Document

315°

THE RDA MAGAZINE OCT 2006 ISSUE 10

TOWERINGAMBITIONSBlackpool bids for regeneration jackpot

New frontiersDaresbury to becomescience hothouse

Media metropolisNew waterfront homefor BBC

Liverpool BiennialArt takes to the streets

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THE THIRD DEGREE

Kevin Anderson

BUSINESS

Daresbury lights up knowledge economy

Smart ideas transform textile industry

Launchpads for young enterprise

Agency fit for purpose

SKILLS AND EDUCATION

Engine of the knowledge economy

New Train to Gain service launched

Academy focus on skills training

PEOPLE AND JOBS

New waterfront home for BBC

Resort sets pace in the casino stakes

Market towns revival

Building a balanced economy

INFRASTRUCTURE

Investment boost for transport network

QUALITY OF LIFE

Biennial celebrates visual culture

On-line festival for young talent

Joining the race for Olympic gold

REGULARS

People in the region

Event highlights

Getting in touch31

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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

Editor Trevor [email protected]

NWDAErica Boardmanemail: [email protected]: 01925 400 217

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

315°

DARESBURY LIGHTS UPKNOWLEDGE ECONOMYInvestment in cutting-edgescientific projects takes on anew significance as theregion’s universities, researchinstitutions and fundingagencies unite to develop thetechnologies that will drivetomorrow’s world.

NEW WATERFRONT HOMEFOR BBCBringing together anexpanded BBC presence withindependent companies andnew media enterprisessignals the birth of a dynamiccutting-edge digital hub atSalford Quays.

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THE RDA MAGAZINE OCT 2006 ISSUE 10

RESORT SETS PACE INTHE CASINO STAKESBlackpool’s ambitious vision totransform itself into a world-classdestination resort, with the UK’sfirst regional casino at its heart.

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substantive alternatives other than casino-led regeneration for Blackpool to address itsneeds. Of course, if the decision is made toincrease the number of casino licencesgranted, then the Agency will also supportManchester's bid.

Hosting the regional casino presents aunique, and unrivalled, opportunity totransform Blackpool from a resort in declineto a resort with a world-class offering.The proposed casino and conference centrewould bring a significant – and much needed– boost to the local economy. An estimated2,500 to 3,400 jobs would be created and afurther £200 million to £450 million of capitalinvestment would be brought into the townas a result.

Winning the regional casino would be asignificant step forward in the drive to createa thriving tourism and leisure economy forBlackpool and its transformation into a21st century world-class destination resort.During this process, the region has been leftin no doubt of Blackpool’s clear sense ofambition. I am convinced that over thecoming weeks, as the Casino Advisory Panelassesses the merits of each bid, it shouldconclude that Blackpool, as the UK’s leadingseaside resort, is the right choice.

Along with everyone in the region, theNWDA was delighted that the Northwestproved to be so successful in the Panel’sshortlist for hosting the regional casino, withstrong bids from Blackpool and Manchesterfeaturing alongside Sefton’s bid for thelarge/small casino category.

The next few months will be critical asthe Advisory Panel reflects on its recentevidence sessions and come to a decisionas to which town or city will be chosen.

Last year, along with the North WestRegional Assembly and Government Officefor the North West, the NWDA commissionedan independent study to examine theeconomic potential of casino developmentin the Northwest. This concluded thatBlackpool was most likely to reap thegreatest overall economic, tourism andregeneration benefits in the region from acasino development. In addition, theRegional Economic Strategy highlights theimplementation of the Blackpool Masterplan,with a casino development at its heart, as akey transformational action.

With only one regional casino planned atthis time, the Agency believes thatBlackpool’s case is overwhelming. The needfor economic and social regeneration inBlackpool is becoming ever more of apriority and it is clear that there are no

CHAIRMAN’S MESSAGE

A NEW BLACKPOOLAs this edition of 315° goes to print, the vision of a‘New Blackpool’, transformed by a new casino development,has been set out to the Casino Advisory Panel, who recentlyvisited the town to examine the merits of the proposal.

Bryan Gray, Chairman,October 2006

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If we are really serious about meetinggovernment targets on carbon emissions weneed to act now. We cannot afford to wait formore nuclear power, and the new technologiesof carbon capture, biofuels and hydrogen.They will not be making any real contributionfor 10, 15 or 20 years. The only area wherethere’s significant opportunity from now to2015 is in demand reduction. This will entailserious changes in our behaviour,particularly in the home, and throughtechnical innovation in the manufacture ofwhite goods and energy systems.

What sort of action would reduce demand?At the moment we walk around the house

in winter in T-shirts expecting our centralheating to keep us warm. Yet if we woreslightly warmer clothes we would notnecessarily have to heat the whole house.Turn the radiator down when you go out,install energy efficient lighting and buy onlyenergy efficient appliances. Households area critical sector in reducing emissions and adifficult nut to crack because it involveschanging deeply ingrained habits.

You recently called for a moratorium onairport expansion. How do you justify that?

Emissions from aviation are currently halfthat of cars but by 2012 they will be levelpegging. Unfortunately there are no low-carbon technologies waiting in the wings asthere are for cars. Unless we are prepared totackle the growth rate in aviation, which isexpanding at 8-10% a year there is almostno hope of reducing our CO2 emissions.We are not telling people they cannot fly, butrather, as a society, we cannot increase howoften we fly. That’s an important distinction.

That’s fairly controversial given the viewthat great aviation hubs like ManchesterAirport make a vital contribution toregional prosperity.

To my knowledge, there is no categoricalevidence to suggest that aviation is very goodfor the local economy. It’s a belief, a faith ifyou like that aviation creates prosperity. Ifyou think about it, more tourism pounds flyout of the Northwest than fly in. Is that agood thing? Wouldn’t it be better if thosepounds were spent in Blackpool and theLake District rather than Barcelona orBerlin? Certainly aviation facilitatesinvestment, but again the jury is out as towhether it stimulates a net flow of moneyinto or out of the region.

What role do you think renewable energyshould play in the Northwest?

All new buildings must have renewablegeneration schemes built into them – theNWDA should make renewable technologiesa condition of grant funding. There should be

a rapid expansion of small, medium andlarge-scale renewable electricity generationacross the region – within towns, cities andindustrial areas as well as in thecountryside. We should incentivise theproduction of energy crops for use inbiofuels and provide R&D support foremergent renewable energy technologies.

What would you like to see from the soon-to-be launched Northwest Climate ChangeAction Plan?

I would like the region to show realleadership on climate change by ensuringthat emissions associated with flights usingour regional airports do not increase. Itcould also set an example by encouraginghigher build standards for new houses anddevising ways of retrofitting existingproperties to make them more resource-efficient. We also need to focus on ways ofgetting people out of their cars and on topublic transport.

Do you practice what you preach?I try to live a relatively low-carbon lifestyle.

I’ve chosen not to have a television, or fridge,and have no freezer or washer. Despite beingon a green electricity tariff and living in anold house, my combined gas and electricitybill is around £200 a year. I travel by trainwhere reasonably possible and haven’t flown,for work or pleasure, for the past 2 years.

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THE THIRD DEGREE

KEVIN ANDERSON

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

Climate change has risen to the top of thepolitical agenda. How would you assess thechallenge facing the Northwest?

Responding to the challenge of climatechange will require innovative andcourageous regional leadership. TheNorthwest has a disproportionate amount ofheavy industry and hence our emissions percapita are high. That arguably makes it moreof a challenge in respect of CO2 emissions.The chemical industry is a major economicasset for the Northwest but a very high userof energy and perhaps it would be fairer ifwe had more of the national target thanother regions because of this reliance onindustry. Nevertheless, if we in theNorthwest are serious about tacklingclimate change there is no escaping theneed for urgent, radical and stringentcarbon-reduction policies.

What are the long-term implications for theregion in terms of weather?

Science says that the Northwest like otherregions is getting warmer and wetter.Between 1861 and 2004 the averageNorthwest temperature rose 0.67°C whilerainfall went up 38%. The July heat wavedemonstrated how unprepared we are forlongish spells of very hot weather. In the1960s we used to get maybe one day a yearlike that, now we get about 10 days and by2050 we will be having significantly more.This could have a big impact on the way welive our lives, the way we work, on ourtransport infrastructure and on our health.

We are also likely to see more heavy andprolonged rain and more disruptive floodingof the kind we experienced recently inGlossop and Carlisle – our infrastructure issimply not designed to cope with thismonsoon-style rainfall.

How should we respond to thisdifferent climate?

Any actions we take in future to develop theregion’s infrastructure, whether it’s buildingnew factories, schools, roads or homes,should take account of the fact that ourclimate is going to be a lot more dynamicthan it has been in recent history. Whilst it islikely to get much warmer, there is a verysmall possibility – if the Gulf stream weakens– the UK could actually get colder. That’squite a design challenge, but one that we canand should respond to. The UK is still buildinghouses in a standard Barratt-type formatwithout a lot of thought for these issues.

That concerns me.

You’re on record saying that demandreduction is the only viable option for meetingthe emissions target. Please explain.

ACTION PLAN FACTFILE‘Rising to the Challenge – A ClimateChange Action Plan for England'sNorthwest’ – aims to help prepare theregion for the challenges of a changingclimate and build the Northwest’sresilience to future energy needs.

� Led by the NWDA, the Action Plan hasbeen developed following extensiveconsultation with a wide range ofregional organisations and experts,including workshops and interviews.

� The Action Plan aims to increaseenergy efficiency, reduce greenhousegas emissions and increase theNorthwest’s low carbon energy supply.

� It will be reviewed every three years,with progress reported annually.

� The final Action Plan will belaunched on 9th November. Visit www.nwda.co.uk/events toregister attendance.

Dr. Kevin Anderson is a leading expert onclimate change and a strong advocate ofhaving aircraft emissions included innational carbon reduction targets. He is Research Director of the TyndallCentre at the University of Manchester, anacademic ‘think tank’ on climate change.

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Sports car maker TVR is to continueproduction of the exclusive brand inBlackpool safeguarding 250manufacturing jobsfollowing efforts byBlackpool BoroughCouncil and theNWDA to retain thecompany in the region.Production will remain at the presentsite until a new factory is built atBlackpool Airport.

UK Biobank, the multi-million poundmedical project aimed at improving theprevention, diagnosis and treatment ofdiseases such as cancer and diabeteshas received the go-ahead to roll out itsprogramme nationwide. Following apilot in Manchester, the protocolreceived backing from internationalscientific and medical experts.

America remained the key source ofinvestment into the Northwest with 45new projects during 2005-06, accordingto figures released bythe NWDA. The 112investments attractedto the region createdor safeguarded 6,800jobs. Successesincluded the expansion of The Bank ofNew York in Manchester and Asahi Glassin Lancashire.

Further economic recovery is expectedin the Northwest with growth improvingfrom just over 2% to more than 2.5% ineach of the years 2007, 2008 and 2009,according to the latest report from theRegional Economic Forecasting Panel,chaired by economist David Coates.

