competitorsare evolving; we need to make sure thatEngland’s Northwest is well placed to meetthe challenges of this economic downturn.”

The Agency’s commitment to this aim wasrecently strengthened with theannouncement of an additional £20.6 millionto build on the work of the five sub-regionaltourist boards: Cumbria Tourism, Lancashireand Blackpool Tourist Board, MarketingManchester, The Mersey Partnership andVisit Chester and Cheshire.

It will also enable them to maintain thelead in developing and promoting the visitoreconomy in their area, creating high-quality,high-value visitor experiences. Investment intraining programmes, the provision of visitorinformation, product development andtargeted marketing will help ensure that theregion’s tourism industry is well placed toface ongoing economic challenges.

The investment, which will be madeavailable to the five industry-focusedorganisations over the next three years, willensure the region’s tourist boards are in astrong position to support tourism businessesduring the difficult economic climate.

MORE RESOURCES TO BOOSTNORTHWEST TOURISMThe UK tourism industry is well placed to weather the effects of the economic downturn –that is the message being delivered by national tourism agency VisitBritain.

Visitor economy – New investmentaims to capitalise on changing

trends in tourism

For further information:www.nwda.co.uk/tourism

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Sporting heritage – Leading internationalathletes have signed up to train in theNorthwest in the run up to 2012

Armitt, the Chairman of the Olympic DeliveryAuthority. At a Business Breakfast atBolton’s Reebok Stadium, he said: “London2012 can offer Northwest businesses of allsizes opportunities to help in the currenteconomic climate.”

Determined to promote as manyopportunities as possible for businesses tobenefit from the Games, the region has playedhost to a series of visits by Olympic chiefs.

They included Sebastian Coe, Chair of theLondon Organising Committee of theOlympic Games and Paralympic Games(LOCOG), who visited sports venues inLancashire and Cheshire to see how theregion was engaging with London 2012.

Paul Deighton, Chief Executive of LOCOG,attended the Northwest Annual 2012Conference in Liverpool, which celebratedthe success of the region’s Olympians andParalympians and outlined work prioritiesfor the region’s legacy plans over the next12 months.

Charles Allen, Chair of the Nations andRegions Group of London 2012, also visitedCumbria in November to see how the countyis rising to the challenge presented byLondon 2012.

For further information:www.london2012.comwww.nwda.co.uk

WORLD-CLASS VENUES LURE2012 TEAMSThailand and 15 Pacific Island countriesfrom Oceania have chosen the Northwestas the training base for their Olympic andParalympic athletes in the run up toLondon 2012.

They are the first countries to commit tousing the region’s “world-class” sportsfacilities, many of which were developed forManchester’s 2002 Commonwealth Games.

The National Olympic Committee and theSports Authority of Thailand – which won fourmedals in Beijing, including a boxing Gold –signed a Memorandum of Understanding(MoU) with the Northwest RegionalDevelopment Agency (NWDA), the WorldAcademy of Sport at Manchester BusinessCentre and Manchester City Council.

During their stay, Thai representativesvisited Sportcity (one of the largestconcentrations of sports venues in Europe),the football grounds of the city’s two PremierLeague clubs, the University of Manchesterand the World Academy of Sport.

They also agreed to work with theAcademy to develop education programmes,including sports event management courses,for sports authorities in their own country.

Oceania National Olympic Committees,whose members visited sports facilities inPreston, Crewe, Leigh, Wigan and Liverpool,signed a similar MoU with the NWDA onbehalf of 15 Pacific islands.

In addition to making a commitment toprepare athletes in the Northwest,signatories to both agreements are alsolooking to maximise wider legacyopportunities from the relationship, inparticular exploring cultural exchangeslinked to the Cultural Olympiad.

Peter Mearns, Executive Director ofMarketing and Communications at theNWDA, which has been working hard withpartners across the region to set upPre Games Training Camps for 2012, says:“To include so many countries in oneagreement makes this a uniqueunderstanding. It also provides anopportunity for the whole of the Northwestto be inspired by the 2012 Games as everysub-region has contributed to it.”

