http://www.nwda.co.uk/docs/315-16T

315째 THE RDA MAGAZINE

SEPT 2008 ISSUE 16

EPIC THEATRE La Machine wows culturecapital Energy challenge Harnessingwind and tide

Carlislerenaissance Historiccitychases economic growth

Rave reviews Culturecapitalwows 08 audiences

PAGE 2 CONTENTS THE THIRD DEGREE 4

Bryan Gray

BUSINESS 6

-Corporateinvestorstosupportenergy innovators

8

-Foreigncompaniesstep up investmentinN W PLC

10 Key projectsexpand science space -12 Helpingmore companiestomake the leap 13 -New approach tofinancingbusinessgrowth

SKILLS AND EDUCATION 14 Academies a spurtoyoung enterprise 15 Skillsboostforkey businesssectors

PEOPLE AND JOBS 16 Historiccityseeks economic revival 18 Taking rurallifetonew heights 20 Partnershiptobuildcorridorofpower 21 Citiesunitedby visionarydevelopments

INFRASTRUCTURE 22 -Aviationfund supportsresponsiblegrowth

QUALITY OF LIFE 24 Rave reviews forLiverpool08 programme 26 Flyingthe flagforCulturalOlympiad 27 New lifeforArtDeco icon

REGULARS 28 Peopleinthe region 30 Eventhighlights 31 Gettingintouch

HIGHLIGHTS ENERGY CHALLENGE Majorpower companieshave pledged theirsupportfora unique hothouse facility which aims toestablishthe Northwestas a lead playerinlow-carbon energy technologies.

CARLISLE RENAISSANCE Carlisleispoised fora renaissance thataims toexpand itseconomic fortunesand enhance itsappealforresidentsand visitorsalike.

RAVE REVIEWS As LiverpoolentersitsfinalquarterofCapitalofCulture2008,majoreventssuch as the unique La Machine and the LiverpoolBiennialare generatingsignificantvisitor numbers.

OUR VISION: ‘-A dynamic,sustainableinternationaleconomy which competes on the basisofknowledge,advanced technologyand an excellentqualityoflifefor

all.’

CONTACTS Editor TrevorBates t.bates948@btinternet.com NWDA RachelOrmandy email:rachel.ormandy@nwda.co.uk tel:01925 400 237 visitwww.nwda.co.uk& www.visitenglandsnorthwest.com

PAGE 3 CHAIRMAN’S MESSAGE

DELIVERING REAL CHAN GE Thiseditionof315˚ marks my lastas Chairman ofthe NorthwestRegional DevelopmentAgency.

Over the past6 years,the achievementsofthe regionhave been remarkable.Itisonlywhen we reflecton the progresswe have made duringthistime thatthe scaleofthese achievementsbecomes clear.We have a world-classreputationinscientificexpertise,willsoon be home tothe largestmedia hub outsideofLondon and have helped tocreatea new universityforCumbria.Meanwhileourmajor citieshave experienced unprecedentedgrowth and regeneration,we have created180,000 new jobs withinthe regionand have successfullyhosted the world’slargestmultid -isciplinesportingevent– the Com monwealthGames.

Ifirmlybelievethatnone ofthiscouldhave been achieved withoutthe targetedsupportand strategic leadershipofthe RDA. Since ourinceptionwe have consistentlydelivered,and oftenexceeded, targetssetforus by Government.Itisextremelyimportantforus tobe accountableinthisway and to justifythe valuewe add.However Ibelieveour biggestsuccess has been our abilitytobringpeople together,identifythe prioritiesthatwillmake the biggestimpacton our economy and,above all,to deliverexactlywhat we setoutto.

We have always been clearthatwhilewe can celebrategreatsuccesses,we must notbe complacent.Inthe currentglobaleconomic climate,thishas neverbeen more trueand itisevident thatthiswillresultintougherbusinessconditionsforthe region.Thisiswhere the Agency’sstrategic leadershipwillbe allthe more important.We must continuetodeliverthe RegionalEconomic Strategy whileinthe shortterm ensuringwe supportbusinessesindifficulttimes.Thiswilloftenmean taking tough decisionsbutthe philosophy must be tokeep workingtogethertogetthingsdone and transform the regionaleconomy.

The Government’sSub-NationalReview,which isnow takingshape,willmean new ways of partnershipworking.The productionofa singleNorthwestRegionalStrategy,bringingtogetherthe region’sspatial,economic and environmentaland investmentplans,isa significantnew development, and workingwith4NW and GovernmentOfficeforthe NorthWest,itprovidesa valuableopportunityto developa singlestrategicinvestmentframework.

We alsowelcome greaterscrutinyand evaluationofourwork,withthe establishmentofRegional SelectCom mittees.Itisvitalthatwe learnfrom what we do ifwe are tocontinuetoachieverealand lastingchange.

The region’ssuccesses prove thatgreatthingscan be achieved when everyone isworkingtowards the same visionand ambition.Ihave enjoyed my time as Chairman ofthe Agency and would liketo thank you foryoursupport.The Northwesthas everyreason tobe proud.Ilookforwardtoplayingmy partinthe region’scontinuingsuccess.

Bryan Gray, Chairman, September 2008

PAGE 4-5 THE THIRD DEGREE Bryan Gray has builta formidabletrackrecordofservicetomany sectorsofNorthwestlife,playingpivotalrolesinbusiness, regeneration,innovation,skillsand education,cultureand sport.He is a formerChairofCBI NorthWest,currentlyPro-Vice Chancellorofthe UniversityofLancasterand as Chairman ofthe NorthwestRegional DevelopmentAgency (NWDA) sinceApril2002 – a rolehe relinquisheslaterthisyear– has had a significantinfluenceinthe region.He was awarded an MBE in2001 forservicestoregeneration inPrestonand in2006 was awarded the PrinceofWales’Ambassador Award forthe NorthWest.

“BOARD ME MBERS MAY BE DRA W N FRO M DIFFERENT BACKGR O U N DS BUT THEY ARE UNITED IN THEIR BELIEF THAT MO NEY RAISED FRO M THE TAXPAYER MUST BE SPENT WISELY.” BRYAN GRAY

CHAIRMAN NWDA

BRYAN GRAY The N W D A has earned Governmentpraiseforonce againexceedingitseconomic targets.Thismust be verysatisfyingforyou as you bow outafternearlyseven yearsas the Agency’sChairman?

Yes,Iam verypleased.Creatingnearly18,000 new jobsand generatingalmost2,000 new businesses inthe regioninthe pastyearisno mean feat.The Agency has made a huge impacton the Northwesteconomy sinceitwas establishednine yearsago.The work done on the Regional Economic Strategieshas given us a strongunderstandingofwhat makes the economy tickand allowed us tofocus our effortswhere we thinkthereisgoing tobe a bestreturnforpublicsector investment.

So the taxpayerhad valueformoney outofthe Agency overthe pastfew years?

Absolutely.Board members may be drawn from differentbackgrounds butthey are unitedintheir

beliefthatmoney raisedfrom the taxpayermust be spentwisely.Ifyou lookatthe Agency’s achievementsoverthe pastseven yearsthereare many significantthingsthatwould nothave happened withoutus.That’sa testIalways use when we commitinvestment.Would thishave happened ifthe RDA had notbeen there?

Your time inofficehas been marked by the emergence ofimportantissues such as climatechange, the energy crisisand the economic slowdown.Can the RDAs have any meaningfulimpactinthese areas,many ofwhich requireglobalratherthan localsolutions?

The answer isa veryfirmyes we can.And we must.Take climatechange specifically.The Northwestisthe firstregiontopublisha climatechange actionplan.It’sa verygood piece ofwork, which talksaboutthe stepswe need totake tomitigateclimatechange butalsoaboutthe business opportunitiesemerginginthe Northwestfrom technologiesbeing developed tocombat climate change.

Governmentsand agencieslikeourshave seriousrolestoplayinareas ofleadership, communicationand information.However,climatechange willonlybe solved by peopletakingtheir own actions,actionsthatwhen puttogethercollectivelymake a realdifference.We need tochange ourapproach tousingcarsforsmalljourneys,toenergy efficiencyand tothe productswe buy.

Consumers willlead the revolution.

What are you especiallyproud ofduringyourterm ofoffice?

Three things.First,thatwe have been abletobuildon the foundationsestablishedby my predecessorLord Thomas and createa strongand wellrespectedexecutiveorganisation.The quality ofthe peoplewe attractistestamenttothat.Secondly,I’m particularlyproud thatwe have ledon producinga robusteconomic strategyand an actionplan based around the conceptof transformationalactionstosteerthe regiontoa more prosperousfuture.Thirdly,the deliveryof specificprojectsthatwould nothave happened ifwe had notbeen here,such as the substantial regenerationofManchesterand Liverpool,the investmentinruralcommunitiesand bigdevelopments such as,CapitalofCulture,MediaCityUK and the UniversityofCumbria.

The Agency has acquirednew powers and responsibilitiessinceyou took office.Does itneed more to go on improvingthe Northwesteconomy?

Ithinkthatthereare areas thatcouldbe bettermanaged.Ihave argued consistentlythatthere shouldbe a strongerregionalinputintoinvestmentinskills.Thatistoo nationallyfocused.Another area istransport.The regionhas verysuccessfullytaken on prioritisationofinvestmentinhighways.

The same shouldapplywithrailand that’ssomethingthe Governmentisminded todo.Ithinkwe shouldhave regionalprioritiesforrailinvestmentsas wellas roads.

Skills,highereducation,investmentinscience and the reorganisationofbusinesssupporthave been high on yourpersonalagenda.What otherissuesare you passionateabout?