Eleven Northwest organisations,including The Co-operative Group, PirelliTyres, British Transport Police andImpact Development Training Groupcollected Big Tick accolades at Businessin the Community’s 2006 Awards forExcellence. NWDA Chairman Bryan Gray,won the Prince’s Ambassador Award.

Former Ernst & Young managementconsultant Mike Emmerich has beenappointed Chief Executive of ManchesterEnterprises, theeconomic developmentagency for GreaterManchester. He is aformer adviser to boththe Prime Minister’sOffice and HM Treasury.

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Investment in cutting-edge scientificprojects is taking on a new significance asthe region’s universities, researchinstitutions and funding agencies unite todevelop the technologies that will drivetomorrow’s world.

Some of these technologies are expectedto emerge from the flagship DaresburyScience and Innovation Campus where thepioneering interaction of industry,

entrepreneurs, research scientists andengineers promises to provide more fuel forthe knowledge economy.

A masterplan strategy for the campus,currently being worked up by the NorthwestRegional Development Agency (NWDA) andits partners, envisages a huge techno-community stretching from the M56 toDaresbury populated by corporateheadquarters, research institutes, innovationfacilities and grow-on space.

Dr George Baxter, Director of Scienceand Innovation at the Agency, which is

investing £50 million at Daresbury,believes the campus when

fully developed will have apowerful beneficial

effect on the nationaland regional

economy over thenext 10-15 years.

“It has everything going for it,” he says.“It’s in the heart of the countryside, close tothe M56, only a few miles from ManchesterAirport and over time could provide millionsof square feet in a 21st century setting.”

The complex is already proving popularwith small companies and technology-drivenentrepreneurs. The Daresbury InnovationCentre – one of two new buildings on the siteprovided by the NWDA – has attracted 24tenants since it was opened one year ago andexpects to be full by the middle of next year.

BEACON OF EXCELLENCEThe government recently singled out

Daresbury as one of two strategicallyimportant science campuses where it willpartner business and the universities in adrive to use advanced technologies tosharpen the UK’s global competitiveness.

Science Minister Lord Sainsbury formallyannounced the ‘dipole’ model of two campuses– the other is Harwell in Oxfordshire –when he visited Daresbury in September toofficially open the new campus and theCockcroft Institute, a centre of excellence inaccelerator science. Here, he praised HaltonBorough Council’s support for the campus.

Dr Baxter regards the Institute as the firstmajor component in the grand plan to makeDaresbury an international beacon of scientificexcellence. “It wonderfully demonstratesthat the only way to win these big projects isby collaboration between key partners.”

Three regional universities, Manchester,Liverpool and Lancaster, joined forces withthe NWDA and Central Laboratory of theResearch Councils (CCLRC) to successfullybid for the Institute, edging out London andOxford. It is named after Nobel LaureateSir John Cockcroft who was born in theNorthwest and is regarded as the pioneer ofmodern accelerator research.

Headed by particle physicist ProfessorJohn Dainton, the Institute will have an

educational as well as a fundamentalresearch role. It has been established withan initial investment of £27 million including£10 million from the NWDA and is expectedto attract internationally-renown scientists.

Two research bodies, CCLRC and theParticle and Astronomy Research Council(PPARC) are also partners in a venture thatwill tackle the challenges that scientists andengineers will face in building the nextgeneration of particle accelerators.

Accelerator science is a multi-billionpound global industry with large numbersof new facilities being designed and built.

These machines probe and manipulateultra-small structures and their use inresearch can produce beneficial spin-offs formedicine, high-tech manufacture such asexploiting new materials, and improvingconsumer and waste technologies.

The two national campuses are lookingfor investment partners to realise their fullpotential. Daresbury is taking a differentapproach to Harwell by forming a limitedcompany partnership to run the site madeup of the NWDA, three universities(Manchester, Liverpool and Lancaster),Halton Borough Council and CCLRC.

“The six partners have set up a company

to manage the site and we are looking for apreferred developer or major investor whohas pockets deep enough to work with us forthe next 10-15 years,” explains Dr. Baxter.

“In the medium term we have land toprovide another ten buildings totalling500,000 sq ft, with much more than thatover a longer period,” adds Dr. Baxter.He envisages as many as 10,000 peopleworking in the techno-community overtime, compared to the current 800.

For further information: email: [email protected]: 01925 400 100 www.nwda.co.uk

Campus know-how – Lord Sainsbury atthe opening of the Daresbury Campus

DARESBURY LIGHTS UP KNOWLEDGE ECONOMY

“IT WONDERFULLYDEMONSTRATES THAT THE ONLYWAY TO WIN THESE BIG PROJECTSIS BY COLLABORATION BETWEENKEY PARTNERS.”

DR GEORGE BAXTERDIRECTOR OF SCIENCE AND

INNOVATION,NWDA

SCIENCE LINK TO PROSPERITYThe Northwest is a hotbed of scientificdiscovery with researchers pushingforward the frontiers in medicine, newmaterials, digital communications andlow-carbon technologies.

Many of the projects being developed inthe region’s universities and researchinstitutes have won funding support fromthe NWDA because of their strategicimportance to the regional economy.

Dr George Baxter, the NWDA’s Directorof Science and Innovation, puts the Agency’slevel of science-related investment at nearly£240 million over the past four years.Projects receiving recent support include:

Core Technology Facility (CTF):a £25 million centre at the Universityof Manchester where young businessescan work alongside researcherspioneering new treatments for a widerange of diseases including replacementtissue and even whole organs.

Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine:a new £18 million Centre for Tropical andInfectious Disease will develop new medicinesto defeat malaria and other deadly diseases,which could go into production locally.

Joule Centre for Energy Research:the region’s first centre for the development ofsustainable energy technologies. The £10million project will look at areas of low-carbonpower generation and improving energyefficiency in the home and industry.

Five university-industry partnerships have alsosecured awards from the £15 millionNorthwest Science Fund.

Fighting disease – Work has started on thisnew Liverpool School ofTropical Medicine facility

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Much of the raw material needed toproduce these vital components is producedat the Runcorn factory of Sigmatex, now oneof the world’s largest converters of carbonfibre into carbon fabric, a composite that isfast replacing fibre glass as the strong,lightweight material of choice.

“The carbon composite market continuesto grow,” explains business developmentmanager Stephen Philipson.

“Carbon fabrics are used in a vast rangeof applications over and above aerospace,including car interiors, body panels andchassis, the manufacture of yachts andcatamarans, sports equipment and in theconstruction industry for bridge building andinfrastructure repair.”

Sigmatex also supply a major proportion ofthe carbon fibre fabric used to build FormulaOne cars.

Composites like carbon fabric are just oneof a new breed of technical textiles, orAdvanced Flexible Materials (AFM), that arehelping the Northwest to build on itsreputation as the hub of the UK textile industry.

“An advanced flexible material is onewhere its properties and performance are ofmore importance than its appearance,”explains Bill Mills, Director of NWTexnet, theorganisation set up with the support of theNorthwest Regional Development Agency todeliver the cluster development programme

SMART IDEASTRANSFORM

TEXTILE INDUSTRY

Next time you glance out of the window as you cruiseat 30,000 feet consider this: it’s not just the plane’s

seat covers and carpets that are made from what youmight think of as ‘textiles’ but far more integral partsof the aircraft too, from the wing flaps to tail fins and

quite possibly the undercarriage doors.

in the region’s growth sectors. “And these arethe future for the industry in the Northwest.”

The industry employs some 28,000 people,12,000 in the AFM sector, and such havebeen the advances in textile-relatedmanufacturing that it’s now clustered withinthe Advanced Engineering and Materialssector, along with aerospace, automotiveand chemicals.

CLEVER CLOTHThis is reflected in the development of

SMART textiles, fabrics that can quiteliterally think for themselves, such as the‘electronically-active textiles’ developed atthe University of Manchester. Now marketedunder the SmartLife name, one of their firstapplications is a simple vest, woven withelectrodes inside the fibres.

This means it is possible to monitor thebody’s vital signs, with the electrodessending data about the wearer’stemperature, breathing patterns and heartrate to a remote computer.

Initially the company are focusing onhelping athletes to improve their performance,and applications for the emergency services,where it is important to know how close anindividual is to their tolerance thresholds.But the biggest potential application ismedical, where monitors in the vest canwarn patients if they are about to suffer astroke or other medical episode.

There is a smart element to some of themore traditional clothing being developed inthe region too, and clothing technologists atManchester Metropolitan University (MMU)have worked with PUMA to develop a newstrip for the Italian football team.

The shirt uses a groundbreaking ‘rip-stop’fabric, which has limited stretch andprevents shirt pulling. MMU has alsodeveloped a gel suit in the form of a threelayer tracksuit, which cools muscles in hotand humid conditions.

MEDICAL MARVELSMedical textiles are another area where

the Northwest excels. One local company,Winsford-based Advanced Medical Solutions,has retained a manufacturing base in theregion, and produces innovative newmaterials including an alginate dressingwoven from fibres extracted from seaweed,with an additional silver coated nylon strandrunning through it.

Known as an advanced wound care dressing,the product has an additional silver coatednylon strand running through it that helpsthe skin heal without leaving a scar. While itmay represent the cutting edge of ‘textile’technology, its production still relies on thetraditional skills of spinning and carding.

As research and development managerRichard Freeman explains, the product is setto become a weapon in the war against

superbugs like MRSA. “What we’ve been done is incorporate an

active ingredient to make the dressing muchmore effective. Silver is a very potent anti-microbial that’s been around for thousandsof years and there’s little or no recordedevidence of any bacterial resistance to it.”

GOOD HEALTHThe Northwest now produces around

40% of the UK’s output of Advanced FlexibleMaterials, and the level of innovationcontinues to grow. Staff at the University ofManchester, for instance, have developeda new system of 3D weaving, whileBurnley based Panaz are marketing an anti-bacterial fabric for use as screens andcurtains in hospitals that can help stop thespread of infection.

Bill Mills is confident that with this levelof creativity and ingenuity, the industry hasa healthy future. “Of course the sector hasmoved on from the days of traditional,processing,” he says, “but the fact that somany companies have adapted, changed andinnovated is testimony to their durability.”

For further information:email: [email protected] tel: 01204 374840www.nwtexnet.co.uk

CAMPUS KNOW-HOWThe Centre for Materials Research and

Innovation at the University of Bolton is oneof the leading international developmentcentres for auxetics, a unique type ofmaterial that gets fatter rather than thinnerwhen stretched.

This extraordinary quality means auxeticsoffer a huge but as yet largely untappedpotential, especially in areas such asindentation and energy absorption.

So far applications have ranged fromcushioning in Ministry of Defence vehicles tohelping combat river bank erosion, but other

possible uses include protective clothingsuch as bullet-proof vests and crashhelmets, and biomedical applications,including replacement blood vessels, drug-delivery materials and anti-ageingtreatments. Researchers are also trying todevelop the perfect mattress.