And in January, the Northwest securedanother coup with the announcement thatManchester has been chosen as the trainingcamp for the Australian Swimming Team inthe run-up to 2012.

In the Northwest, 63 companies hadalready secured Games-related contracts bymid January. More than 2,800 had registeredtheir interest in supplying the Games via theonline business service CompeteFor, whichmatches businesses with 2012 opportunities.

The NWDA, which is providing funding of£2 million to help companies to bid for 2012contracts, hosted a two-day visit by John

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QUALITY OF LIFE

King Lear – Pete Postlethwaite returnedto the Liverpool stage to appear in theShakespeare play at the Everyman

International spotlight – The Echo Arenastaged the MTV Europe Music Awards 2008

Major achievement – The BBC SportsPersonality of the Year Awards 2008took place in Liverpool

Tall Ships – The four day event wasone of the highlights of 2008

Live music – The Matthew Street Festivaltook to the streets during August

Sir Simon Rattle – the Liverpoolborn conductor returned to hishome city for a series of concerts

An audience with Shankly – Tribute toLiverpool FC legend Bill Shankly

Liverpool Sound – Anfield footballstadium hosted the sell out concert,featuring Sir Paul McCartney

Opening extravaganza – Capital ofCulture 08 began with the People’sOpening on St George’s Plateau

New commission – Momentum’sproduction, Anima was part of theArtistic Programme for 08

‘Arts Matters: The Pool of Life’ –Merseyside artists the Singh Twinslaunched this specially commissionedwork at the Bluecoat

The Liverpool Cityscape – Ben Johnson’sartwork at the Walker Art Gallery

JANUARY FEBRUARY MARCH

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LASTING LEGACY OF ‘A YEAR LIKE NO OTHER’Liverpool’s Year as European Capital ofCulture has finally come to an end with the vital message that 08 may be gone, but not forgotten.

The statistics are impressive: theMerseyside tourism economy reached the£1 billion mark, the total economic benefit of08 amounted to £800 million and the cityclocked up more than 15 million culturalvisits, recording an average 30% rise on2007, with 3.5 million visiting Liverpool forthe first time during the year.

The city also experienced unprecedentedmedia coverage, worth more than £200 millionglobally, with more than 12,000 articlesappearing in the UK press and more than20 hours of primetime programming on the08 year across the major TV platforms.

The landmark year has involved more than10,000 artists, 160,000 participants and67,000 schoolchildren across 7,000 events inmore than 1,000 venues. It included 60 Worldand European premieres in music, film,theatre and art, with 30 new commissions bythe Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra.

RECORD BREAKING Many venues broke box office records.

Tate Liverpool recorded a 200% rise on 2007and the Albert Dock attracted a record onemillion visitors for the first time in its history.The annual MTV Europe Music Awards andBBC Sports Personality of the Year Awards,both held in the city, attracted televisionaudiences of more than 40 million.

In ‘The Impacts of A Year Like No Other’,a book published by the Liverpool CultureCompany reflecting on 2008, Bryan Gray,Chairman of the Northwest RegionalDevelopment Agency (NWDA) and theLiverpool Culture Company, says:

“Liverpool is experiencing one of the greatestrenaissances of any 21st century Europeancity with culture playing the lead role.”

Ten days into 2009, the city celebrated itssuccess with a Transition Event, designed toensure that Liverpool builds on everythingthat 08 has achieved by arranging anenhanced programme of cultural eventsfrom 2009-2012 as a ‘lasting legacy’.

HIGHLIGHTSLiverpool City Council Leader Warren

Bradley says: “Much of the success of lastyear has been down to great partnershipsand teamwork involving many of the city’scultural institutions and other organisations.But it is absolutely crucial that we buildupon the amazing achievements of 2008.”

Highlights of the year included theJune Liverpool Sound Concert at Anfield withSir Paul McCartney, the Tall Ships Festivalin July and La Machine’s spider streettheatre performance through the city centrein September, which helped to attract5.2 million people to the city during the year.