Itrytosupportpeoplewho have ideas,whetherthey’rebigor small.The mergerofthe Universityof Manchesterand UMIST was a bigidea thatwe helped tomake happen.On the smallerprojectsIam pleased we didwork withthe faithcommunitiesand publishedthe firsteconomic assessmentofthe impactoffaithgroups.I’m alsohappy thatwe’ve been abletosupportmany voluntaryand charitable organisationsbecause theycan have a realimpacton qualityoflife,somethingwe have promoted strongly.Qualityoflifeisaboutcreatingcommunitieswhere peoplewant toliveand work and where companieswant toinvest.That’swhy Ihave been passionateaboutinvestingintourism,heritageand culture.

Do you thinkthe N W DA has engaged businessas effectivelyas itmighthave done insocialand economic renewal?

Yes Ido.We have a business-ledboard and we work verycloselywitha whole range ofbusiness organisations,such as the CBI and IoD as wellas the tradeunions and many,many otherbodies.We can’ttouch everyone’slifeand some peoplemay wellquestionwhat we have done forthem. But it’s notforme tosay how wellwe have succeeded – it’sforotherstogivetheiropinion.But inmy view we have done our besttowin the confidenceand cooperationofbusinesses,largeand small.

What do you regretmost? Have therebeen any lostopportunities?

Idon’thave regrets.There are always thingswe couldhave done better.We always have tostrive

toimprove what we do continuously,tobe a learningorganisationreflectingon what we do welland on thingsthatgo lesswell.Ican lookatthingsI’dliketohappen.One isa jointfootballstadium for Liverpooland Everton.It’sstill nottoo lateforthattohappen.Ithinkthe RDA would have a roletoplay here because itmakes strong economic sense.

What are the biggestchallengesfacingthe regioninthe nextyearor so?

The threebigchallengeson which we have tofocusmore effortare climatechange,energy and wider resourceissues.There isa heightened awareness nationallyon these issuesbecause energy prices have increased so rapidly.But ifittakes a riseinpricestomake us addressthese problems then perhaps we willlookback on thisperiodas a time when the wake-up callwas given.The challenge now istorespond tothatwake-up call.

What are yourpersonalambitions,postRDA? Are thereany more mountainsforyou toclimb?

Yes,thereare.Iam chairingCarlisleRenaissance,so that’sa chance forme tomake an impacton a verybeautifuland importantcityinthe region.I’m alsochairingthe LowtherCastleand Gardens TrustProject.Iwant touse my skillswhere Ican.

For furtherinformation: www.nwda.co.uk

PAGE 6-7 BUSINESS NE W S Over 700 businessleadershave signed up toattendThe LiverpoolSum mit,the primarybusiness eventofLiverpool’sEuropean CapitalofCultureprogramme. Supportedby the N W DA, the two-day expo has attracteda number ofinfluentialspeakersfrom businessguru MichaelPortertoKofiAnnan.

JenningsDesign Associates,a Manchester-based architecturaland surveyingcompany have become the Northwest’s1000thfirmtoregisterforCompeteFor,a programme thataims tomatch firmstothe £6 billionofbusinessopportunitiessupplyingLondon 2012 contractors.

Around 800 civilservantsfrom GovernmentOfficeNorthWest,the Highways Agency,and the Trainingand DevelopmentAgency forSchoolsare moving toa new home nearManchester’s PiccadillyStationfrom early2010. The relocationwillinvolvea transferof300 TDA stafffrom London.

OptasiaMedicalLtd,based inCheadle,has been awarded a £217,000 researchand development grantby the N W DA todeveloppioneeringmedicalsoftwarethatcouldgeneratebusinessworth £1.3 millionintwo years.

Advanced MedicalSolutionsinWinsford,which developshigh performance polymersforthe healthcaremarket,has secured a £275,000 capitalinvestmentgrantfrom the N W DA thatwillhelpto fund a new phase ofgrowth inCheshireincludingthe creationof41 new jobs.

Bringingmore disabledentrepreneursintothe businessarena couldbenefitthe Northwestby £339 million,accordingtoa new ‘WealthBringers’reportsponsored by the N W D A. The study suggeststhereare 14,000 prospectivedisabledentrepreneursinthe region.

CORP O RATE INVESTORS TO

SUPPORT ENERGY INNOVATORS Home forbrightideas – Secure Electranshas developed a home hub tohelpconsumers manage theirenergy consumption

Majorpower companieshave pledged theirsupportfora unique hothouse facility,which aims to establishthe Northwestas a lead playerinthe developmentofnew low-carbon energy technologies.

The firstofthese brightideas,a highlynoveldevicethatcan helphouseholdersand small companiesmanage theirenergy consumption,has been fullydeveloped intoa market-ready product withinternationalsalespotential.

Secure Electranshas been abletoaccelerateevolutionofitsmultif -unctionalhome hub since moving intothe CapenhurstEnergy InnovationCentre,which was recentlyopened by Energy Minister Malcolm Wicks.

“The facilitiesand supportwe have here are justwhat we need,“explainsManaging DirectorMike Jarman.“They allow us toconcentrateon what we are reallygood atwhich isdevelopingand launchinga successfulnew product.”

NOVEL IDEAS The Centreisthe brainchildofpower engineeringspecialistEA Technology,which ishostingthe facilityatitsCheshireheadquartersand providingbusinessand technicalsupport.

Ithas been setup with£1.5millionofinvestmentfrom the NorthwestRegionalDevelopmentAgency (NWDA) and isexpectedtocreate18 new companies,mainlyinthe energy efficiencyand power distributiontechnologiesfields,and 60 jobs.

Five companiesare alreadylinedup tobecome members ofthe CentrewithSecure Electransthe firsttotake up residence.

One ofthe novelideasunderpinningthe Centreisthatfinancialsupportformember companiesis allocatedby a “Dragon’sDen” styleinvestmentforum,representingfourofBritain’sbiggestelectricity companies– Scottishand SouthernEnergy,ScottishPower,CE Electricand ElectricityNorthWest.

“The advantage ofthisapproach,”explainsEA TechnologyManaging DirectorRobertDavis,“isthat companiesthatare going touse and buy the new technologiesare directlyinvolvedinchoosingwhich ones toinvestin.Thatgivesmembers a flyingstart.”

The Centreisjustone ofa number ofnew projectsand collaborativeventuresthatare underway in the Northwesttohelpthe regionmeet the climatechange and energy challenge.

These range from wind turbineand tidalenergy schemes tofuelcellresearch,biomass and wasteto-energy investments,and buildingan advanced skillsbase and supplychainnetworksforthe looming nuclearnew buildprogramme.

The energy industryemploys 50,000 and isworth£5 billiona yeartothe regionaleconomy with strategicand businesssupportbeing providedby a number oforganisationsincludingthe Northwest Energy Counciland EnvirolinkNorthwest.

NUCLEAR CO MP O N E NTS RecentGovernmentannouncementssuggestthatthe UK willneed toinvest£100 billionifitisto meet a 2020 targetofgenerating15% ofitsenergy needs from renewables.It’sestimatedthat 122,000 to133,000 jobswillbe requiredtosupportthatinvestment.

“The trickistogenerateas many ofthose jobsas possibleinthe Northwest,”says Joe Flanagan, Head ofEnergy and EnvironmentalTechnologiesforthe N W DA. He citessupplychainwork forthe nuclearnew buildprogramme as the region’sbiggesteconomic opportunityoverthe nextdecade or so.Among those gearingup fornew era isBAE Systems,which has alreadypubliclystatedan interestinbuildingnuclearcomponentsatitsBarrow yard.

“We have halfofthe UK’s civilnuclearworkforceinthisregion,the onlyUK uranium enrichment plantatCapenhurstand the onlyUK facilityforturningthaturanium intonuclearfuelrods at Springfield,nearPreston,so we have quiteconsiderableassets,”adds Flanagan.

GO O D PROSPECTS BusinessSecretaryJohn Huttonannounced the latestadditiontothisportfolio,a NationalNuclear Laboratory,when he visitedSellafieldinJulytolaunch the ‘EnergyCoast’Masterplan,a £2 billion initiativetoregenerateWest Cumbriaby buildingon the area’snuclearexpertise.

The regionisalsopositioningitselftocash inon the expectedsurge ofinvestmentinwind power.

AccordingtoGovernmentestimates,meetingthe UK’s green energy targetswillrequireinvestmentof £36 billioninoffshorewind capacityand £13 billiononshore.

GillNowell,N W D A SectorManager forEnergy and EnvironmentalTechnologies,says thatalhough the regiondoes nothave any wind turbinemanufacturingcapacitysupplychainprospectsare good.

The Agency was abletodraw on the expertiseoftwo localcompaniestohelpitinstalla 25-metre high wind turbineatitsWarringtonheadquarters,a symbolofthe N W DA’s commitmenttoreducingits carbon footprint.

Officiallylaunched on WorldEnvironmentDay,the turbineuses advanced technologythatallows it tooperateeven inextreme weatherconditions.

The NorthernWay iscurrentlyengaged ina study ofoffshorewind supplychainpotentialwitha view todevelopingthe NorthofEngland as a supplyhub.“We have tostep up our interventionifwe are tocapturethe opportunities,”argues Nowell.

For more information: www.nwda.co.uk www.energyinnovationcentre.co.uk

TIDAL ENERGY CONFERENCE Tidalenergy isemergingas a possiblenew source ofpower generation,expertiseand employmentfor the Northwestwiththreeprojectsatthe conceptor veryearlyplanningstage.

PeelHoldingsisundertakingfurtherwork on a possiblescheme toharness the power ofestuarial tidesinthe Mersey.Two othertidalbarrage schemes are planned inthe regionatMorecambe Bay and Solway Firth.

More detailsofthe projectswillbe given ata one-day conference tolaunch the newlyestablished NorthWest TidalEnergy Group atLancasterUniversityon December 17.

Itsmembers includethe N W D A, PeelHoldings,potentialdevelopersand academic researchers.

“The group’saim ispositionEngland’sNorthwestas a globalleaderinthe exploitationoftidalenergy,” says N WTE G ChairJoe Flanagan.