The University has also led research intohigh technology areas such as geotextilesfor the construction industry and filtrationmaterials, while the healthcare industryhas benefited from the University’s researchinto medical textiles, particularly a newsingle-layer compression bandage fortreating leg ulcers.

Cutting edge technology – auxeticmaterial in honeycomb form

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“WE ARE RESPONDING TO WHAT OURPARTNERS WANT US TO DO ANDMAKING SURE THEY KNOW WHO TOCOME TO WITHIN THE AGENCY FORALL SUB-REGIONAL INVESTMENT ANDSTRATEGIC PLANNING DECISIONS. ”

BERNICE LAWCHIEF OPERATING OFFICER,

DEPUTY CHIEF EXECUTIVE,NWDA

For further information:www.nwda.co.uk

Patrick White, a former Cabinet Office civilservant who joined the NWDA from theNational RDA Secretariat, heads up a newDirectorate of Policy and Partnerships with awide-ranging remit that includes monitoringdelivery of the RES, social inclusion, health,research and European policy. Importantly,Patrick’s team will be responsible forstrengthening the Agency’s policy function bydeveloping regional policy and influencingnational government policy.

Establishing good relationships with sub-regional partners is another critical area ofresponsibility and each sub-regionalpartnership and local authority has beengiven a named point of contact within thePolicy & Partnerships team.

NEW TEAM“We are responding to what our partners

want us to do and making sure they knowwho to come to within the Agency for all sub-regional investment and strategic planningdecisions,” says Bernice.

Important changes have also been madeto the way the NWDA develops and deliversprojects and programmes. Two new teamshave been created – one to develop projects,and one to ensure delivery, a radicaldeparture from previous practice.

“Although they are doing different jobs, theycannot do them in isolation of each other, sothey will work alongside each other to ensurethat we deliver things on time and on budgetand in the way we envisaged,” she adds.

Projects will be evaluated and worked upto approval stage by a Development teamheaded by Paul Lakin, located within anexpanded Directorate of Infrastructure andDevelopment led by Peter White.

Once approved, projects will be passedover to the Operations Directorate, led byBernice Law, for delivery by a team skilled inareas such as construction, regeneration andremediation of brownfield land.

Alongside them will be a number ofspecialist project managers who will deal withmore complex Agency-owned projects suchas Daresbury International Science Park andKingsway Business Park in Rochdale. The twogroups will work under a new Director ofProgramme, Dave Perkins.

The changes, says Bernice, are aimed at“increasing our effectiveness, getting ourpolicy input right, getting the right projectsto bring about transformational change,delivering them on time and ensuring wespend our money efficiently…”

For further information: www.nwda.co.uk

Specialist teams have been establishedto strengthen policy-making, sharpenproject development and programme delivery,and improve co-ordination with sub-regional partners.

The Agency has introduced a number ofkey roles to implement the changes and istaking a proactive stance to influence thegovernment’s 2007 Comprehensive SpendingReview, which has wide implications forfuture public investment in the region.

Explaining why the restructuring wasnecessary Bernice Law, the NWDA’s newly-designated Chief Operating Officer, said theAgency wanted an organisation that was“fit for purpose” to deliver the 2006-2009Regional Economic Strategy (RES).

The RES is the action blueprint that willdrive the region’s economic growth over thenext three years. It contains 122 priorities foraction, 45 of which are deemed‘transformational’.

“We are very proud of the RES,” saysBernice. “It’s very focused on what the regionhas to do to narrow the £13 billion output gapwith the rest of England and the Agencywants to ensure it has the right staffingstructure to achieve our part of that.”

The Agency aims to improve its corporateeffectiveness through the creation of two newDirectorates and a strengthening of theOperations Directorate.

Building for the future – NWDA headquarters in Warrington

Award winner – Ben Black of Xodus with YENW Chief Executive Chris Curry

Graduate enterprise – Emma Pattison with some of her soft furnishings

AGENCYFIT FOR

PURPOSE

The region’s push for increased prosperity is being given a fresh impetusfollowing the introduction of business-style organisational and operationalchanges within the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA).

More business-supported initiatives areunder way across the Northwest to developthe entrepreneurial talents of youngpeople, a critical element in the drive toimprove the region’s performance in newcompany formation.

Organisations like Young EnterpriseNorthwest (YENW) are showing the wayforward with a range of programmes thatpromote ‘learning by doing’, equipping youngpeople with the skills needed to enter theworld of business.

Students from Manchester GrammarSchool (MGS) demonstrated the value of thiswork by edging out five other schools to win

the top award in the regional final of theeducational charity’ s Young EnterpriseAwards competition.

The MGS group started up their venture -‘Xodus’ - as part of YENW’s CompanyProgramme, which enables young people torun their own business over one academicyear. They elect a board of directors, sellshares, design their own products andservices and market them.

The winning company, which representedthe Greater Manchester Area, designed andproduced a bath alarm for the visuallyimpaired, which prevents bath overflows bymonitoring water levels.

Ben Black, Managing Director of Xodus,said the students wanted to come up withsomething that would work and would sell inthe real world. “We have learnt so muchfrom being involved in the programme. It’sall the things that you don’t learn in theclassroom but will need in future life.”

The award ceremony was hosted byLancaster University Management Schooland sponsored by the Northwest RegionalDevelopment Agency (NWDA).

“One of our key priorities is to buildentrepreneurship, by working with schoolsto develop the creativity, drive and motivationto succeed in business, ” said NWDA ChiefExecutive Steven Broomhead.

The region has also hosted the first FlyingStart event organised by the Royal Society ofArts and National Council for GraduateEntrepreneurship which is solely focused onthe creative industries.

Sixty students and graduates, including 11 from the Northwest, joined a three-daypractical business readiness course atManchester Metropolitan University (MMU)to learn how to take their ideas off thedrawing board and into realty.

BUSINESS MENTORThey included Abby Flier who wants

to set up a business selling her owndistinctive range of 60’s inspired jewelleryand Emma Pattison who has developed aline of bespoke soft furnishings. Both areMMU graduates.

Each of those chosen to attend the coursehas been assigned an experienced businessmentor for 12 months to advise them on thepracticalities of starting their owncompanies. They will compete for a £15,000cash prize, which is to be awarded inJanuary by the RSA.

Programme Director Dr Lorna Collins saysthe aim of Flying Start is to help moregraduate start-ups reach the trading stage.“We have 3,000 doing the on-line generalbusiness programme but only 7% of themare trading. That’s too low.”

The NWDA plans to keep the bandwagonrolling by supporting a number of region-wide activities leading up to and duringEnterprise Week, a national celebration ofenterprise aimed at 14 to 25 year-olds, thefuture key to the region’s economic growth.

Five hundred youngsters will be givenhot tips on how to succeed in business atthe ‘Next Big Thing’ at Manchester’sPrintworks (Nov 16), an event sponsored bythe NWDA in partnership with the Instituteof Directors and the Greater ManchesterChamber of Commerce.

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LAUNCHPADS FOR YOUNGENTERPRISE

For further information:www.youngenterprisenw.org

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Trade SecretaryAlistair Darling hasreaffirmed publicsupport for aproposed multi-campus Universityfor Cumbria,headquartered in Carlisle. It will open inSeptember 2007 with 15,000 studentsrising to 20,000 within ten years.

Funding is being provided by the NuclearDecommissioning Authority (NDA) tosupport a number of post-graduatescholarships for part-time industry basedstudents on Lancaster University’s MSccourse in Decommissioning andEnvironmental Clean-up.

Researchers at the University of Salfordhave devised a new interactive computergame that teaches children aboutdesigning and constructing buildings.The software is beingrolled out in UKschools with thesupport of theuniversity’s AcademicEnterprise divisionwith the object ofencouraging children to consider careersin the construction industry.

Young visitors to this year’s SkillsNorthwest show at G-MEX, Manchester,(14-16 Nov) will be able to interact withpotential career and training advisers.The show will be segmented into zonesthemed to reflect the sector-based skillneeds of the regional economy.

Plans to build a new £23.5 million designacademy forLiverpool JohnMoores Universityalongside theMetropolitanCathedral moved astage closer after theMerseyside Objective One programmeapproved a £2.5 million grant.

Schools in Wigan and Manchester are topilot a new interactive online resourcethat will help teachers interest moreyoung people in manufacturing andimprove the grades of students takingmanufacturing as a GSCE subject.Teachers are working with TheManufacturing Institute to developcontent prior to its launch in January.

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How can universities gain a competitiveadvantage in a crowded marketplace forhigher education? Professor John Brooks,newly installed as Vice-Chancellor ofManchester Metropolitan University (MMU),has a clear view of how his institutionshould be selling itself.

“We are positioning ourselves as theprofessional university of and for the regionwith a strong commitment to vocationaleducation and postgraduate study, “he explains.

MMU believes that with 50% of 18-year-oldsgoing to university an undergraduate degreewill no longer be sufficient to give them theedge in the world or careers and employment.

Differentiation, observes Professor Brooks,is more likely to come in postgraduate studyand life-long learning.

“Most of our graduates will retrain two orthree times during their working life and,therefore, we want to place a lot moreemphasis on post-professional and postgraduate study and make sure we arerecognised as world-class in that provision.”

Of the 33,000 students at MMU, 9,000 areeither postgraduate or post professional.It has the highest number of professionallyaccredited courses of any university and hasa reputation for providing education andtraining for many of the public sectorprofessions across the region.

FLEXIBLE DELIVERYThe university is regarded as a vital cog in

the knowledge economy providing the regionwith business managers, scientists,engineers, teachers, nurses, architects,lawyers and many of those who work in thecreative industries. Nearly 70% of graduatesstay and work in the Northwest.

Increased collaboration with employerswill be a cornerstone in the drive to grow thepost-professional, post-graduate market.Undergraduate numbers will be held steadyand there will be greater focus on bespokeprogrammes, new flexible modes ofteaching including more in-company and on-line delivery.

Increasing research funding is acontentious issue for the Vice-Chancellor andhis team. MMU has 300 active research staffat a nationally excellent level but receives only£5 million from the Higher Education FundingCouncil for England (HEFCE).

“One aspiration we have is to see thatincrease but that is incredibly difficult,”explains Professor Brooks. “Research incomeis governed by the Research AssessmentExercise (RAE) which is designed to reinforcethe top 20 universities.

“We will improve our grades in the nextassessment in 2007 but whether we willimprove our funding is debatable.”

ENGINE OF THEKNOWLEDGEECONOMY

The university has strengthened its researchbase ahead of the next RAE by appointing sixnew professors and five senior researchers.

Professor Brooks argues that channellingmore money to aspirant research centres likeMMU is likely to have a bigger impact onregional and UK economic performance thanthe present narrow focus on the research-intensive universities.