And around 500,000 people also attendedthe themed 08 events across the Northwestincluding Manchester’s Year of World of Sport,Cheshire’s Year of Gardens, Cumbria’s Yearof Adventure and Taste Lancashire, organisedto ensure the whole region benefited.

Some exhibitions continue into 2009,including ‘Liverpool – Threshold to the Cornersof the World’, a photography exhibition at thenew £8 million Victoria Gallery and Museumthat runs to the end of March.

The ‘Only a Game?’ exhibition, exploringEuropean football from the 1950s to themodern era, remains at World MuseumLiverpool until March 1.

For ten weeks to November 30, the city

also enjoyed the Liverpool Biennial, theInternational Festival of Contemporary Art.This year its centrepiece was MADE UP,an exhibition of works – half of which weresited in public spaces - which explored‘the ecology of the artistic imagination’ fromartists across the world.

Sculptor Richard Wilson’s ‘Turning thePlace Over’, in which a chunk of the city’sformer Yates’s Wine Lodge literally turnedinside out, was another major success.

Lewis Biggs, Director of the LiverpoolBiennial, which was celebrating its tenthanniversary during 2008, says: “Liverpool’syear as European Capital of Culture hasbrought even more cultural tourists fromother countries, as well as reinforcing ourappeal to residents in the Northwest. It hasbeen great to contribute to such a rich mixof culture in one city.”

As a result of Liverpool's success, CultureSecretary Andy Burnham announced on avisit to Liverpool during January that theGovernment will consider introducing apermanent British City of Culture prize, whichwould enable other cities around the countryto bid to host the title every four years.

For further information: www.liverpool08.com

Celebrating success – Liverpool’s landmarkyear as Capital of Culture 2008 provided a£800 million boost to the local economy

LIVERPOOL’S CULTUREOF SUCCESSResearch funded by the NWDA to assessthe changes in awareness and perceptionsof Liverpool between 2005, when the citywas awarded European Capital of Culturestatus, and 2008, show that positiveimpressions of the city from outside theregion have risen.

The number of people from outside theNorthwest who see Liverpool as a city ‘onthe rise’ has increased from 73% in 2005 to79% in 2008 and the number of those whoagree that Liverpool is a premier Europeancity has also increased from 41% in 2005 to47% in 2008.

More people based outside the region –64% in 2008 – express an interest in visitingthe area, compared with 58% in 2005.

The survey also showed that people inLiverpool are more likely to take part inculture than those in the Northwest and theUK as a whole, with numbers remaining at10% above the national average.

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NOTEBOOK

PEOPLEIN THEREGION

Professor Parkinson is Director of theEuropean Institute for Urban Affairs atLiverpool John Moores University and leadsthe Department of Communities and LocalGovernment’s expert panel onNeighbourhoods, Cities and Regions. Heproduced the ‘State of the English Cities’Report for the Office of the Deputy PrimeMinister in 2006.

The Research Programme will be thecornerstone of the Northern Way’s workover the next three years and will developevidence to inform long term thinking aboutthe Northern economy in both a nationaland global context.

Anil Ruia OBE, a trustee of NationalMuseums Liverpool, has beenappointed Chair of Arts CouncilEngland, North West for four yearsto September 2012.

Company director Anil, appointedby the Department of Culture, Mediaand Sport, has also become amember of the national Arts CouncilEngland governing body.

As well as bringing extensivebusiness experience to the role, hehas experience in culture and sport inthe Northwest as a former chairmanof the Commonwealth Film Festivaland a former Board member of theNorthwest Cultural Consortium.

A governor of the University ofManchester, he is also a formerBoard member of both the NWDA andthe North West Skills Partnership.

Northern Wayappoints newSenior Advisor

New Head of CultureClaire McColgan, a key figure in Liverpool’s successfulcelebration as European 2008 Capital of Culture, has beenappointed the city’s new Head of Culture.

Currently a Culture Company executive, Claire will joinLiverpool City Council to lead a team of 25 committed tocontinue the ‘legacy’ of 2008.

The aim is to continue to deliver a strong cultural programmefor which the Council has earmarked £4.1 million. Organisations will be invited to bid for funding in 2009.