Spoiltforchoice-plannerslooked atseverallocationson the Mersey fora tidalenergy scheme

PAGE 8-9 BUSINESS

FOREIGN CO M PANIES STEP UP INVESTMENT

IN N W PLC Overseas companieshave given the Northwesta morale-boostingvoteofconfidence by investinga massive£10 billionina regionaleconomy increasinglyrelianton technologyand high workforceskills.

The inflowofcorporateprojectsinthe pastyear,many relatedtoadvanced manufacturingand R&D, had a bigimpacton employmentwithover14,600 jobscreatedor safeguarded,doublethe number generatedthe previousyear.

TotalForeignDirectInvestment(FDI)lastyearjumped to£10.3 billion,dwarfingthe £1.3billion secured in2006-07.New investmentsaccounted for43 ofthe projects(against56 lastyear), expansions72 (58)and acquisitions41 (39).

There was a 13% increaseinthe number ofprojectssecured by the regionin2007-08 – 156 compared to138.Nearly100 had some form ofpublicsupportor intervention,although only17 receivedgrantaid.

VOTE OF CONFIDENCE “These figuresreflectthe tremendous effortsthatthe Agency,our sub-regionalpartnersand UK Trade and Investment(UKTI)have putintomaximiseourpotentialina verycompetitivemarketplace – it’sveryimportantthatwe continuetowork together,”commented John Cunliffe,Head ofInvestment Servicesatthe NorthwestRegionalDevelopmentAgency (NWDA).

The N W D A shares fourofficesinthe US and has representationinCanada withOne NorthEastand partnersYorkshireForward withan officeinTokyo.

Italsohas representationinAustralia,access todedicatedresourceswithUKTI inMumbai and is lookingathow toputmore resourcesintoChina.

“The latestfiguresdemonstratethe realvalueadded ofthese offices,”says Cunliffe.“Ifirmlybelieve thatthe roleofour overseas officesiskey tous being successfulinattractingforeigncompanies.”

Fortysixpercentofprojectsare expansionsby existingcompanies– “an importantvoteof confidence inthe region’sworkforceand itsappealas a competitivelocationforglobalbusinesses.”

The N W D A and itspartnersconcentratetheirmarketingand businesssupporteffortson the region’s prioritybusinesssectors.Three sectors,advanced engineering,businessand professionalservices and creativeand digital,accounted for70% ofFDI lastyear.

Cunliffebelievesthatenergy and environmentaltechnologieswillstarttoyieldmore investmentsas the UK moves intoa new era ofnuclearnew buildand therewillbe furtherinvestmentinrenewable projects.

The Japanese NSG group,which acquiredinnovation-ledPilkingtonin2006,reaffirmed itsfaithin the company’sabilitytokeep developingnew technologiesby investingnearly£40 millionina new coatingsfacilityatSt.Helens inMerseyside.

Due tobe commissioned inearly2009,the facilitywillhelpthe company exploitopportunitiesinthe emergingsolarenergy market.

“Thisisveryhigh technologyfora mature industry,”explainedTom Hughes,OperationsManager at the Greengatefactorywhere the equipmentisbeing installed.“It’sa brand new process thatwillallow us tocreate30 new jobsand go a long way toprotectingmore.

NE W TECHNOLO GY “The equipmentwillallow us toapplyspecialcoatingsinthe middleofthe productionprocess while the glassisstillhot.It’sa veryflexiblesystem thatwillallow us tomake a range ofadvanced products.”

Itsmain job,however,willbe tosupplyphotovoltaicglass.Solarpower isone ofthe key technologiesinthe renewablesenergy marketand ispartofPilkington’sfuturegrowth strategy.

Pilkingtonhas been atthe forefrontofinnovationinglass-making fordecades.Inkeepingwiththat traditionthe company has developed a coatingsprocess thatallows the glasstobe partofthe photovoltaiccellitself.

The project,insistsHughes,couldeasilyhave gone toa sisterplantinGermany buta £3 million SelectiveFinance forInvestmentinEngland (SFI)grant,viathe N W DA, helped the St.Helens factory clinchthe deal.

“Itwas pivotalinmaking thatinvestmentcome tothe UK,”insistsHughes.

An updated reportby DTZ has revealedthatalthough overseas companiesrepresentonly1% ofthe Northwestbusinessbase theycontribute17.5% ofGVA and employ over11% ofthe workforce.

For furtherinformation:www.enw.co.uk/invest

BUSINESS FORU M SHAPES INVESTMENT POLICY Seniorfiguresfrom businessand the universityand researchsectorsare throwingtheirexpertiseand experienceininternationalbusinessbehind a new driveby the N W DA tocapturea largersliceof ForeignDirectInvestment(FDI)and by UKTI’sregionalteam toincrease exportsfrom the Northwest.

Chairedby formerN W DA board member AnilRuia,the NorthwestInternationalBusinessForum, whose members representcompaniessuch as Jaguar,UnitedUtilities,Peeland Renovo,played a lead roleindevelopingthe InternationalisationStrategyand ActionPlan.

Thishas ledtoa significantincreaseinresourcesbeing deployed toattractinvestmentintothe region’sprioritysectors.The resultsfrom 2007-08 are confirmationofthe boldstrategicdirectiontaken by the forum on behalfofthe region.

“IFIRMLY BELIEVE THAT THE ROLE OF OUR OVERSEAS OFFICES IS KEY TO US BEING AS SUCCESSFUL AS WE ARE IN ATTRACTING FOREIGN CO MPANIES.” JOHN CUNLIFFE HEAD OF INVESTMENT SERVICES NWDA

Hi-tech manufacturing– A new coatingsfacilitywillallow Pilkingtontomake photovoltaicglassforthe solarenergy market Shanghaiskyline– China isa targetmarketforinternationaltrade New Freelander– overseas companieshave investedheavilyinthe region’sautomotiveindustry

PAGE 10-11 BUSINESS

KEY PROJECTS EXPAND SCIENCE SPACE Two new cutting-edge science facilitiesare tobe establishedatthe DaresburyScience and Innovation Campus, Cheshire,givingfurtherimpetustoa £600 millionmasterplanforthe site.

A £65 millioncapitalcontributionfrom the Government’sLarge FacilitiesCapitalFund (LFCF) will finance the HartreeCentre(computationalmodelling)and the DetectorSystems Centre(sensor development)which willbe shared withHarwell.

The centreswillwork closelywiththe NorthwestRegionalDevelopmentAgency (NWDA),the

academic communityand businessestocommercialisetheirfindingsinareas such as drug design, securitysystems and bio-medicalimaging.

News ofthe latestprojects,which are expectedtoattractmore key scientiststothe Northwest, comes ina periodofbuoyantinvestmentinthe region’sscience and high technologyinfrastructure.

New fundinghas secured the futureofthe JodrellBank Radio Telescope facilityand the Governmenthas given the go-ahead forthe establishmentofthe NationalNuclearLaboratoryat SellafieldinCumbria.

Dr.George Baxter,the N W DA’s DirectorofScience and Innovation,believesscience investment has a crucialroletoplayinmaking the Northwestmore competitive.

“There isevidence thatcompaniesthatdealwithknowledge resourcessuch as universitiesdelivera betterperformance than those thatdon’t.We are tryingtoestablisha strongbase ofnew technologies toraisethe region’seconomy toa much higherlevelthan inthe past.”

The N W D A willbe investingapproximately£80 millionyearinscience and innovationprojectsover the nextthreeyearsand thisisexpectedtoleverinthreeor fourtimes as much againofdirect investment.

The portfoliowillshortlyincludea Knowledge CentreforMaterialsChemistry,a consortium project thatinvolvesDaresburyand the UniversitiesofManchester,Liverpooland Bolton.Itwillbe a £30 millioninvestmentspread overfiveyears.

One ofthe Agency’sprincipalaims,along withitspartnersHaltonBorough Council,the Science and TechnologyFacilitiesCounciland the UniversitiesofLiverpool,Manchesterand Lancasteristo developDaresburyas a totallyintegratedcampus where science and businesscan interactforthe benefitofUK plc.

PRIVATE SECTOR Thatethos isalreadyatwork atthe DaresburyInnovationCentre,which has attracted75 companies inthreeyearsand the CockcroftInstitute,a centreofexcellenceinacceleratorscience.

Some companiesare expectedtorelocatetoa new ‘grow-on’building(VanguardHouse),currently being constructedby science parkspecialistSt Modwen as partofa £25 millionfirstphase of investmentinthe site.

The campus masterplanisexpectedtoinvolvean investmentof£600 millionover20 years.Most of thatwillcome from the privatesector,buttherehas been a need forsome publicsectorfunding, explainedDr Baxter.

“It’sa three-stage development.The firststage was the N W D A buyingthe land;the second stage was provingthe sitehad a commercialfuture,securingSt,Modwen as a developmentpartnerand gettingthe researchcouncilstoinvestinthe site.

“The thirdphase isthe £600 millioninvestmentplan.We’re currentlystandingon the second range ofhillsand can see the Alps inthe distance.The tricknow ismapping outa routetogetthere.”

With the 25-year-oldsynchrotronfacilityatDaresburyLaboratoryfacingplanned closurethisyear the two new centreswillprovidea welcome inputofscientistsand technicalexpertiseon tothe site.

The multim -illioninvestmentscomprise: HartreeCentre:a £50 millionnationalcentreforcomputationalscience.Computationalmodellingis becoming increasinglyimportantinmany areas from weatherforecastingand measuringinsurance risktodrug design.Itislikelytobe a new buildprojecton the DaresburyLaboratorysite.

DetectorSystems Centre:a £30 millionfacilityshared equallybetween Daresburyand Harwell.Itis seen as havingmassivecommercialpotentialinareas such as nextgenerationsecuritydevices.