MORE INDUSTRY LINKSMMU has positioned itself as a research-

informed teaching institution and can claimnational recognition for a range of researchdisciplines from chemistry/materials and foodscience to art and design and sport science.

“The research we engage in is of and forour region and has to have an economic andsocial value, rather than being purely interestdriven,” says Professor Brooks who aims todevelop more interaction with industry andorganisations like the Northwest RegionalDevelopment Agency (NWDA).

A good example is the work ProfessorPeter Kelly’s surface engineering group isdoing with St. Helen-based Pilkington Glassto develop special energy-saving coatings,which can be used to reduce heat loss fromcars and homes.

A team led by Professor David Raper of MMU’s

Centre for Air Transport and the Environmentis also playing a lead role in Project OMEGA,a £5 million government-funded initiative toassess the challenges that aviation industriesmust overcome in the next 50 years.

IMPROVING ACCESSThe university has a powerful economic

influence on the region. It has a turnover ofnearly £200 million, employs 3,500 staff andcontributes £700 million into the local economy.

Student applications are a measure of itspopularity. Last year 50,000 students appliedfor the 9,000 places on offer making it thefourth most popular university in the UK.

Access and widening participation are keypriorities and Professor Brooks is particularlyproud of the fact that MMU takes morestudents from disadvantaged backgroundsthan any other UK university.

MMU is also demonstrating a growing rolein regeneration. At Crewe it plans to developa community campus in a reciprocalarrangement with the town and county councilsto provide a 50-metre swimming pool, 12-court sports hall and performance space.

For further information: email: [email protected]: Marion Burge 0161 247 2192 www.mmu.ac.uk

MMU intends to modernise its facilitiesover the next seven years rationalising itsseven campuses to three (All Saints,Didsbury and Crewe), a strategy that willinvolve £300 million in capital expenditure.

One project in the development stage willinvolve building a glass and steel ‘PublicPavilion’ in Grosvenor Square that willembrace performance exhibition, collection,conservation and creativity.

The structure will provide a physical linkbetween a number of iconic locationsincluding the Municipal School of Art, the

existing Capitol Theatre, Chorlton- upon-Medlock Town Hall and the HoldenGallery, with a view to promotingManchester as an international Centreof Excellence for fashion and textile design.

Other schemes in the pipelinefor All Saints include a newBusiness School, a new HollingsCollege campus, which will focuson food and clothingtechnology, and a new studentlearning centre.

Wired up – testing time at the Institutefor Human Movement, MMU Cheshire

Modern image – the Sandra BurslemBuilding houses MMU’s School of Law

Rising ambition – the refurbished John

Dalton Building

“THE RESEARCH WE ENGAGE IN ISOF, AND FOR, OUR REGION AND HASTO HAVE AN ECONOMIC AND SOCIALVALUE, RATHER THAN BEINGPURELY INTEREST DRIVEN.”

PROFESSOR JOHN BROOKSVICE-CHANCELLOR,

MANCHESTER METROPOLITANUNIVERSITY

CAMPUS INVESTMENT PLAN

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Managing director Brian Parnell lookedbeyond the bottom line when he decided toinvest in training. As head of a companywith 25 employees, he assessed the long-term benefits of a workforce skilled in‘lean manufacture’ against the short-termdifficulties of losing man-hours to training.

As MD of Preston Technical Ltd, whichoperates in the rubber and plastics sector,he is taking advantage of a new flagshipservice, Train to Gain.

Designed to help businesses identify theirworkforce training needs, Train to Gain willthen link them with appropriate trainingproviders across the region.

The aim of the new service is to create astep-change in the number of businessesstarting up in the Northwest and increasethe number accessing support. It will alsohave an increased focus on sectors andbusinesses displaying the greatest growthpotential for the regional economy, as setout in the Regional Economic Strategy.

LONG TERM INVESTMENTThe Northwest Regional Development

Agency (NWDA), along with the existingBusiness Link suppliers, have been chosenby the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) todeliver the service across the region.

Brian Parnell says his Business Link adviser

gave him information about ETP at a time whenhe was considering business improvementtechniques geared to ‘lean manufacture’.

“Releasing people for training is not easyin a small business but we looked at it as along term investment,” he says. “It did affectour profits in the last financial year but it hasmade a huge difference to a lot of people.They have had exposure to our objectivesand two people are going on to take an NVQLevel III.”

Kirsty Evans, LSC Skills DevelopmentDirector – Train to Gain, says it’s abouthelping employers to look at how trainingcan help them grow and be competitive.“Once we have identified their needs, we cantake the hassle out of finding a solution byputting together a relevant training package.”

HIGH STANDARDSMany small employers, she says, view

training as a cost rather than an investment.“We appreciate there are costs involved andin some cases we can make a contributiontowards those costs.”

Steven Broomhead, Chief Executive of theNWDA, says: “We are confident that we willdeliver a service that ensures the higheststandard of quality and support forbusinesses across the Northwest.”

He says the choice of the Agency as thepreferred provider of the new service, reinforces

A number of key growth sectors in theNorthwest are set to benefit from thegovernment’s new National SkillsAcademies (NSA) initiative.

The employer-driven academies for post-16 students aim to be world-class centresof excellence established to deliver theskills required by major industry sectors ofthe economy.

Employers are being asked to support theacademies financially alongside thegovernment, which plans to invest bothcapital and revenue funding.

The first wave will consist of four academies.A centre of excellence for the food and drink

industry (dairy) is to be established atReaseheath College, Crewe, and others willfocus on construction and manufacturing aswell as financial services, where over320,000 people are employed in the region.The Northwest Regional Development Agency(NWDA) is working closely with all four.

With a shop-front centre in Manchester,the financial services academy, which aimsto transform the quality of education andtraining in the sector, is scheduled to open forbusiness in November.

Lucy Courtenay, Standards andAccreditation Director of the FinancialServices Skills Council (FSSC) says: “In theNorthwest we have had strong employerinput through our members and partners,as well as via our regional workshops.

“The NWDA and the Learning and SkillsCouncil (LSC) have been very supportive andultimately we aim to extend the academy’scoverage across the whole region.” The mainlocations are expected to be Manchester,Merseyside and Chester.

TAILORED CURRICULAFran Hulbert, Director of Skills Policy for

NWDA says: “We welcome the opportunity toinfluence and support skills academies asone high-profile measure that ensuresemployers help to create a more competent,well-equipped and effective workforce.

“They also aim to match skillsdevelopments to current and emergingemployment trends and raise the importanceof vocational skills.”

Graham Fisher, Skills DevelopmentDirector for the LSC in the region, says:“Financial services is one of the mostregulated sectors and the right skills arecritical for employers. At the moment, manyemployees join the sector after training orexperience in business administration, andthe academy would aim to address the needfor more specialist financial training.”

The academies will deliver training viaspecially tailored curricula, using existing

colleges and private training providerswhere possible.

Plans for the construction academy includeproposals to deliver some training onexisting sites in the Northwest, rather thancreating a new facility.

The need for specialist training ishighlighted by Construction for MerseysideLtd (CFM), the initiative launched in Marchto tackle skills shortages in the industry.

Although around 40,000 people areemployed in construction in the area, it isestimated up to 3,000 new employees willbe needed per year over the next five to10 years to complete existing projects ontime and on budget.

Chief Executive of CFM Guy Lawsonsays: “There is a good influx into the industrybut few courses provide site experiencewhich is essential.”

CFM is supported by £700,000 of publicfunding, including £180,000 from the NWDA.

The government aims to have 12academies in place by 2008. The prototype,the Fashion Retail Academy, opened tostudents last September and is sponsored bythe Arcadia Group, Marks & Spencer, Nextand Great Universal Stores.

For further information: email: [email protected]: 01925 644220

ACADEMY FOCUS ONSKILLS TRAINING


the recent NWDA Board decision to establisha new Business Link delivery service througha single regional supplier in April 2007.

“We are determined to ensure clear andintegrated services to business,” he says.“This will also help us to support thegovernment’s national strategy to simplifybusiness support services.”

Businesses who want help to identify theirtraining needs and source the solutionsshould contact the Business Link Train toGain helpline on 0845 602 0062.

For further information: tel: 0845 602 0062www.traintogain.gov.uk

Staff development – training helpscompany competitiveness

Back to the classroom – in-housetraining at Preston Technical

“WE ARE CONFIDENT THAT WEWILL DELIVER A SERVICE THATENSURES THE HIGHESTSTANDARD OF QUALITY ANDSUPPORT FOR BUSINESSESACROSS THE NORTHWEST.”

STEVEN BROOMHEADCHIEF EXECUTIVE,

NWDA

TRAIN TO GAINSERVICE LAUNCHED

Sharp focus – beefing up construction skills

Production agenda – academy for manufacturing

Adding value – academy for financial services

Well prepared – food and drinksector is an early winner

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Progressive developer Priority Sites isworking with the NWDA and LiverpoolLand DevelopmentCompany on theDakota BusinessPark scheme nearLiverpool JohnLennon Airport, aproject that will create 165 jobs whencompleted in 2007.

Widnes waterfront is to be transformedinto a prime business location after theNorthwest Regional DevelopmentAgency approved funding of £5.6 millionfor the scheme. The investment is partof a wider masterplan that will create2,700 new jobs over the next six years.

Work has started on a £5 millionbusiness centre opposite Nelson TownHall, which is expected to bring 300 jobsto the Lancashire town. Part-funded bythe NWDA and built by local propertydeveloper Barnfield Construction, the49,000 sq ft scheme is expected to beready by October 2007.

Organisations representing Northwestregeneration professionals are to pooltheir expertise in a new drive to improvethe skills andknowledge needed todevelop sustainablecommunities. Theinitiative, the first ofits kind in the UK, hasbeen arranged by RENEW Northwest.

Leaders of Merseyside’s Objective Oneprogramme have approved funding of£1.2 million to kick start work onEnglish Partnerships’ Lea Green FarmWest development on the edge ofSt. Helens town centre, a business parkscheme that could create 130 jobs.

Rural businesses in Cumbria, Cheshireand Lancashire are being offered freeadvice and assistanceon developmentproposals andplanning applicationsfor another threeyears after the NWDAdecided to extend the Rural PlanningService to assist rural diversification.

NEWS

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PEOPLE AND JOBS

A futuristic plan to build a ‘media city’,anchored by the BBC on the banks of theManchester Ship Canal, cleared its firstmajor hurdle when the Salford-basedconsortium behind the proposal wasawarded preferred developer status.

Located on 200 acres of former docklandat Salford Quays, the project will bringtogether a greatly expanded BBC presencewith independent companies and new mediaenterprises to create a dynamic cutting-edgedigital hub rivalling the new media citiessuch as Seoul, Leipzig and Dubai can offer.

The £350 million first phase includesconstruction of two BBC buildings, themost modern broadcast studio complex inBritain that can be shared with other usersand a purpose-built recording studio for theBBC Philharmonic.

mediacity:uk will also deliver a demand-led media skills institute and a mediaresearch academy that will allow collaborativeinteraction between media producers anduniversities across the North of England.