Leader of Liverpool City Council Warren Bradley says Claire’s track record is “impeccable”.

Anil Ruiato Chairregionalarts council

Professor Michael Parkinson has been appointed as Senior Advisor to the NorthernWay’s Research Programme.

HENSMAN’S NEW ROLEBusinessman Peter Hensman, an NWDABoard member for four years, has beenelected chairman of the Cumbria RuralEnterprise Agency, which provided advice to over 5,000 businesses in the last year.

Chartered accountant Peter is a director ofKendal-based Lake District Estates, a smallgroup of companies involved in tourism,leisure and property in Cumbria, whichincludes the Ravenglass and Eskdale SteamRailway and Ullswater Steamers.

He succeeds Michael Bell, who will continueas deputy chairman.

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NEW NWDA BOARDMEMBERS APPOINTEDThree new Board members – Anne Selby, Lord Peter Smith and John Stageman - have been appointed to the NWDA for a three-year period to December 2011. Current member Brenda Smith has beenre-appointed for another year.

ANNE SELBYAnne Selby, Chief Executive Officer of TheWildlife Trust for Lancashire, Manchesterand Merseyside, has worked in thevoluntary sector for over 20 years.

She has been involved in regional workingfor the last eight years, mainly as a memberof the former North West Regional Assembly,now 4NW, the Regional Leaders Forum for theNorthwest launched in July 2008.

Anne also chairs Envirolink Northwest, apartnership of all environmental voluntarysector organisations in the region and has aseat on the Regional EnvironmentalProtection Advisory Committee (REPAC).

LORD PETER SMITHLeader of Wigan Council since 1991, LordPeter Smith currently chairs both theAssociation of Greater ManchesterAuthorities and the new 4NW RegionalLeaders Forum.

He also chaired its forerunner, the NorthWest Regional Assembly, from 2000-01 andhas been a Manchester Airport boardmember since 1986.

A lecturer in economics and governmentfrom 1969 to 2000, Lord Smith was firstelected to Wigan Council in 1978.

BRENDA SMITHThe former Managing Director and Deputy Chairman of Granada Television, BrendaSmith is now involved in many regional organisations in sectors including education,health and the arts.

A member of the Board of Governors of the University of Manchester and a Boardmember of the Manchester International Festival, she now works in an advisorycapacity to private equity and recruitment consultants.

Brenda is also a Board member of Central Manchester and Manchester Children’sUniversity Hospitals NHS Trust, a member of Tourism England’s Northwest and a non-executive director of Manchester Airport Group.

She has chaired the Regional Marketing Forumsince December 2002.

JOHN STAGEMANJohn Stageman, Vice President of UK ScienceAffairs at AstraZeneca, has recently returnedto the Northwest, and is now based at thecompany’s Alderley Edge site.

John had previously been seconded to the post of General Manager of the Cambridge siteof AstraZeneca’s major biopharmaceuticalsubsidiary company, MedImmune.

A member of the North West Science Councilsince its inception in 2002, and a member ofthe Biotechnology and Biological SciencesResearch Council since May 2008, John is anHonorary Professor in Life Sciences at theUniversity of Manchester.

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FEBRUARY

EVENTS

EVENT HIGHLIGHTS

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For further information www.nwda.co.uk/events

MARCH

BE INSPIRED BUSINESS AWARDS

Lancashire’s premier business competitionWinter Gardens, Blackpool

6MAR

APRIL

CBI NORTH WEST ANNUAL DINNER

Keynote speaker: Richard Lambert,Director General, CBIPalace Hotel, Manchester

1APR

MAY

RICS NORTH WEST AWARDS 2009

Accolades for the best of the built environmentCity of Manchester Stadium

8MAY

GRAND NATIONAL

Annual meeting culminating in world’s beststeeplechaseAintree, Liverpool

2-4APR

GREATER MANCHESTER CHAMBERANNUAL DINNER

Top event in the corporate social calendarManchester Central

30APR

PROWESS ANNUAL INTERNATIONALCONFERENCE 2009

Key event in the women's enterprisesupport calendarImperial Hotel, Blackpool

4-5MAR

ETHNIC MINORITY BUSINESSFORUM

Recognising contribution of black and ethnicminority businesses Old Trafford, Manchester