The N W D A isprovidingfundingsupportfora number ofotherprojectsthatare completedor inthe pipeline.

They includea VirtualEngineeringCentreatDaresbury,which has the supportofallthe major aerospace companiesand willbe run by the UniversityofLiverpool,and a CompositesCertification facilitybased atthe UniversityofManchesterthatwillprovidea serviceforSMEs. The linksbetween academia and industryhave been furtheredstrengthened by the £8.2 million CentreforMaterialsDiscoveryatLiverpool,which had itsofficialopening inApril.

EstablishedwithN W DA fundingsupportof£1.9 million,the facilitygivesbusinesses access tostateof-the-artHigh-Throughput(HT)technologywiththe aim ofbringingnew productstomarketmore quickly.

BusinessDevelopmentManager Simon Longden says the centre‘sexperimentalstaffwork with

companieson developingnew materialsforapplicationsina range ofsectorsfrom pharmaceuticalsto consumer products.

“One clientinthe home and personalcare markethas been abletoachieveintwo weeks something thatwould have taken 12-16 months usingmanuallabour”he says.

For furtherinformation: www.nwda.co.uk www.materialsdiscovery.com

BUILD UP OF NUCLEAR EXPERTISE The Northwestcontinuestobuilda criticalmass ofnuclear‘know-how’,pavingthe way forgreater supply-chaincollaborationwithglobalcompaniesinvolvedinboth decommissioningand the design and constructionofnew nuclearpower stations.

BusinessSecretaryJohn Huttonrecentlyconfirmed thatthe NationalNuclearLaboratory(NNL) would be establishedatSellafieldinCumbriain2009 withsatelliteoperationsinPrestonand other areas.A competitionisbeing launched tochoose a managing contractor.

The announcementwas the resultofsignificantwork by the N W D A and partnerstosecurethe facilityforthe Northwest.

The NNL willbringtogetherstaffinNexiaSolutionsand facilitiesowned by the Nuclear DecommissioningAuthority(NDA),includingthe SellafieldTechnologyCentre.Itwillhave a crucial roleincleaningup the UK’s nuclearwaste legacy,and incontributingtothe new buildprogramme.

Dr.PaulHaworth,DirectorofResearch atthe UniversityofManchester’sDaltonNuclearInstitute, describedthe NNL as furtherconfirmationthatthe Northwestisthe home ofthe nuclearindustry.“It willalsoencourage more young peopletoseek a careerinnuclear.”The university’sroleas an importantproviderofprofessionalsintothe nuclearindustrywillbe furtherstrengthened by itsdecision toestablishthe CentreinNuclearEnergy Technology(CNET),an anticipatedinvestmentof £25 millionoverthe nextfiveyears,which includes£4 millionfrom the NorthwestScience Council.

Westinghouse ElectricCompany has given the projecta majorboostby providingfundingsupport forthe appointmentofProfessorTim Abram as the new ChairinNuclearFuelTechnology.His aim is tobuilda world-classcapabilityinreactorrelatedskillstosupportnuclearnew build.

“WE ARE TRYING TO ESTABLISH A STRON G BASE OF NE W TECHNOLO GIES TO RAISE THE REGION’S ECON O M Y TO A MUC H HIGHER LEVEL THAN IN THE PAST.” GEOR G E BAXTER DIRECTOR OF SCIENCE AND INNOVATION NWDA

State-of-the-art– the CentreforMaterialsDiscovery,Liverpool New frontier– nestlingbelow the iconicDaresburyTower thisiswhat the DetectorSystems Centremightlooklike

Computationalpowerhouse – a visualisationofthe proposed HartreeCentre Testingtime – a Sellafieldtechnicianruns a safetycheck

PAGES 12-13 BUSINESS

HELPING M O RE CO M PANIES TO MAKE THE LEAP BusinessLinkNorthwest(BLNW) issteppingup itseffortstohelpbusinessesweatherthe current economic climateas access tofinance and managing financeemerge as key prioritiesforregional companies.

“We have tobe fleetoffootand reacttocustomer demand as the marketchanges,”reports Managing DirectorPeterWatson.“The focus formany businesseshas switched more heavilytowards managing theircosts.

“There istremendous pressureon them particularlyatthe smallerend ofthe marketand we are havingtodeploydifferentskillstohelpthem.”

BLN W iscurrentlyrecruitinga number ofexperienced financebrokersand willshortlylaunch ‘AccesstoFinance’as anotherspecialistarm ofthe organisation.

“We are alsomaking sure allofour brokersare abletobe more effectiveinhelpingbusiness understandthe financialissues they face,and we are targetingbusinesseswithinformationon the widerfinancialsupportavailabletothem,”adds Watson.

His comments came as BLN W released figuresforitsfirstyearofoperationshowing that businesses usingthe new streamlined,more responsiveserviceadded an estimated£390 millionto the wealthofthe Northwesteconomy. Over 86,000 businesses used the 24/7 servicein2007-08,a 6% increase on the previousyear.Companiesreceivingintensivesupportfrom BusinessLink’s180 specialistand targetbrokersjumped 23% to5,525.

Thishas been achieved againsta backdrop of90% customer satisfactionand a growing recognition ofthe serviceamongstbusinesses,with71% oflocalfirmsnow aware ofthe service.

Accordingtothe figures,the top issue withcompaniesisworkforceskillsaccountingfor37% of inquiriesand leadingto9,575 employersworkingwitha skillsbrokertoaccess freetrainingforstaff.

Thiswas followed by 23% ofbusinessesseekingadviceon how togrow theiroperations.

FRUITFUL RELATIONSHIPS “We’re delightedwithour achievementsinour firstyearbutour greatestsuccess has been the differencewe have made tothe companieswe have worked with,”explainsWatson.

The KelsallHillEquestrianCentreatTarporleyinCheshirehas had a veryfruitfulrelationshipwith BusinessLinksincefatherand son team Robin and PhilLathom decided todiversifytheirexisting dairyfarm.

The familywas abletogetthe ventureoffthe round aftermeetingBusinessLinkNorthwestbroker and horse enthusiastHilaryCenteleghe atNantwichShow. She was abletohelpthem access grant fundingundera ‘SaddleUp’ ruraldiversificationscheme inCheshire.

“Once we secured the firstgranteverythingmoved so quicklyand we haven’tlooked back,notleast because we haven’thad time to.”says Phil.

IMPARTIAL SERVICE KelsallHillhas quicklyestablisheditselfas a destinationofchoiceforleisureand competitionriders and has itssightsseton buildingan indoor-schooltoenhance itsyear-round appeal.

Ithad cause tocelebraterecentlyafterbeing selectedas one ofjustsixNorthwestvenues than can hostan OlympicEquestrianTrainingCamp in2012.

Establishedin2007 as an impartialbusinesssupportand informationserviceBusinessLink Northwestreceives£18 millionoffundingannuallyfrom the NorthwestRegionalDevelopmentAgency (NWDA).

Operatingwith250 stafffrom a main base inPrestonand workingoutof25 otherpartnerlocations around the region,itruns a universalweb-based emailand telephone contactserviceforall

businesses as wellas a targetedservicewhere brokerswork on a one-to-one basiswithbusinesses who want togrow.

For furtherinformation: www. businesslink.gov.uk/northwest

NE W APPROACH TO FINANCING BUSINESS GRO W T H Fresh effortsare underway acrossthe Northwesttostimulatebusinessgrowth by making iteasierfor finance-hungrystartups and growth minded smalland medium sizebusinesses toaccess support fundingappropriatetotheirneeds.

Companies findingitdifficulttoraiseriskcapitalthrough the commercialmarketsare being offereda single,simplifiedrouteintoa range ofaffordablefundingoptionsfollowingthe launch ofa new action plan by the NorthwestRegionalDevelopmentAgency (NWDA).

Developed by the Agency afterwide consultation,the Finance forBusiness(FFB) strategywillfocus publicsectorsupporton providinginterventiontoaddress specificareas ofmarketfailure,actingonly when the privatesectorcannotor willnothelp.

“It’sa particularlyapttime tobe puttingthisinplace given the currentcreditcrunch,”commented David Read, N W DA Head ofFinance forBusiness.

Launched inparallelwiththe Agency-ledEnterpriseActionPlan,the FFB strategyissettoexpand the provisionofstartup and growth capitalwithinthe region.

BusinessLinkNorthwest(BLNW), which has enjoyed a successfulfirstyearinoperation,will expand itsservicesby becoming the primarygateway foraccessingfinance.

Othernew elementsinthe restructuringwillincludea VentureCapitalLoan Fund (VCLF), underpinned with£70 millionfrom the latestERDF programme tosupporthigh growth SMEs including earlystage technologyenterpriseswiththe provisionofseed,ventureand mezzanine finance.

The Agency isalsoinvesting£5 millionina £10 millionsmallbusinessloan scheme administered regionallyby Com munityDevelopmentFinance Institutions(CDFI)withbanks contributinga similar amount forsupportingloans between £3,000 and £30,000.

Poor ‘investmentreadiness’isthe main barrierquoted by financialinstitutions,venturecapitaland businessangelstoSMEs and earlystage businessesaccessingfinance.

To address thisfailureBLN W isrecruitinga number ofspecialistbrokerstowork withcompaniesso thatthe widestrange ofSMEs can access,use and benefitfrom both the financialproductsand the supportthey need toincrease theirproductivityand competitiveness.

Access tofinance isrecognisedby the EU, the UK Governmentand the RegionalEconomic Strategyas one ofthe biggestbarrierstothe formation,survivaland growth rateofbusinesses.

PACKAGE OF OPTIONS Key themes inthe FFB strategyincluderaisingawareness ofdifferenttypes offinanceavailableto fund businessgrowth,changingthe culturalaversiontoequityfinanceand supportforthe developmentofnew financialproductsand servicesthataddresscurrentand futuremarketgaps.