The consortium is stressing the project’simportance as a major media hub for thewhole of the North, not just the Northwest.

Salford City Council, a consortium partneralong with Peel Holdings and Central SalfordUrban Regeneration Company, hopes themediacity:uk project will benefit the city’s

disadvantaged communities. The widerdevelopment will include a new City Academy.

The main BBC building will be a landmarkstructure built fronting a scallop-shapedpiazza opposite two other modern waterfronticons – the Lowry Centre and Daniel Libeskind’sImperial War Museum North, now dubbed byCity Council Chief Executive Barbara Spicer,as the Manchester city region’s ‘Three Graces’.

Confirming in July that mediacity:uk wastheir preferred choice for the BBC’s moveNorth in 2010, the Governors indicated that afinal decision will be based on affordability ofthe project and a satisfactory outcome to thelicence fee negotiations later this year.

DELIVERY PLEDGEThe BBC has already approved the

transfer of eight departments and 1,500 highquality jobs from London to Manchester.Those making the move include BBC Sport,Children’s BBC (two digital channels), RadioFive Live, Five Live Extra and Research andDevelopment.

Developers Peel Holdings, the biggestinvestor in the project, is in the process ofappointing architects for the BBC building andhas gone out to tender for a studio operator.

Felicity Goodey, Chair of Central SalfordUrban Regeneration Company, said theconsortium was moving fast to get the

project in a higher state of preparedness.“We cannot take our foot off the

accelerator. If we were to wait for all theuncertainty to be removed we would loseseveral months of valuable planning time.We have pledged to complete the allimportant first phase by 2010 and we intendto deliver on that.”

The Northwest Regional DevelopmentAgency (NWDA) has indicated it willcommit funding of £30 million for basicinfrastructure works on the site – theformer No 9 dock – because of itsimportance as a powerful driver of theregion’s creative industries sector.

It is also working with the other twoNorthern RDAs (Yorkshire Forward and OneNorthEast) to develop mechanisms thatmaximise mediacity:uk’s potential to benefitcreative and digital businesses across theNorth of England.

The consortium claims the project willcreate employment opportunities for 15,500people, will be home to 1,150 creative andrelated businesses, support 1,500 traineeposts a year and add £225 million a year innet value to the regional economy.

NWDA Chairman Bryan Gray, who chairsthe steering committee set up to co-ordinatethe project, says the BBC’s decision “is asignificant step forward in achieving an

ambitious vision of a world-class mediaenterprise zone in Greater Manchester.”

METROLINK STATIONWhen the winning consortium unveiled

details of its proposals in May it painted apicture of the BBC relocation being thecatalyst for an explosion of innovative newmedia enterprises nurtured to reality inaffordable space in a clean safe andattractive environment.

An early work-up of the scheme envisagesa floating performance space, public mediazones, video wall and an interactive digitalinfrastructure built into the fabric of thestreets and architecture. A new Metrolinkstation and track extension will be built toserve the site.

Landowner Peel Holdings has earmarked39 of the 200 acres of the scheme for thedevelopment’s first phase, which includes astrong commercial and social elementcomprising high quality offices, 200apartments, a 200-bed hotel, new nicheretail outlets, restaurants, health club,multi-storey car park, NHS walk-in centreand crèche.

Peel also has plans to develop an adjoining50-acre site known as the Broadway MediaPark to house those companies wishing toco-locate alongside the BBC complex.

NEW WATERFRONTHOME FOR BBC

The park will come on stream as the BBCcomplete their move to the main site in 2010.

Talks are well advanced with a number ofsmall independents that want to invest in theclustering potential of mediacity:uk.“They are showing tremendous interest inthe project”, says Felicity Goodey. Theconsortium is also in contact with otherbroadcasters about setting up productionfacilities on the Quays.

n A state of the art commercially-runbroadcast studio and a wide range ofpost production facilities

n Media research academy bringingtogether 15 North of Englanduniversities

n Media skills institute, led by industryprofessionals, with training coursesacross the North

n Media enterprise centre offering awide range of practical support to theindependent sector

n Huge range of affordable, flexible spacefor large and small independents

Other parts of the jigsaw include a five-acre waterfront piazza suitable for outsidebroadcasts and a footbridge to the ImperialWar Museum North.

For further information: www.mediacityuk.co.uk

MEDIACITY FACTFILE

Standing out – the BBC will be housed in aniconic waterfront building

The project will place the Northwest in the vanguard of the global media industry.The first phase will have a number of media-related components including:

mediacity:uk – a visual impression of the £350 million scheme

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The opening lines of Marriott Edgar’s Albertand The Lion still ring true, of course, butthe resort will have a new claim to fame if ithits the jackpot and becomes home to theUK’s first regional casino.

If Blackpool is successful, the town will betransformed into a world-class resortdestination, attracting visitors and conferencedelegates from across the UK and Europe.

After a study of the seven shortlistedtowns and cities bidding for the licence, theCasino Advisory Panel (CAP) will make itsrecommendations to the government by theend of the year and a final decision isexpected early in 2007.

In its July report, after an initial study ofthe bids, the CAP placed bookies-favouriteBlackpool in the top three, behind Glasgowand London’s Millennium Dome.

But in the key category of “need forregeneration”, which the government hasemphasised is a vital component of bringingLas Vegas-style gambling to the UK,Blackpool was the only town to score nineout of ten – a clear reflection of the need tosecure the town’s future.

The resort, first visited in the 18th centuryby landed gentry wishing to take the waters,recognises that the regional casino wouldbring massive benefits and act as acornerstone of its £1.4 billion masterplan.

For as well as aiming to make theseaside town – which 20 years ago attracted17 million visitors each year – once more“a great place to visit”, the aim is definitelyto create “a better place to live.”

“We are not just concentrating on producinga fantastic environment for people to enjoyas a resort,” says Alan Cavill, Blackpool’sHead of Corporate Policy and Development.“We want to create a great town and aneconomy for the people who live here.”

But the proposed casino, which wouldaccount for only 50,000 sq feet of the 23 acreConference Leisure Quarter (CLQ) plannedfor the former central station site, would actas a catalyst for investors, developers and

visitors to the resort, he says.It would also include a new conference

centre, hotels, leisure ‘pods’ and retail andcommercial space. A formal planningapplication was submitted to the council inAugust and it is hoped outline approval will begiven before CAP makes its recommendationsto the government.

“Las Vegas demonstrates how casinos andconferences complement one another,” saysDoug Garrett, Chief Executive of ReBlackpool,the town’s regeneration driver. “The fact thataround 60% of visitors to Vegas do not gambleproves it offers so much more.”

Blackpool’s bid has the backing of the

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PEOPLE AND JOBS

Northwest Regional Development Agency(NWDA) and the North West RegionalAssembly who recognise the benefits it wouldbring to the town and the wider region.

Doug Garrett says the development wouldcreate 20,000 new jobs, many of which wouldpull in people from the wider region.

“We would also be creating a unique world-class resort for the region. For many visitorswe would act as a gateway to the Northwest,giving them the opportunity to explore themajor cities and the Lake District as well.”

The development of Blackpool’s airport –the site of ReBlackpool’s HQ – is also key toattracting visitors, particularly from northern

RESORT SETSPACE IN THE

CASINO STAKES Europe and Ireland, says Doug. Already annualpassenger numbers have risen from 70,000two years ago to a predicted 1.2 million by theend of this year.

Steven Broomhead, Chief Executive of theNWDA, says the Agency is committed tosupporting Blackpool’s regenerationworking in partnership with the Council andReBlackpool to create a world-classdestination that attracts visitors from acrossthe globe.

“Delivery of ReBlackpool’s Masterplanfor the resort, underpinned by a regionalcasino, is a major economic opportunity forthe Northwest.”

For further information: email: [email protected]: 01253 478909web: www.reblackpool.com

SEAFRONT TO BE REMODELLED

Golden mile – conference and casino quarter will regenerate the town

People’s playground – six new headlands will be created on the seafront

Work in progress – strengthening the sea wallConference and casino quarter – nighttimevisualisation of the proposed main developments

That famous promenade alongsideBlackpool’s ‘seven miles of golden sands’ isabout to undergo a 21st century makeover.

“It has been Blackpool’s position in life forthe last 150 years to shock and awe,” saysAlan Cavill, Blackpool’s Head of CorporatePolicy and Development. “That’s what wemust aim to do again.”

The seafront will be transformed, not onlyby an essential new sea wall, but by thecreation of six headlands, 60 metres deep,each offering a different themed area as partof the remodelling of the resort.

The idea is to reconnect the town with thesea and the whole seafront. “We are a

seaside resort and we need to give peoplegood reasons to cross four lanes of highway,two lanes of tram tracks and at present agreat stretch of black promenade,” says DougGarrett, Chief Executive of ReBlackpool.

There are plans to make it easier to reachthe new “meandering” promenade, whoseheadlands will offer a range of familyactivities and highlight the town’s maritimeand environmental elements.

ReBlackpool plans to launch aninternational design competition for theCentral Promenade and a £250,000development grant by the Big Lottery Fund’sLiving Landmarks committee will assist the

development of the ‘People’s Playground’In August the Northwest Regional

Development Agency (NWDA) announcedfunding of £8.2 million to remodel the centralseafront.

Additional funding of £62 million from Defraand £3 million from the European RegionalDevelopment Fund will allow 3.2km of sea wallto be strengthened and renewed as part of acomprehensive coastal protection scheme.

“There’s a famousseaside towncalled Blackpool,that’s noted forfresh air and fun.”

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The investment by the Northwest RegionalDevelopment Agency (NWDA) forms part ofan eight-year programme that economicplanners hope will transform the fortunes ofWorkington and Maryport in West Allerdale.

Using funding channelled throughCumbria Vision, the Sub-RegionalPartnership for Cumbria, the programmeaims to create 470 jobs, safeguard a further680 jobs and assist almost 600 people ingaining employment. It will be led by WestLakes Renaissance.

Workington has been trying to build amore balanced economy following the loss ofits coal and steel industries and can point tothe redevelopment of the town centre as signof better times ahead.

HUGE SUCCESSDue for completion in October, the

£45 million scheme by Harrison Developmentswill provide 27,000 sq metres (250,000 sq ft)of new retail space and apartments creating500 jobs. Public realm works, funded by theNWDA, have cost a further £2.7 million.

“We fundamentally need to transform theWest Allerdale economy and that meanssubstantially developing a very weak servicesector offer,” says Programme DirectorRob Rimmer. “We have made a start with theredevelopment of the town centre and that

has been a huge success.”The latest £14.5 million funding from

NWDA will be targeted at a number of keyprojects including the production of theDerwent Howe Development Strategy, adirect response to the closure by Corus of itsrail track works in Workington.