12MAR

INSTITUTE OF DIRECTORSNORTHWEST ANNUAL CONFERENCE

Inspirational words for the region’sbusiness communityThe Lowry Hotel, Manchester

25MAR

SKILLS NORTHWEST

Region’s largest careers event withdemonstrations from over 70 organisationsBolton Arena, Bolton

3-5FEB

CBI NORTH WEST CUMBRIA DINNER

Keynote speaker: Defence SecretaryJohn HuttonLow Wood Hotel, Windermere

5FEB

CHINESE NEW YEAR DINNER ANDAWARDS

Recognising the achievements of Northwestcompanies doing business with Greater ChinaHaydock Park Racecourse, Merseyside

5FEB

NATIONAL SQUASHCHAMPIONSHIPS

A feast of sporting excellence National Squash Centre, Sportcity,Manchester

9-15FEB

EUROPEAN BADMINTONCHAMPIONSHIPS

Top players from 30 nations share limelightEcho Arena, Liverpool

10-15FEB

LIVERPOOL ART PRIZE

Shortlisted works from competition forprofessional artists born or based in the regionNovas Contemporary Urban Centre, Liverpool

13MAR-1MAY

Skills Northwest – The Bolton Arena willhost the region’s largest careers event

Echo Arena – Venue for the EuropeanBadminton Championships

CHESHIRE POSITIVE BUSINESSAWARDS

Highlighting good corporate performance inemployment of disabled peopleCrewe Alexandra Football Club

20FEB

CUMBRIA ECONOMIC SUMMIT

Reviewing economic progress andconsultation on the new Regional StrategySellafield, Cumbria

20FEB

LANCASHIRE REGIONAL STRATEGYCONSULTATION

First-stage consultation for LancashirestakeholdersGuild Hall, Preston

5MAR

CHESHIRE & WARRINGTONREGIONAL STRATEGY CONSULTATION

First-stage consultation for Cheshire stakeholdersHoliday Inn, Ellesmere Port

11MAR

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GETTING IN TOUCHAt the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA),we value your views and feedback.

Visit www.nwda.co.uk & www.visitenglandsnorthwest.com

KEY CONTACTS

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HEAD OFFICE PO Box 37, Renaissance House,Centre Park, Warrington WA1 1XBTel: +44 (0)1925 400 100Fax: +44 (0)1925 400 400e-mail: information@nwda.co.uk

The NWDA manages alloperations from itsHeadquarters at:

HEAD OFFICE

PRINT STOCK:Cover: Challenger Laser Matt is totally chlorine free and acquired only fromsuppliers operating sustainable forest reserves.

Text: Cyclus offset is manufactured using only 100% recycled post consumer waste.

The NWDA’s ExecutiveTeam are based at itsHeadquarters inWarrington.

STEVEN BROOMHEADChief ExecutiveTel: 01925 400 133Email: Steven.Broomhead@nwda.co.uk

BERNICE LAWChief Operating Officer,(currently on secondment at theLiverpool Culture Company)Tel: 01925 400 532 Email: Bernice.Law@nwda.co.uk

IAN HAYTHORNTHWAITEExecutive Director,ResourcesTel: 01925 400 116Email: Ian.Haythornthwaite@nwda.co.uk

MARK HUGHESExecutive Director,Economic DevelopmentTel: 01925 400 531Email: Mark.Hughes@nwda.co.uk

JAMES BERRESFORDDirector of Tourism Tel: 01925 400 472Email: James.Berresford@nwda.co.uk

PETER MEARNSExecutive Director, Marketing and CommunicationsTel: 01925 400 212Email: Peter.Mearns@nwda.co.uk

FIONA MILLSDirector of Human PerformanceTel: 01925 644 422Email: Fiona.Mills@nwda.co.uk

PATRICK WHITEExecutive Director, Policy and Planning Tel: 01925 400 274Email: Patrick.White@nwda.co.uk

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