“What we are tryingtodo issimplifythe whole process ofraisingfinanceby creatinga singlepoint ofaccess.The previousstructurewas slightlyconfusingforbusinesses,”explainsDavidRead.

“The key pointistoprovidebusinessfinance where thereare areas ofmarketfailure,especially between the equitygaps of£250,000 to£2 million.We want toensure thatwe can pulltogethera

package ofoptionstoensure businesscan startup and grow.”

A key objectiveofthe new policyistohelpbusinessesreduce theirenvironmentalimpact.This couldmean prioritisinginvestmentapplicationsthatcontributetothe regiondevelopinga low-carbon economy.

The FFB strategycomplementsthe work currentlybeing undertaken as partofthe Government’s BusinessSupportSimplificationProgramme on Access toFinance and ensuresnationalproductson finance and investmentreadiness,debtand riskcapitalalignwiththe regionalneed.

For furtherinformation: www.nwdabusinessfinance.co.uk Clearingthe hurdles– businesssupportishelpingKelsallHillEquestrianCentreexpand Measure ofexcellence– laboratorytestingatflooringmanufacturerFlowcrete,a flourishingCheshire-based business

PAGE 14-15 SKILLS AND EDUCATION NE W S New pathways intoemploymentinthe media industrywillbe createdby the UniversityofSalfordand the BBC followinga partnershipagreementbetween the two organisationsthatwilllead tonew joint courses,enterprisetrainingand studentplacementswithinthe BBC. Over 250 new and emergingbusinesses are being nurturedinthe UniversityofCentralLancashire’s Media Factoryincubator,enablingUCLan tocome second nationallyand top regionallyinthe latest HigherEducation– Businessand Com munityInteractionsurvey.

Funding of£90 millionisinplace tofacilitatethe relocationofBlackpooland Fylde Collegetoa site withinthe Second Gate area ofthe town centre.Phase one ofthe developmentwillbe completedin September 2009.

ManchesterUniversityhas improved itsworldrankinginthe respectedleague tablespublishedby ShanghaiJiaoTong University.Since the mergerofthe VictoriaUniversityand UMIST in2004 Manchesterhas climbed from 53rd to40th place.Inthe pastyearithas alsorisentosixthinEurope,a riseofthreeplaces.

LancasterUniversity’sincome from collaborativeresearchwithbusinessrose from £7 millionto £11.5millionin2006-07 moving the universityintothe top tierofHigherEducationinstitutionsinthe UK generatingwealththrough workingwithbusiness.

EnterpriseChampions willbe establishedata furtherfourNorthwestuniversities– Liverpool,Salford, Cumbriaand ManchesterMetropolitanwiththe helpof£930,000 fundingfrom the N W DA. The funding willalsobe used tosupporta similarongoingprojectatLiverpoolJohn Moores University.

ACADE MIES SPUR YOUN G ENTERPRISE A new generationofentrepreneursisbeing nurturedinthe Northwestthanks toa series ofprogrammes,which are encouragingyoung peoplefrom an earlyage tostartthinkingseriously aboutenterpriseas a careeroption.

The region’sfirstenterpriseacademy was opened inKnowsleytwo yearsago,and issettobe joinedby a second academy developed by the entrepreneurPeterJones,betterknown as a judge on

the popularTV programme Dragons’Den. Based atthe NorthMersey BusinessCentre,the KnowsleyEnterpriseAcademy, which has received £2.3 millionoffundingfrom the NorthwestRegionalDevelopmentAgency (NWDA),has proved a huge success,with6,500 16-19-year-oldshavingpassed through itsdoor.

The Academy’sChiefExecutiveSteve Dumbellsays the projecthas revitalisedan area hithard by economic decline.“Whatwe are tryingtodo isencourage young peopletodream aboutowning a businessinthe futurebutconcentrateforthe time being on acquiringemployabilityskills,”he says.

But crucially,he adds,the Academy threadscitizenshipthrough everythingitdoes,which helpsto turnthe young peopleintogood citizens,as wellas good entrepreneurs.

A second strandtothe Academy’swork isofferingincubatorspace tostartup businesses,which have historicallyfound ithard toflourishinthe area.Thistoo has proved successful,withthe Academy settoexpand on tothe nearby derelictKodak siteinordertooffermore incubatorunits.

The NorthwestAcademy willoffermentoring,masterclassesand incubationsupporttohelpyoung peoplefrom alleducationalbackgrounds gettheirideas offthe ground.

PeterJones’team isalsoworkingwiththe Curriculum QualificationAuthoritytodevelopa new award inenterprise.Thiswillmean young peoplewillbe abletochoose between followinga theoreticalroute,possiblyleadingtohighereducation,or a practicalroute,allowingthem toget straighton withdevelopingtheirideas.

Ewan Rowland,N W DA Enterpriseand InnovationPolicyManager,believesboth academies have a crucialroletoplayinhelpingthe regiontomove up the UK’s enterpriseleague table.

ENTERPRISE JOURNEY “There isa strongbody ofevidence tosay thatskillsinthe workplacewillreleasethe potentialof workerstobe innovativeand more enterprising.”

The Agency isalsocreatinga new ‘enterprisejourney’thatwillintroduce childrentothe conceptof enterpriseinprimaryschool,and offerthem a clearentrepreneurialroutethatthey can followthrough touniversity.

To helpachievethis,the N W D A isinvesting£2.5 millionina FurtherEducationEnterpriseHub, which willwork withclustersofprimaryand secondaryschoolstohelpembed enterprisewithinthe curriculum.

For furtherinformation: www.nwda.co.uk Making a difference– the KnowsleyEnterpriseAcademy aims todevelopa new generationofentrepreneurs.

SKILLS BOOST FOR KEY BUSINESS SECTORS A collaborativeprogramme designed toupskillthe higherechelonsofthe Northwest’sworkforcehas been so successfulthatitisbeing rolledouttoanotherthreeofthe region’skey industrysectors.

The HigherEducationPathfinderProjectwas launched as a three-yearpilotinOctober2006 with£4 millionfundingsupportfrom the HigherEducationFunding CouncilforEngland (HEFCE).

Embracingthe region’suniversitiesand FurtherEducation(FE)colleges,itsaim was toimprove the provisionofhigherskillslevelsinfourkey sectors– advanced engineeringand materials,business and professionalservices,construction,and creativeand digitalindustries.

Such has been the impactofthe pilotthatthe NorthwestRegionalDevelopmentAgency (NWDA) is providingfundingtoallow the prioritysectorsoffood and drink,energy and environmental technologies,and bio-medicaltojointhe scheme.

The pathfinderisbeing deliveredby the NorthWest UniversitiesAssociation(NWUA),which

representsthe region’s14 highereducationinstitutions,inpartnershipwithotherkey players.

AssistantDirectorDr.CeliaBriggexplains:“It’saboutbuildingmore linksbetween highereducation and businesses.Thiswilllead tomore coursesthatare ‘demand-led’,withemployersactuallysaying what they want the contentofthe course tobe and how theywant ittobe delivered.”

MO RE INCLUSIVE The N W U A has worked closelywiththe SectorSkillsCouncils(SSCs) toidentifygaps inthe current highereducation.

Rob Wellman,OperationsManager atSummitSkills,the SSC forbuildingservicesengineering,was worriedthatthose coursesthatwere availablewere oftentoo generic,and notaccessibleor relevant tobusinesses.

“We have a largenumber ofsmallcompaniesand some ofthem don’tnecessarilyneed peoplewith a fulldegree,”he explains.“So one ofthe thingswe’ve asked the universitiestodo ismake sure the degree itselfisavailableinbite-sized bits.”

Thanks tothe Pathfinder,thisisnow being reflectedatthe UniversityofCentralLancashire(UCLan) and LiverpoolJohn Moores University,both ofwhich have developed modularFoundationDegrees in buildingservicesengineering.

UCLan has alsodeveloped a new a continuousprofessionaldevelopment(CPD) course inthe Science and TechnologyofNuclearWaste,withunitscoveringspecificelementsofwaste management.As wellas being shorterthan many postgraduatequalifications,itisalsocheaperand more inclusive.

The course isthe directresultofa skillsgap highlightedby companiesworkinginthe sector,who were concerned that,withmore sitesbeing decommissioned,therewas a pressingneed for experienced engineersand projectmanagers withthe latestskillsneeded tomanage nuclearwaste.

HIGH-LEVEL TRAINING The Pathfinderinitiativehas alsoledtoa unique partnershipbetween the FE and HE sectors,with LiverpoolCom munityCollegeand Wigan and Leigh Collegeteaming up withManchesterMetropolitan UniversitytodevelopFurtheringFashion,a new high-leveltrainingprogramme.

The SectorSkillsCouncilSkillfastU -K helped todevelopthe partnershipand ChiefExecutiveLinda Florance says:“Formany yearsemployershave been cryingoutforhigher-leveltechnicaltrainingthat can be deliveredtofitinand around work responsibilitiesand itnow lookslikewe willsoon have that inthe Northwest.”

The partnershiphas encouraged severalhouseholdnames toparticipateindevelopingthe courses, includingReebok and Marks and Spencer.

Dr.Briggadds:“The ultimateaim istopump prime thiskind ofactivity,and stimulatethe interest withinuniversitiesand businesses forthiskindofwork.Then,when thisprojectfinishes,the work will hopefullycarryon because allpartnerswillhave seen the benefitsofworkingmore closelytogether.”

For furtherinformation: www.nwua.ac.uk/pathfinder

“W H EN THIS PROJECT FINISHES THE W O R K WILL HOPEFULLY CARRY ON BECAUSE ALL PARTNERS WILL HAVE SEEN THE BENEFITS OF W O R KING MO RE CLOSELY TOGETHER.” DR CELIA BRIGG ASSISTANT DIRECTOR NORTH WEST UNIVERSITIES ASSOCIATION

Shaping up – ManchesterMetropolitanUniversityisworkingon a trainingprogramme forfashionindustry professionals

PAGE 16 -17 PEOPLE AND JOBS NE W S

New governmentfiguresshow thatthe N W DA exceeded itstargetsfor2007-08 by creatingor safeguarding17,749 jobs,assisting6,748 intoemploymentand helping25,805 peoplewiththeirskills needs.