“The big issue for West Allerdale is whatto do with the 70-acre site because it issubstantially contaminated and has a poortransport infrastructure,” explains Rimmer.The plant closed at the end of August ending130 years of steel making in the town.

Other key components of the“Forward Strategy for West Allerdale”programme will include:

n Reclamation of land in the River Ellencorridor in Maryport for use by the privatesector and to reconfigure MaryportHarbour to increase the water area andenable the harbour authority to expandand develop leisure facilities.

n Development of a Business ImprovementDistrict in Workington to facilitateschemes that will benefit the community.

n Key infrastructure work to facilitatethe Derwent Valley Development,Allerdale Borough Council’s new stadiumand leisure centre. This will provide a

Two towns in West Cumbria are on trackfor a brighter future thanks to a£14.5 million regeneration package thatwill trigger new jobs, more businessopportunities, better leisure facilities andan improved public realm.

20

Market towns are on the move. No longercocooned in the cosy Christmas card image,the rural hubs are tackling the 21st centuryneeds of residents and visitors in a vital bidto regenerate their economies.

Yes, the towns still boast a variety ofthriving markets and festivals but some canalso claim new training centres, smallbusiness units and one-stop shops offering arange of services.

A one-day conference in October willshowcase some of the successes of the 17towns identified to receive funding from theNorthwest Regional Development Agency(NWDA) under the Market Towns Initiative.

Each town – nine in Cumbria, five inLancashire and three in Cheshire – receivedaround £1 million which in many cases actedas a catalyst for further grants from differentagencies both in Europe and the UK.

Although each town identified its ownspecific needs in a ‘healthcheck’ funded bythe NWDA and the Countryside Agency, thecommon concerns ranged across economic,environmental, transport, social andcommunity issues.

Steve Heaton, Head of Rural Affairs at theNWDA, who this summer implemented areview of the market towns’ progress, says:“The beauty of this Initiative is that althoughit is overarching and regional, it allows eachtown to provide appropriate solutions to itsown local economic needs and problems.

“It has an overall theme, but it gives the

towns the freedom to develop what isappropriate, without being restrictive.”

Millom in Cumbria will celebrate theopening of a new Network Centre in October,a training centre for local businesses andindividuals as well as a source of help foraspiring entrepreneurs and business start-ups.

Nash Thakker, Millom’s Market TownsInitiative Manager says: “In the past the townhas lost a lot of young, talented people becausethe facilities they wanted were not here.Now, if they have an idea which is marketable,they do not have to leave the town.”

TOURISM PROJECTSThe town also has plans to refurbish

Millom Palladium, the 1910 theatre in urgentneed of renovation. They aim to raise£1.8 million to reduce the capacity of theground-floor performance area, create ayoung people’s space in the basement andsmall income-generating office units on thefirst and second floors.

In Garstang, Lancashire, the NWDAprovided £225,000 towards the new£1.4 million Rural Wyre Children’s Centrehousing a range of services, which opened inSeptember 2006.

A further £10,000 provided a trainingroom, complete with climbing wall open toyoung people, within the new Bowland FellMountain rescue team HQ.

Projects to support tourism includebuilding on Garstang’s claim to fame as ‘the

PEOPLE AND JOBS

world’s first Fair Trade town’ and a frequentBritain in Bloom award winner.

In Frodsham, where the town’s thirdChristmas festival last year attracted over15,000 visitors, the flagship project is therenovation of Castle Park House, a mansionhouse gifted to the town by its privateowners in the 1930s.

It now houses a One-Stop shop of counciland community services, with Small toMedium sized Enterprise (SME)accommodation, which was 75% pre-letbefore its April opening.

For further information: email: [email protected]: 01925 400100www.nwda.co.uk

Flower power – Garstang in bloom

Castle Park House – a mansion reborn

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MARKET TOWNS REVIVAL

future home for semi-professional andamateur sports due for completion in 2009.

David Brockbank, Chairman of CumbriaVision believes the schemes add ‘real value’to the West Cumbria Masterplan which isbeing drawn up after Trade Secretary AlistairDarling invited ideas on how to tackle theserious economic challenges facing the areaover the next few years.

AUTUMN LAUNCHConsultants Grant Thornton are undertaking

the masterplanning work on behalf on theWest Cumbria Strategic Forum, a multi-partner group set up to safeguard the area’seconomic prosperity. The plan is expected tocontain a portfolio of initiatives that couldrevitalise the local economy and will belaunched in the autumn.

Cumbria Vision has launched a new portalto help members of the public contribute tothe strategy. “We want the people of WestCumbria to be tied into the consultationprocess. This is not something beingimposed on them,” explains Terry Ponting,the Project Manager.

For further information: email: [email protected]: 01900 64728www.westlakesrenaissance.co.uk

Time for change – Andy Plant’s ‘Lookout’ clock in Workington town centre

Pleasure craft – Maryport Harbour is a popular yachting centre

Flagship project – Frodsham now has aone-stop shop for council and community BUILDING A

BALANCEDECONOMY

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INVESTMENT BOOSTFOR TRANSPORTNETWORK

“BY WORKING TOGETHEREFFECTIVELY AND MAKINGDIFFICULT DECISIONS THE REGION HAS DEMONSTRATED THAT IT CAN DELIVER.”

LORD PETER SMITHCHAIR, NORTHWEST

REGIONAL ASSEMBLYEXECUTIVE BOARD

NEW METROLINK LINES APPROVEDThe ‘Big Bang’ expansion of Greater

Manchester’s Metrolink tram system is back on track after the governmentapproved revised proposals for the networkin July, based on partnership funding.

Construction work will be implemented intwo stages with the first phase (3a) – forwhich £538 million has been secured -extending the system to Oldham andRochdale, Droylsden in Tameside andChorlton in South Manchester

The following phase (3b), costing

£450 million, will take Metrolink into Oldhamand Rochdale town centres as well asAshton-under-Lyne, East Didsbury andManchester Airport.

This scheme will form the key part of a bidwhich is being submitted to the TransportInnovation Fund next year to significantlyimprove public transport across GreaterManchester. A successful bid will then allowboth phases to be delivered simultaneously.

Subject to costs being kept within budget,work on the extensions could start within the

next two years. When completed the networkwill cover nearly 60 miles (95km) and morethan double the annual number of passengersto 45 million, taking an estimated 10 millioncar journeys off the road.

Ministers have restored the original offerafter the Greater Manchester PassengerAuthority agreed to provide the remainderof the partnership funding - £294 million.The majority of the local funding will beraised though loans, which will be repaidover 30 years using Metrolink revenue.

After listening to advice from localpartners, ministers agreed to progress anumber of major projects over the next10 years, subject to demonstration of asatisfactory business case and costs beingkept under control. The decision is abroad endorsement of the region’s ownstrategic priorities.

The schemes will benefit travellers andbusinesses in each of the five sub-regionsand are designed to reduce congestion,improve safety and raise the quality andcapacity of public transport.

There was good news for transportplanners, commuters and shoppers inGreater Manchester with full approval offunding for an upgrade of parts of the

Metrolink system and conditional approvalfor a major extension to Oldham, Rochdale,Droylsden and Chorlton.

Other key projects approved include the A34Alderley Edge and Nether Alderley Bypass inCheshire, the Carlisle Northern DevelopmentRoute in Cumbria and the Mersey Gateway.

Two new elements were given approvalfor the first time. The Department ofTransport is to provide £10.7 million of the£11.8 million cost of emergency works toBlackpool’s historic tramway to ensure thatthe system can keep operating for a numberof years. A decision on a larger upgrade willbe made at a later date.

The Department will also be prioritisingthe modernisation of traffic managementtechnology in Greater Manchester to reducecongestion and facilitate better and moreefficient bus services.

The government’s announcementembraces 22 schemes that require fundingwithin the next three years and 14 in theyears from 2009/10 to 2015/16. Five of theprojects are already underway.

Regional partners have welcomed thegovernment’s willingness to take heed oftheir advice on transport priorities over thenext 10 years and are exploring withministers how future allocations might beextended to include rail investment.

Lord Peter Smith, Chair of the NorthwestRegional Assembly Executive Board, said

that “by working together effectively andmaking difficult decisions the region hasdemonstrated that it can deliver.”

English regions were invited in July 2005 toprovide advice on their spending priorities aspart of the new Regional Funding Allocation(RFA) guidance initiative covering transport,housing and economic development.

The process did not include schemes onmotorways and trunk roads of nationalimportance or railway schemes other thanthose promoted by local authorities.VALUE FOR MONEY

Regional transport planners believe thatoverall the approved projects provide a goodfit with the strategic transport priorities inthe new Regional Economic Strategy.

Over the next decade the governmentexpects to add 15 of the region’s recommendednew schemes to the programme. They includecompletion of the South East ManchesterRelief Road, the A556 Improvement andAccess to the Port of Liverpool.

Bryan Gray, Chairman of the NorthwestRegional Development Agency, which playeda lead role in the RFA process, stresses theimportance of the approved schemes to theeconomic health of the Northwest.

“Improving the quality and provision of theregion’s transport infrastructure isfundamental in enabling the Northwestrealise its full potential, and thisannouncement is a result of the region beingvery clear on its transport priorities.”

Construction of the various projects issubject to the schemes securing thenecessary statutory powers, demonstratingsufficient value for money and beingsupported by a satisfactory business case.

Projects prioritised for the period 2009 to2016 range from the A57 Glossop Spur(Tameside) and the M69 JETTS Quality BusCorridor to the South East Manchester ReliefRoad (Stockport, Manchester and Cheshire)and the Crewe Rail Gateway.

For further information:tel: 01942 737905 www.nwra.gov.uk

The region’s drive for prosperity is set to pick up speed after thegovernment approved a provisional £1.245 billion package ofinvestment to improve the Northwest’s transport infrastructure.

Residents have provided the ideas fora £1.4 million facelift of OtterspoolPromenade, South Liverpool, whichprovides one of the best views ofthe upper estuary.Supported by theNWDA and theEuropean RegionalDevelopment Fund, theprogramme aims toimprove the appearance of and accessto 1.9 km of coastline.

Transport Secretary Douglas Alexanderperformed the official start of workceremony for the £175 million schemeto bring the A74 in Cumbria up tomotorway status.The 5.8-mile sectionbetween Carlisle andGuards Mill willprovide the ‘missinglink’ in the motorwaynetwork between England and Scotland.

Construction work on a new £35 millionbypass on the A590 in Cumbria hasbeen officially launched by the oldestand youngest residents of the villagesof High and Low Newton. The schemewill remove 90% of through trafficrestoring the villages to their traditionalLakeland setting.

Liverpool Vision isinviting developerideas for a landmarkhigh quality officebuilding on theKingston House site atthe junction of Strand Street and JamesStreet. The site is regarded as animportant opportunity to regenerate anarea, which provides a key routebetween the business district andLiverpool waterfront.

Salford will gain one of Europe’s largestparks under an ambitious £4 millionscheme to reclaim 97 hectares ofbrownfield land for amenity use.Funded by the NWDAas part of theNewlands programme,the Lower IrwellValley ImprovementArea (LIVIA) willprovide a new green playground in anurban landscape.

NEWS

INFRASTRUCTURE

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24 25

More Music in Morecambe andManchester’s Company Fierce were thetwo winners of the art06 awards, witheach receiving a prize of £10,000 at aceremony in Preston. The awards aresponsored by the Arts Council England,North West, supported by the NWDAand the BBC.

Rothay Manor Hotel and Restaurant,a family-run enterprise in Ambleside,won the ‘Small Hotelof the Year’ accolade inthe 2006 Cumbria forExcellence TourismAwards. Bridge EndFarm at Boot in theEskdale Valley scooped the ‘SelfCatering Holiday of the Year’ award.

Winners of the Lancashire and BlackpoolTourism Awards 2007 included PleasureBeach, Blackpool (Large VisitorAttraction), Cobble Hey Farm andGardens, near Garstang (Small VisitorAttraction), The Big Blue Hotel (LargeHotel), Stanley House, Mellor (SmallHotel) and Wolfen Mill Country Retreats,Chipping (Self Catering).

Bolton has launched a five-year tourismstrategy aimed at boosting visitorspending to £194 million, 10% abovethe 2004 total. It willbuild on the tourismattraction of itsmuseum, art galleryand aquarium, andheritage sites such asSmithills Hall, Hall i’th’ Wood andFirwood Fold. It also wants to developand raise awareness of the town’snationally important Cultural Quarter.

Ruth Mackenzie, Artistic Director of theChichester Festival Theatre, has beenappointed General Director of the 2007Manchester International Festival with abrief to secure sponsorship deals withcommercial and public sectororganisations.

Liverpool’s preparations for the 2008Capital of Culture celebrations receiveda major boost with news that the city’sTate Gallery will host the prestigiousTurner Prize in 2007.The presentation joinsa growing portfolio ofworld class cultural,sporting and businessevents heading for thecity over the next few years.

NEWS

QUALITY OF LIFE

The Liverpool Biennial pendulum hasswung out of the galleries and on to the citystreets. For the next two months, Britain’slargest festival of contemporary visual artsis displaying around half of its originalcommissioned work in outdoor spaces,compared to just 10% at the first Biennialin 1999.

It is a conscious move by director LewisBiggs who views the 2006 event as “a museumwithout walls.”

“We are increasingly addressing the streetrather than the galleries,” he says. “Whathappens within a gallery space is alwaysaddressing art history and the art world. You

cannot address life within gallery walls and sothe only way is to get the art out on the street.”

This year Liverpool is expecting400,000 visitors to the fourth Biennial, anincrease of 50,000 on 2004 when 40% ofpeople travelled from outside the Northwestand 10% from overseas. The event created anadditional £8.3 million spend in the city – morethan four times the public funding investment.

Those figures compare well with Biennialsaround the world, says Lewis, who hasmodelled the Liverpool event on Venice,“the granddaddy of Biennials.”

“Venice is a festival, with a myriad ofexhibitions, and we wanted to adopt thatmodel,” says Lewis. “And we want Liverpoolto be for the visual arts what Edinburgh isfor the performing arts – we have alwaysseen the ‘fringe’ as being as important asthe set pieces.”

In the ten weeks to November 26 theexhibition will consist of three elements:International 06, the display of more than35 new commissions; the John Moores 24Exhibition of Contemporary Painting, whichhas been hosted by The Walker Art Gallerysince 1957 and the Bloomberg NewContemporaries 2006, the annual exhibitionby students and recent fine art collegegraduates throughout the UK.

“What is unique about the international

show since 2002 is that we commission allnew work,” says Lewis. “If people want tosee the work first, they have to come toLiverpool to check it out.”

The outdoor art will include Costa Ricanartist Priscilla Monge’s football pitchdesigned as an obstacle course, which willbe sited near the Pier Head. Lewis says:“After all, football is designed to be difficult –whoever would invent a ball game where youare not allowed to handle the ball?”

Mexican artist Teresa Margolles addressescriminal violence with her pavement of

shattered glass recovered from accident andcrime scenes, which will be laid inside acovered walkway in the city centre.

A 15 metre high yellow neon question markby German artist Hans Peter Kuhn will standon the Cammell Laird building on the Wirralbank of the Mersey, opposite the Pier Head.

This year, the John Moores competition,Britain’s leading contemporary paintingcompetition, attracted 2,300 entries, thelargest number for 43 years.

The event is funded by the Arts Council,Liverpool Vision, Liverpool City Council,

BIENNIAL CELEBRATES VISUAL CULTURE

For further information on the Biennial,which runs from Sep 16 – Nov 26: tel: 0151 709 7444 www.biennial.com

“WHAT HAPPENS WITHIN AGALLERY SPACE IS ALWAYSADDRESSING ART HISTORY ANDTHE ART WORLD. YOU CANNOTADDRESS LIFE WITHIN GALLERYWALLS AND SO THE ONLY WAY IS TO

GET THE ART OUTON THE STREET.”

LEWIS BIGGS,

DIRECTOR OF

LIVERPOOL BIENNIAL

Caged lions – work by Rigo 23 outsideSt. George’s Hall, Liverpool

Another project to highlight the Northwest’s creative talent was ‘Exposed”, an event held inLondon’s Manchester Square to showcase the work of ten of the region’s major artists to acapital audience.

As well as displaying art work, photography, sculpture and design, the event highlighted themajor cultural events in the Northwest’s diary for 2006-08.

They include the fourth Liverpool Biennial, which opened in September, next year’sManchester International Festival, the world’s first of entirely original new work and Liverpool’sEuropean Capital of Culture 2008.

Peter Mearns, Director of Marketing and Communications of the NWDA which hosted theevening, says: “Our region is one of the most artistic and culturally dynamic in Europe andExposed was a prime opportunity to show just how much it has to offer.”

Among the work on show were paintings from Turner Prize winner Chris Ofili along withwork by the Singh Twins, photography from Kevin Cummins and sculpture by Leo Fitzmaurice.

Stephen Snoddy, curator of Exposed, says: “We were delighted to reveal the wealth ofcreative talent in the Northwest in the run-up to the prestigious events planned for the futurewhich will position the region as an important European cultural destination.”

CAPITAL SHOWCASE FOR NW ART

Northern talent – the showattracted London art lovers

Liverpool 08 and the NWDA.Peter Mearns, NWDA Marketing and

Communications Director, says: “TheBiennial brings together artists from aroundthe world in a celebration of innovative visualculture. It will showcase Liverpool and theNorthwest to the UK and overseas visitors,highlighting this vibrant city’s strikingcultural offering.”

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A specially branded bus bearing images ofthe country’s most famous Olympians andinternationally known locations ended a3,000 mile whistle-stop tour of Britain byvisiting the Lake District, Preston, Blackburn,Manchester and Liverpool.

Lord Coe, Chairman of the LondonOrganising Committee, who was accompaniedby Sports Minister Richard Caborn and goldmedal decathlete Daley Thompson, briefedlocal guests on preparations for the Olympicand Paralympic Games and the potentialeconomic and social opportunities

LUCRATIVE CONTRACTS“We hope this Roadshow will help people

appreciate just how inspirational the Gamescan be and the relevance they can have forthem and their local communities,” Lord Coetold his audience in Windermere.

The Organising Committee has indicatedthat it will procure an enormous range ofgoods and services required for the Games,including sports equipment, uniforms, foodand drink, furnishings for venues, cars andhotel accommodation. This is in addition tothe construction contracts being let by theOlympic Delivery Authority.

Companies throughout the Northwest arebeing urged to register their interest in findingout about the lucrative contracts on offer byaccessing a newly launched online businessservice via www.london2012.com/business

JOINING THE RACEFOR OLYMPIC GOLDBusiness, tourism, cultural and community leaders across theNorthwest were given an insight on how to strike Olympic goldwhen the organisers of the 2012 London Games made a two-daypromotional Roadshow visit to the region.

Preston North End’s Deepdale ground beforegoing on to meet civic leaders at Blackburnand at Darwen where £9 million is beinginvested in sports facilities.

Later they went on view the region’s topsporting venues with visits to ManchesterUnited FC’s Old Trafford ground – a 2012football venue – and the City of ManchesterStadium, the main venue for 2002Commonwealth Games.

EXTRA PLANThe 21-day tour of Britain ended with a

spectacular display of fireworks, streamersand confetti in Liverpool after an afternoon ofcultural and sporting activities to mark the six-year countdown to the 2012 opening ceremony,

Regional partners have set up a 2012steering group and are already working on anumber of ideas to be incorporated in aNorthwest Action Plan, including a possiblebid to stage the UK School Games between2007-11.

The NWDA has established a BusinessForum to provide a ‘sounding board’ forbusiness issues relating to the Games and isplanning to recruit a Regional Coordinator tohelp maximise the opportunities generated bythe Games.

For further information:email: [email protected]: 01925 400 100www.london2012.org

“We are working hard to develop structuresto support the delivery of London 2012 andthe Roadshow visits really gave those workingin tourism, business culture and sport theopportunity to hear about these potentialbenefits for themselves,” says SheldonPhillips, Partnership Marketing Managerat the Northwest Regional DevelopmentAgency (NWDA).

More than 100 people attended theWindermere event including Tom Wright,Chief Executive of Visit Britain and FelicityGoodey, Chair of the Tourism Forum forEngland’s Northwest. The Lake Districtfeatures strongly in the internationalmarketing for 2012.

Lord Coe and his team met regionalbusiness leaders at a breakfast briefing at

Welcoming party – young sporting hopefuls at a Roadshow event

VIP line-up – Daley Thompson, Lord Coe andSport Minister Richard Caborn at SportsCity

26 27

QUALITY OF LIFE

Peter Mearns, Director of Marketing andCommunications at the NWDA, says:“This festival is a great way of involving youngpeople in the arts in a way which appeals tothem. It will also encourage those who areunable or unaware of more traditionalroutes into the arts to develop careers in thecreative industries. Because it is web-based, it uses a medium with which they aretotally familiar.”

JOB OFFERSHe said that young people in the region

could showcase their talents in a festival,which he hoped would develop nationallyand internationally.

The artists will also be offered the chanceto compete for a Dreamjob, being offered bycreative companies in industries includingmusic, television and design both in the UKand around the world. Internationalplacements, have been offered by MTV in SaoPaulo, Brazil, Yamaha in Tokyo, Current TV inSan Francisco. Nearer home, WayneHemingway, NOISE Curator for Design and

Architecture, has offered six job placementsto his favourite NOISE artists.

The festival is also being supported by apanel of curators, creative professionals whoincluded Anthony Wilson of Factory Records,designer Wayne Hemingway and Peter Savilleof graphic designers Saville Associates, allmajor Northwest ambassadors.