GovernmentOfficeforthe NorthWest (GON W) has publishedthe firstprogressreporton recommendationsofthe BlackpoolTask Force.Among the investmentshighlightedby Regional DirectorLizMeek isthe £200 millionBlackpoolNorthRailway Stationdevelopmentand an £85 million upgrade ofthe tram system.

GreaterManchesterhas signed a MultiA -rea Agreement (MAA) toboosteconomic prosperity.The partnershipof10 councilshas committedtoincreaseannualVAT registrations,providebetter educationand skillsfor14-19 yearoldsand reduce the number outofwork.

Expertsledby SirTom McKillop,Chairman,RoyalBank ofScotland,are conductinga rigorous assessmentofthe economic potentialofthe ManchesterCityRegion.The £1.35 millionManchester IndependentEconomic Review,which ispartfunded by the N W D A, isthe firstofitskindforany UK city.Findingswillbe availableatthe end of2008.

Preservationwork has been completedon threehistoricalbuildingsinAncoats,EastManchester, pavingthe way forfurtherdevelopment ofthe formerindustrialquarteras an urban village.The N W D A isinvesting£68 milliontoregeneratethe area.

Poor healthiscostingthe regionaleconomy up to£3 billiona year,accordingtoa new reportby the strategichealthauthority.The reportsetsouta visionforhealthand healthcareservicesforthe region, forthe next10 years.

HISTORIC CITY SEEKS ECON O MIC REVIVAL Carlisleisa cityon a mission.The once importantRoman fortressisnow poised fora renaissance,a revivaltoexpand itseconomic fortunesand enhance itsappealtoresidentsand visitorsalike.

The cityhas alreadymade significantprogresssinceitwas affectedby floodsin2005,an eventthat proved tobe the catalystforregenerationand economic development.

Ian McNichol,the recentlyappointedProgramme DirectorofCarlisleRenaissance,says:“We have done the spade work,now we have reached a new beginning.Thisiswhere the hard work starts.”

Mr McNichol,who moved tothe CityCouncilon secondmentfrom EnglishPartnershipsin2005, goes on:“Thisissomethingnew forCarlislewhich has neverhad a formaleconomic strategynor a masterplanforthe citycentre.Developingthem has been a good exerciseforthe city,because it’s freshand new.”

Drivingthe change willbe the 12-strong,privatesectorledCarlisleRenaissance Board,agreed as the bestmeans ofmoving from strategytodeliveryafterresearchintodifferentmodelsofcity regeneration.

Chairedby Bryan Gray,who willstep down aftersixyearsas Chairman ofthe NorthwestRegional DevelopmentAgency (NWDA) laterthisyear,the Board includesrepresentativesofCarlisleCityand CumbriaCountycouncils,CumbriaVision,the N W DA, the UniversityofCumbriaand majorlocal businesses.

Mr Gray acknowledges:“Thisisa tremendous challenge,tolead the citythrough such an exciting periodofchange,buildingon a greatdealofprogresswhich has alreadybeen made.”

Already the Board has agreed itsprioritiesafterthe process was kick-startedinDecember 2006 with the helpof£1 millionofN W D A funding.Recentlythe Agency approved a further£3 millionfora number offeasibilitystudiesand tofund the Programme Director’steam, along withthe Cityand CountyCouncils.

Prioritiesfocus on developingthe heartofthe city,where a new universitycampus istobe builton a Caldew Riversidesite,and targetingstrategicemploymentsites.

McNicolstressesthe importanceofhavinga stronguniversitypresence inthe city.“We want the universitytobe visible,on the doorstepand linkedtothe citycentre.”

There are alsoplans to“vigorouslypolish”the city’sculturaland heritagequarter,which includesthe cathedral,castle,TullieHouse Museum and ArtGalleryand itslinkswithHadrian’sWall,allofwhich couldbe highlightedmore aggressivelytoattractvisitors.

The ‘renaissance’willincludethe developmentofthe city’scommercialheart,lookingatthe potentialfornew offices,leisureand retailoutlets,boosted inJune 2006 withthe opening ofHoopers on CastleStreet,formerlyBulloughs departmentstore,a fixtureinthe cityfor96 years.

RETAIL RENAISSANCE Renaissance Board member VictoriaFarley,GeneralManager ofHoopers,says:“Therewas some scepticism inthe cityaboutbringingboth designerand strongfashionlabelstoCarlisle,butnow we are here,we are making a differencetothe retailoffer.

“Beforewe opened,peoplewho wanted certainlabelshad totravelup totwo hourstoManchester or Newcastle.Partofthe renaissance istoadd tothe shoppingexperienceby attractingmore niche and artisanboutiques,where peoplecan browse.”

Traditionallythe city’ssectorstrengthshave included logistics– withitsworldbrand ofEddieStobart heading the list– distribution,food processingand some manufacturing,includingItaliantyrecompany Pirelli, which invested£11 millioninitsCumbriafactory.

LONG TERM VISION Former PirellidirectorJohn Nixon,now ChiefExecutiveofCarlisleUnitedFootballClub and another Renaissance Board member,suggeststhatbecause industryisnow global,itwould be naïve topin the Board’shopes on attractingnew majoremployers.

“We must concentrateon retainingthe industryand businesswe alreadyhave and buildingnew smallerones.We have toprovidethe rightenvironmentand employmentsitestomeet the 21st centuryneeds ofbusiness.”

He alsobelievesthe UniversityofCumbriaisofvitalimportance,attractingstudentsfrom acrossthe UK as wellas from the localarea,encouragingthe citytoretainas many graduatesas possible.

“These are our aspirations,butitisa long term visionof20 to25 years,”says McNichol.

For furtherinformation: www.carlisle.gov.uk www.nwda.co.uk

HITTING THE HERITAGE TRAIL Members ofthe Renaissance Board,who believeCarlisleshouldboastaboutitsheritage,say there isno reason why the citycannotjoindestinationslikeYork and Bath on the ‘mustsee’listsof overseas visitors.

American tourists,particularlykeen toincludea historiccitytrailintheirstay,couldbe drawn to Carlisleifthey were more aware ofwhat ithas tooffer.

On the agenda would be the 900-year-oldCarlisleCastle,once the temporaryaddress ofMary Queen ofScots,builttocommand the westernend ofthe Anglo-Scottishborder,originallydefinedby Roman EmperorHadrian.

The CountryBus servicewhich takesvisitorsthe lengthofthe 73-mileHadrian’sWall,now a World HeritageSite,has stops inCarlisle,which isaround ten milesfrom itsnearestvisibleremainsat

Brampton.

A lifesizereplicaofa sectionofthe Walltogetherwithmaterialfound duringexcavationsofRoman fortsare on show atthe TullieHouse Museum and ArtGallery,which has a comprehensiveRoman collection.

Opened in1893,the Museum was a silveraward winnerthisyear(2008)atthe NationalEnjoy England Awards – the ‘tourism Oscars’– inthe categoryforlargevisitorattractions.

Among the treasuresatthe city’sCathedral,founded in1122 and one ofthe country’ssmallest,is the eastwindow with14th centurystainedglassand a 16thcenturycarved Flemish altarpiece.

Renaissance Board member VictoriaFarley,says:“IfAmericanscome here theirheritagetrailcan includeRoman, the Jacobean rebellion,mediaeval,the IndustrialRevolutionand Georgian architecture.”

Spellbindingexhibit– the CursingStone atTullieHouse Museum Architecturallegacy-Carlisle’sOld Town Hall Spiritualenclave– CarlisleCathedralprecinct Heritagetreasure– the 900-year-oldCarlisleCastle

PAGE 18-19 PEOPLE AND JOBS

TAKING RURAL LIFE TO NE W HEIGHTS Ruralareas inthe Northwestare toreceivea £75 millionboosttoimprove qualityoflife,diversifythe economy and supportfarming,forestryand localactiongroups.

Over the nextfiveyears,the aim istoincrease skillsand knowledge,supportbusinessesand enhance opportunitiestocreatea vibranteconomy and securea sustainablefuture.

The fundingcomes from the RuralDevelopmentProgramme forEngland (RDPE),which has divided the initiativeintofourparts,threeofwhich willbe managed by the NorthwestRegionalDevelopment Agency (NWDA).The fourthwillbe the responsibilityofthe ForestryCom missionand Natural England.

PeterWhite,ExecutiveDirectorofDevelopmentatthe N W DA, says:“Thiswillbe the largestrural programme inthe regionoverthe nextfiveyearswiththe fundingpower toradicallyimprove our rural areas.”

RURAL GRO W T H The money willbe split:£38 millionforimprovingthe competitivenessoffarmingand forestry sectorsand £37 millionforimprovingqualityoflifeand diversifyingthe economy. Around £25 millionof those funds willbe used fordeliverythrough localactiongroups,known as LEADER groups.

The announcementcomes as the resultsofthe N W D A’s £100 millionfive-yearRuralRenaissance initiative,which helped marshallfundingstreams totalling£390 million,are being evaluated.

The Agency,the catalystforthe creationofsub-regionalruralpartnerships,which helped todeliver the Renaissance programmes, says the programme has created9,000 jobs,1,800 businessesand 240,000 square metresofnew businessspace.Around 17,000 businessesbenefitedfrom a range of

advice.

The initiativeinvested£14 millioninnew tourism facilitiesand attracted£8 millionofadditional publicinvestmentand over£13 millionofinvestmentfrom the privatesector.