Emma Wyre is a 17-year-old studentstudying art and design at Blackburn Collegewhose work, which includes cartoon andstreet art, sketches and drawings and digitalanimations, will be featured by NOISE.

“I have always been interested in art anddrawing and I try to work in more obscureareas,” says Emma, currently developing aconcept for a comic. “I am inspired by alot of films and music and particular artistsand photographers.

“When I heard about NOISE I wanted to beinvolved because it seems a great way tobring a lot of artists together to help them todevelop and showcase their work.”

Emma’s work has been chosen for theNOISE exhibition at Urbis, Manchester (Oct3-Nov 19) and also selected as one of tenartists to feature in a series of NOISE postersto promote the festival across Manchestercity centre.

For further information:email: [email protected]

Following a successful blueprint frominternational events in Australia andSingapore, the month-long October festival isshowcasing new film, music, fashion,illustration, graphic design, writing,architecture and photography.

Director Denise Proctor, who joined NOISEfrom an impressive background in pioneeringentertainment technology, says: “The mostimportant aspect of the festival is that it doesnot exclude anyone.

“You can live in remotest Cumbria, in a citycentre, have a disability or lack the funds togo to a traditional arts festival venue and stillenjoy NOISE via its website.”

The festival, which attracted up to 4,000submissions from young artists across theUK, was launched at Tate Liverpool inFebruary. Former Home Secretary JackStraw MP attended an event in his Blackburnconstituency to encourage local people tosubmit their work.

NOISE is supported by the Arts CouncilEngland North West and the NorthwestRegional Development Agency (NWDA).

ON-LINE FESTIVALFOR YOUNG TALENT

“WHEN I HEARD ABOUT NOISE IWANTED TO BE INVOLVED BECAUSEIT SEEMS A GREAT WAY TO BRING ALOT OF ARTISTS TOGETHER TOHELP THEM TO DEVELOP ANDSHOWCASE THEIR WORK.”

EMMA WYRESTUDENT AT

BLACKBURN COLLEGE

Chattering classes – James Purnell MP,festival officials and young talent at the TateLiverpool launch

Cartoon art – work by Emma Wyre

It’s the first festival of its kind in the UK and it’s coming to a venue near you. That’s because NOISE, the multimedia arts showcase of original work by the under 25s, is an on-line festival with no specific physical location.

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NOTEBOOK

PEOPLEIN THEREGION

Johnson set toMarket ManchesterNick Johnson, Deputy Chief Executiveat Urban Splash, is the new Chairmanof Marketing Manchester, the TourismBoard for Greater Manchester.He replaces former corporate bankerJohn Maguire who has retired after fiveyears at the helm.

A chartered surveyor by profession,Johnson has wide experience of design inthe built environment having worked withvarious leading UK and overseasarchitects. He is currently responsiblefor projects worth over £150 million

including the 3rd MillenniumCommunity project.

He is also a Director ofCastlefield Gallery, one

of Manchester’sleading contemporary

galleries and a regionalrepresentative for the

Commission forArchitecture and

the BuiltEnvironment(CABE).

He took up his duties as ManagingDirector of the new service inSeptember and will manage the transitionfrom the current Business Link set-upto the new service, which will becomeoperational from 1 April 2007.

The restructured Business Link aimsto achieve a step-change in the numberof business start-ups in the region andincrease the number of businessaccessing support. It will have anincreased focus on those businessesand sectors showing the greatestgrowth potential.

Peter Watson, a former seniorexecutive in the UK and European printindustry who has an MBA from theHenley Management College, is to takecontrol of the new £18 million BusinessLink service for the Northwest.

Ethnic businessforum leadersNew leaders have been announced for theEthnic Minority Business Forum North West(EMBF NW), which was set up by the NWDAin 2005 to boost the contribution of ethnicbusinesses to the regional economy.

Dr Nighat Awan, Chief Executive, ShereKhan Group has been appointed as thenew Chair of the Forum with Brian Wong,Finance Director, Hondo Trading, as the newVice-Chair.

Clitheroe-based luxury puddings producer Helen Colley who owes hersuccess to recipes handed down throughthe family has notched up another raft of business awards for her mouth-watering products.

Helen’s latest award is that of‘Entrepreneur of the Year’ in the ChamberAwards North West Region, making her afinalist in the Chamber’s national awards onNovember 23.

In June, Farmhouse Fare, the company

she founded in 2002 after the Foot andMouth crisis badly affected her previousenterprise and her parents’ farm, was giventhe NWDA-sponsored ‘Most OutstandingContribution to the Northwest Region’accolade at the 2006 Food Northwest Awards.

Farmhouse Fare now has sales of£4.9 million, employs 70 people and hasbeen a source of inspiration for farmers and business in Lancashire. Helen is also a finalist in the National Business Awards in November.

Joyous company – Anthony Worrall Thompson (centre)

Role models – Brian Wong

and Nighat Awan

Helen cooks up more awards

Professor Chris Carr is to be the new Vice Chancellor of theUniversity for Cumbria. He will remain as Principal and Chief

Executive of St Martin’s College, Britain’s biggest teaching college,until the new multi-campus university is formed in August 2007.Based in Carlisle, it will start life with students drawn from the

three founding institutions, St. Martin’s College, the Cumbria Institute of the Arts and the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan).

Professor Carr has spent the whole of his career in highereducation. He was formerly Head of the School of Law andsubsequently Pro Vice Chancellor at UCLan before moving to St. Martin’s in 1997 where he has overseen a large

programme of expansion.

Winning ways – Helen Colley with TV presenter Lucy Meacock and Professor John Moverley

Trainee engineer Matthew McCarry from St. Benedict’s School, Whitehaven,has been named as Britain’s ‘Young Apprentice of the Year’ at theLearning and Skills Council’s 2006 National Apprentice Awards.

He started his Young Apprentice inEngineering programme in 2004 as part ofthe Grow Your Future Workforce project, anNWDA-funded collaboration with United

Academy names DirectorBusiness start-up specialist AndrewBrocklehurst is the new Director of therecently established Northern Leadership Academy (NLA), a £5 millionproject to build a more entrepreneurialNorth by strengthening leadershipprovision and development.

Developed by the NWDA in collaborationwith Yorkshire Forward and One NorthEastand based at Lancaster University, theAcademy is a key component of the NorthernWay Growth Strategy.

Andrew has a strong record in business-starts ups and incubation. He created andled West Yorkshire Ventures before runningthe West Yorkshire Incubation Network, aYorkshire Forward project to improve newbusiness formation.

He is a former business angel, foundingtwo start-up businesses.

The NLA is led by a consortium includingLancaster University Management School,Leeds University Business School and theUniversity of Liverpool Management School.One of its aims to attract talented individualsback to the North.

Garden is ripe for learning

project, will be installed at a new £6 millionschool in September 2007 formed by amerger of the two schools. The designincorporates produce that can be grown toprepare healthy meals and will also serveas an external classroom.

Young Apprentice of the YearUtilities, Scottish Power, and regionalschools and colleges to create a newgeneration of young engineers for theelectricity industry.

Matthew has won the Engineer of the Year award at St. Benedict’s in threeconsecutive years. He also coaches young squash players and has recentlybecome the youngest qualified Englandcoach – three days after his 16th birthday.

Watson tohead up Business Link

Commissioned by the NWDA, the garden was designed and created bylandscape architects Urban Vision with the help of children from RadclyffeCommunity Primary School andSt Clements Primary School in Salford.

The garden, an ongoing educational

Chef and TV presenter Anthony Worrall Thompson had a unique opportunity tospread the message of healthy eating when he unveiled an innovative, award-winning show garden at the RHS Flower Show at Tatton Park, along with Bryan Gray,NWDA Chairman.

Chris Carr to lead U4C

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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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The NWDA’s ExecutiveTeam are based at itsHeadquarters andcan be contacted on tel: +44 (0)1925 400 100

STEVEN BROOMHEADChief Executive

BERNICE LAWChief Operating Officer,Deputy Chief Executive

IAN HAYTHORNTHWAITEExecutive Director,Finance and CorporateResources

MARK HUGHESExecutive Director,Enterprise, Innovationand Skills

PETER WHITEExecutive Director, Infrastructure andDevelopment

JAMES BERRESFORDDirector of Tourism

FRAN HULBERTDirector ofSkills Policy

PETER MEARNSDirector of Marketing and Communications

FIONA MILLSDirector of HR,Organisational Change& Development

PATRICK WHITEDirector of Policy andPartnerships

HEAD OFFICE PO Box 37, Renaissance House,Centre Park, Warrington WA1 1XBTel: +44 (0)1925 400 100Fax: +44 (0)1925 400 400e-mail: [email protected]

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.

Star turn – Bob Geldof is a speakerat the B2B Northwest event

LIVERPOOL BIENNIAL

Contemporary arts festival embraces thebig outdoorsOver 40 venues

16– 26SEP NOV

NWDA ANNUAL CONFERENCEAND AGM

Review of the year’s achievementsManchester International Convention Centre

4OCT

MANCHESTER FOOD & DRINKFESTIVAL

Festival that caters for all tastesVarious venues

6-16OCT

MARKET TOWNS CONFERENCE

Spotlight on rural enterprise Lancaster House Hotel, Lancaster

11OCT

NORTHWEST TOURISM AWARDS

Plaudits for the industry’s top achieversHilton Hotel, Manchester

24OCT

CBI NW BUSINESS AWARDS

Oscars for the region’s business heroesHilton Hotel, Manchester

1DEC

BBC NORTHWEST SPORTS AWARDS

Putting athleticism on a pedestalHilton Hotel, Manchester

4DEC

LAUNCH OF NORTHWEST CLIMATECHANGE ACTION PLAN

Regional solutions to combat global warmingCity of Manchester Stadium

9NOV

NEXT BIG THING

Inspiring tomorrow’s entrepreneursThe Filmworks, Manchester Printworks

16NOV

KENDAL MOUNTAIN FILMFESTIVALS

Heady mix of film screenings, book readingsand lecturesVarious venues, Kendal

11-19NOV

OCTOBER

DECEMBER

EVENTS

EVENT HIGHLIGHTS

30

Ready for business – the NationalBiomanufacturing Centre, Speke

Kendal Mountain Festivals –tales of derring-do

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

SKILLS NORTHWEST

Region’s largest interactive careersexhibition for young people G-MEX, Manchester

14-16NOV

B2B NORTHWEST(INCORPORATES BEX)

Advice and inspiration to growing businessesG-MEX, Manchester

22-23NOV

EUROCITIES CONFERENCE

European civic leaders share their ideasManchester International Conference Centre

22-25NOV

MANUFACTURERS SUMMIT

UK/US manufacturers share their ideasManchester United FC

31 – 2OCT NOV

OPENING OF NATIONALBIOMANUFACTURING CENTRE

Another ‘first’ for the NorthwestSpeke, Liverpool

1NOV

NOVEMBER

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