David Hunter,the N W DA’s Head ofRuralAffairs,says:“The countrysideinthe Northwestisnotjust a picturesque backdrop,buta livingpartofourcommunity,an importantpartofthe make-up ofthe region.

“Our focus has always been on ruralgrowth.Growth isatthe heartofsustainableruralcommunities and isvitalifwe are tosupportthe significantcontribution,which ruralareas make tothe regionas a whole.These areas cannotstand still.”

Research in2004 revealedthat40% ofthe Northwest’sbusinesses are based inruralareas and theyaccountfor23% ofthe region’sGross Value Added (GVA) and 25% ofitsemployment.

Huntersays the focus was togetruraleconomies “back on track”afterthe 2001 outbreakoffoot and mouth disease exposed “traditionalruraleconomies”as vulnerabletoeconomic shock and deep ruralareas as havinga lackofdiversityand capacitytodealwithseriousproblems.

Now, he says,aftera greatdealofinvestmentand work atlocallevel,ruralbusinessestend tobe more diverseand resilientand have succeeded infindingnew marketsand opportunities.

RuralRenaissance was tackleddifferentlyinthe region’sthreecounties.The LancashireRural RecoveryActionPlan (LRRAP) concentratedon broadeningthe economic base by enhancingthe growth ofexistingbusinesses,inparticularby usingthe successfulRuralGrantFund and Rural BusinessFacilitationService.

SUCCESS STORY Itwas withthe helpofa ruralgrant,thatlocalcompany Entre-Prises,leadersinthe constructionof artificialclimbingwalls,were abletoexpand.

Based atBarnoldswick’sEden Works industrialestate,the company,which has fittedover5,000 structuresinlocationsaround the world,acquireda new high-tech manufacturingspace and office.

Estateowner MichaelWolfenden,says:“The ruralgranthelped me totransform a unitintoa valuablespace toenableEntre-Prisestoexpand and hopefullybecome an even greatersuccess story.”

Stephen Brown,Head ofProgramme Management atLancashireEconomic Partnershipwhich managed the LLRAP says:“The ActionPlan made an impacton the localeconomy and wellbeing of communitiesthrough a varietyofinitiativessupportingbusinessdevelopment,localfood production, tourism,the environmentand communities.”

InCheshire,where pocketsofdeprivationexistinthe southofthe county,RuralRenaissance was deliveredby CheshireRuralPartnership.Itadopted “a novelapproach”,includingprojectsentitled Kerching!tosupportretaildevelopmentand the marketingoflocalproducts,‘Saddleup’,toimprove equine-relatedbusinessesand Green Fingersaimed atincreasingvisitornumbers togarden attractions.

David Huntersays:“By tacklingareas ofnew activity,Cheshireenjoyed a quicktake-up.For every £1 ofAgency funding,theyattracted£4 from otherpublicand privatesectorsourceswhich is testamenttotheirapproach.”

For furtherinformation: www.nwda.co.uk/rdpe www.crea.co.uk

PLANNING SERVICE SUCCESS A planningadviceserviceinCumbria– where £54 millionofthe ‘ruralrenaissance’budgetwas invested– has been shortlistedfora RoyalTown PlanningInstitutenationalaward.

The RuralPlanningFacilitationService(RPFS) supportsruralbusinesseskeen toexpand or diversifyand operatesthroughoutthe Northwest.Itwas establishedtoovercome difficulties surroundingplanningapplications,“one ofthe stumblingblocksinthe ruraleconomy”,accordingto

David Hunter.

InCumbria,where the Serviceisdeliveredby CumbriaRuralEnterpriseAgency (CREA),itprovides up toone and a halfdays freeadvicewortharound £600,togiveapplicantsthe bestchance of success.

The RPFS istocontinuethroughoutthisyearand 2009 withmore fundingfrom the N W D A. The countyalsoestablishedthe UK’s firstruralregenerationcompany -RuralRegeneration Cumbria(RRC) – inApril2003 which managed a £39 millionprogramme ofN W D A fundingand £6.2 millionofEuropean funding.AfterthreeyearsRRC reportedthatthe number ofjobsand businesses created,the skillsdevelopmentprovidedand the businessperformance were allinexcess of theirtarget.

For furtherinformation:www.ruralcumbria.co.uk

Going up inthe world– a ruralgranthas helped Entre-Prises,makers ofartificialclimbingwalls,expand New pastures– these businesspremises inCheshire,were formerlytwo cowsheds Cuttingred tape – specialisthelpcan speed up the ruralplanningprocess

PAGE 20-21 PEOPLE AND JOBS

PARTNERSHIP TO BUILD CORRIDOR OF PO W E R Manchester’sOxfordRoad corridoristobe transformed intoa new entrepreneurialhub forthe cityregion.

The ManchesterCitySouth Partnershipwas launched earlierthisyeartodriveforwardthe knowledge economy and unlockthe trueeconomic potentialofan under-performingpartofthe city.

With OxfordRoad as itsspine,the corridorbeginsatthe steps ofthe CentralLibraryand stretches down toWhitworthPark,takinginover240ha.

As wellas bringingtogetherkey institutionsbased along the corridor,such as the NHS Trust,BBC and two universities,the partnershipwillbe lookingatways toattractthe privatebusinessesthatthe corridorreallyneeds toflourish.

PILOT PROJECTS The partnershipalsohas the backingofManchesterCityCounciland the NorthwestRegional DevelopmentAgency (NWDA),and ChiefExecutiveJackiePotterbelievesthe area isunique in havingso many key institutionslocatedso closetogether,and so neartothe citycentre.But,she says,itisnow time tobringthem even closertogether.

The universitiesand NHS Trustare currentlycarryingoutinvestmentprogrammes inexcess of£1.5 billionand a roleofCitySouth,says Potter,willbe toensure thatthese investmentsstarttoconnect and offermaximum benefitforManchesterand the Northwest.

CitySouth willalsobe workingtotransform OxfordRoad, the busiestbus routeinEurope,into somethingfarmore user-friendly.The partnershiphas made a successfulbidtothe Transport InnovationFund,and a postalreferendum acrossManchesterthisautumn willdecidewhetherthe proposed Bus Rapid TransportSystem getsthe green light.

The N W D A isinvestingina number ofstudiesand pilotprojectsdesigned toattractprivateinvestors and createan ‘innovationecosystem’thatnurturesthe exchange ofideasbetween businessesand academia.

“What’smissingare the businessesthatare going totake the ideas and putthem towork,making wealthforthe city,”explainsDave Sanderson,Science PolicyManager atthe N W DA. “From the Agency’spointofview it’saboutmaking the area attractand retainhighlyinnovativebusinesses.”

Projectsincludetriallinga new way toprovideveryhigh,nextgenerationbroadband,as wellas a pilotofi-tree,a programme thatinvolvesplantingtreeswithspecialcensorsand displayscreens that show the publicthe positiveeffecttreescan have on a microclimates.“We’renotjustimprovingthe publicrealm butwe’rebeing innovativeinthe way we do it,”says Sanderson.

The N W D A willalsobe involvedwithmarketingthe corridorand developinga more unifiedapproach tothe way inwhich OxfordRoad’smany culturalassetspromote themselves.

CO M M U NITY LINKS Anotherseriesofprojectswilllookatenterpriseand employment,includingbuildingstrongerlinks between localbusinessesand the area’smajorinstitutions.Work willalsobe carriedouttodispel some ofthe misunderstandingsthatexistbetween localpeopleand the importantpotentialemployers on theirdoorsteps.

“We need tobuildmore linkswithneighbouringcommunities,especiallythe more disadvantaged ones,and tryand givethem a stake inwhat’sgoing on,”adds Sanderson.

Potteragrees:“Traditionallythe institutionshave been veryseparatebuttheyhave allnow have signed up tothe need tobe more outward facingand tomake sure thatthereare jobopportunitiesfor the communities,and thatthey playa partinincreasinglythe aspirationsand skilllevelsofyoung people.”

For furtherinformation: www.manchestercitysouth.com

Route toprosperity– Manchester’sOxfordRoad isdestinedtobecome an entrepreneurialhub

CITIES UNITED BY VISIONARY DEVELOP ME NTS The physicalbonds thatuniteclose neighboursManchesterand Salfordare settostrengthen thanks toa seriesofvisionarynew developmentsthatwillcreatethousands ofjobs.

Projectssuch as Greengate,ChapelStreet/SalfordCentralStationand IrwellCityPark are partofa masterplandesigned tomaximise the benefitsfrom connectingManchester’svibrantcitycentreand Salford’sbuoyantQuays.

The N W D A isa foundermember ofthe CentralSalfordUrban RegenerationCompany (URC),which isleadingon much ofthe work,inpartnershipwithSalfordCityCouncil,EnglishPartnershipsand privatecompaniesincludingBruntwood and Ask Developments.

Furtherevidence ofhow the futuredevelopmentofthe cityregionisentwined isreflectedinits Board directors,which includeSirRichardLeese,LeaderofManchesterCityCouncil,and Councillors John Merry,LeaderofSalfordCityCouncil,and Susan Williams,LeaderofTraffordCouncil.

Inadditiontothe N W DA’s separateinvestmentinMediaCityUK,the Agency has so farinvestedover £19.5millionthrough the URC’s activity.Thishas helped tofund a mixtureoffeasibilitywork, infrastructureimprovementsand strategicland and propertyacquisitions.

The firstnew linkbetween the two citieswillbe Exchange Greengate,a derelict 13-hectaresitea few minuteswalkfrom Manchester’sExchange Square,which istobe transformed intoa new urban quarterbetween the two cities.

It’salsoan opportunitytoextend the economic success ofManchesteracrossthe (River)Irwelland intoSalford.“That’swhy we thinkthiswesternsideofthe regionalcentrehas some realpotential,“ says Mike Hollows,SeniorDevelopmentExecutiveatthe N W DA. “Ithas good existingpublictransportinfrastructureforwhich furtherimprovementsare planned,and which enablesgreateraccessibilitytoa significantproportionofthe GreaterManchestercityregion’s population.”

The projectinvolvesthreedistinctareas:the Urban Cove,which willhelpbringthe Irwellback tolife, witha new bridgeand waterfeatures;GreengateLink,a new pedestrianroutelinkingthe two cities, and GreengateSquare,the area’snew green heart.

The projectisexpectedtoattractover£600 millionofprivatesectorinvestment,creating4,000 new jobsand 2,500 new homes,withwork settobeginnextyear.

The developmentisalsoseen as a catalyst,explainsChrisFarrow,ChiefExecutiveatCentral SalfordURC. “Itwillhave widerimpacts,opening the doorway tothe revivalofChapelStreetand the re-birthofthe RiverIrwellas a watersidepubliccorridorlinkingManchestertoSalford.”

UltimatelyChapelStreetwillbecome a new citycentreforSalford,withmuch strongerconnections toManchester.There are planstoreinvigoratemany ofthe architecturallyimportantbuildingsthatnow liederelicttoo,withan emphasison shops,barsand recreationfacilities,as wellas 1,600 new homes.

The projectwillcreate12,000 new jobs.

But Karen Hirst,the URC’s DevelopmentDirectorknows thatmore than a quickfixsolutionis needed.“Deliveringon the visionofthisarea willtake atleasttwentyyearstocompleteand around £700 millionofinvestment,”she says.

A thirdmajorprojectisIrwellCityPark,which willcelebrateSalford’softenover-looked natural environmentby completinga new 8km routeofwalkways and cycleways through CentralSalfordand straightintothe heartofSalfordQuays.

For furtherinformation: www.centralsalford.com

Shape ofthingstocome – a new publicsquareisa key featureofthe Greengatedevelopment,Salford

PAGE 22-23 INFRASTRUCTURE NE W S Sectionsofthe M6, M60, M62 and M56 around Manchesteras wellas the M6 junctionsfrom Northof Birmingham toKnutsfordare being consideredforhard shoulderrunningas partofa £6 billion package ofimprovementstostrategicnationalroads up to2014.

Plans are moving ahead tomarketthe DerwentForestformermunitionssiteatBroughton Moor, Cumbria,as a world-classleisureattractiontodevelopersfollowingagreementby the N W D A and local councilstoacquirethe sitefrom the MinistryofDefence.

Internationalarchitectsand publicrealm designersare being invitedtocome forwardwithconceptsfor inspirationalpublicspaces insixPennine Lancashiretown centres.More than 300 designpractices have registeredan interestinthe N W DA-supportedinitiative.

Regenerationfundingof£1.78 millionfrom the N W D A and itspartnersisbeing used tocreatenew communitywoodland tothe South EastofSouthport’stown centreas partofthe £59 millionNewlands project.The work isexpectedtocontributetothe protectionofthe area’sred squirrelcolony.

Grantfundingof£4.9 millionhas been approved by the N W DA forremediationwork on the former UnitedGlass siteinSt.Helens thatwillenableconstructiontostarton a new 18,000-seaterstadium forSt.Helens Rugby League team, a new supermarket,access road and pedestrianplaza.

Productionistostarton another106 carriagesforthe high speed tiltingPendolinotrainson the West CoastMain linefollowingagreementbetween the DepartmentofTransportand Alstom.They will deliverover7,420 additionalseatsby December 2012 inadditiontothe 45% increaseinlong distance servicesdue on the lineinDecember.

AVIATION FUND SUPPORTS RESPONSIBLE GRO W T H Ithas been a landmark yearforthe region’sairports.Both Manchesterand Liverpoolhave celebrated key anniversarieswithsubstantialnew investmentand new owners have taken overatBlackpool.

Thismixtureofpublicand privateinvestment,increased capacityand new carriersisgood news for the regiontoo,says Andrew Davis,the NorthwestRegionalDevelopmentAgency’s(NWDA) Sector DevelopmentManager forAviationand Aerospace,given the rolethataviationplaysinpromotingthe Northwest,as wellas boostingitseconomic performance.

“The region’sinternationalairportsmake a vitaleconomic contribution,”he explains.“Good connectionstointernationalgateways are a criticalfactorforbusinessand inwardinvestmentinthe North,and forbringingintourism.”

Partofthe N W DA’s supportforthe sectoristhe £6.5 millionAirServicesDevelopmentFund (ASDF) topump prime key projectsthatwould supportgrowth,attractnew carriersand improve efficiencyat the region’sairports.

Itwas alsodesigned tocomplementotherAgency programmes such as investmentinLiverpool08, as wellas Gateway Marketing.By providingfunds toMarketingManchester,The Mersey Partnership and Lancashireand BlackpoolTouristBoard,the ASDF isencouragingthem towork more closely withthe airportstodevelopand promote inbound tourism.

And now some ofthe projectsare coming tofruition.LiverpoolJohn Lennon,which celebratedits 75th anniversarythisyear,has grown significantlyon the back oflow costairlinesand now handles overfivemillionpassengersa year.

ASDF has helped toenhance the overallpassengerexperienceatthe airportby improvingsafety and securityand helpingdevelopa trainingprogramme forthe airport’soperationaland customer facingstaff.

Ithas alsoledtoimproved aircraftlandingfacilitiesatthe airport,includingtechnologythatnow allows Liverpooltoreceiveaircraftinbad weather.

GO O D REPUTATION The projectisalsohelpingtoraisethe airport’sreputationas an internationalgateway,and complementswork being carriedoutby owners PeelAirports.Thisincludesupgradingthe runway for long haulservices,and developinga new hoteland multis -toreycarpark.

NeilPakey,Managing DirectorofLiverpoolJohn Lennon Airportexplains:“When Liverpoolwon the European CapitalofCultureaward we decided thatthe airportneeded toimprove interms ofthe actualwelcome peoplereceivewhen they arrive.

“The airporthas enjoyed rapidgrowth inrecentyearsand withthe helpofASDF we’ve been ableto ensure thatimprovementstothe customer experiencehave keptpace withthischange.Importantly, that’shelped tomaintainour good reputation.”

MO RE CREDIBILITY ManchesterAirport,which has now been operatingfor70 years,isjustembarkingon a threeyear 'DestinationMarketing'programme supportedby ASDF, designed tostimulatelong haulconnections toIndiaand West CoastUS. As wellas new touristroutesthe connectionscouldalsolead tonew businessopportunities,such as improvinglinksbetween MediaCityUK and Bollywood,and the region’sbio-chemicalsectorwithnew US markets.

The fundingagaincomplementsotherinvestment,thistime from the NorthernWay intoa new £10 millionthirdrailwayplatform atthe airport,whileotherkey developmentsatManchesterincludenew routestoChina and the opening ofa new Concorde hangar.

One clearbeneficiaryofthe ASDF isBlackpoolAirport,where the fund has financed additional aircraftapron standingfacilities,which has helped securethe airlineJet2as a ‘home-based’carrier and create30 new jobs.

The investmenthas given the airportmore credibility,says Davis,and encouraged new owners BalfourBeattytostep in.The company alreadyowns ExeterAirport,and thereare now planstogrow passengernumbers inthe nextcoupleofyears.

The work isalsocomplementingsignificantinvestmentby ReBlackpooland the Governmentintothe resort,itstransportinfrastructureand leisurefacilities.

As David Kershaw,ChiefExecutiveOfficeratBlackpoolAirportadds:“We willcontinuetowork very closelywiththe N W DA, ReBlackpooland ourregionalstakeholders.With theircontinued support, BlackpoolAirportlooksforwardtofurtherdevelopmentand growth inordertoattractnew airlines,new routesand passengerstravellingtoand from Blackpool,Lancashireand the Lake District.”

FUEL COSTS The N W D A isalsolobbyingcentralGovernmenttohelpthe industryinotherareas,particularlyover the effectsofrisingfuelcosts,difficulteconomic conditionsand greaterEuropean competition.

Findingways tooffsetthe negativeimpactofthe new AviationDuty isalsohigh on the agenda.The legislationwillreplaceairpassengerdutywitha new dutypayableper plane,and isdesigned to ensure thataviationmakes a greatercontributiontocoveringitsenvironmentalcosts.

It’san area which Davisrealisescan throw up a conflictofinterest,especiallygiven the Agency’s own climatechange agenda.

“We need tohave economic growth butwe need todo itina responsibleway,”he says.“So any airportsreceivingfundingfrom us must make effortstowardsintroducingenvironmentalmeasures that theythemselvescan control.”

Among these are new wind turbinesatLiverpool,where they have alsointroduced softwarethatcan monitorand controlthe power usage intheirretailunits.At Manchesterthe airportowners are looking atways inwhich aircraftcan be betterhandled and manoeuvred on the ground.

“Improvingthe region’stransportinfrastructureremainsan investment,planningand lobbying priorityforN W D A,” explainsDavis.

“Afterall,the betterconnectedgloballywe are,the betterfortourism,and the betterforbusiness.”

For furtherinformation: www.nwda.co.uk

“ANY AIRPORTS RECEIVING FUNDING FRO M US MUST MAKE EFFORTS TO WA R DS INTRODUCING ENVIRONMENTAL MEASURES THAT THEY THEMSELVES CAN CONTROL.” ANDRE W DAVIS SECTOR DEVELOP MENT MANA GER, AVIATION AND AEROSPACE, N W DA

Wellconnected– ManchesterAirportistargetingnew routestoChina,Indiaand West CoastUSA

PAGE 24-25

QUALITY OF LIFE NE W S London 2012’sPre-Games TrainingCamp Guide forParalympicsportsfeatures25 Northwestsporting venues rangingfrom hockey through tobasketballand aquatics.Manchesterleads the way witheight and Liverpoolhas six.The Games willbe used toinspirepeoplewithdisabilities.

BlackpoolCouncilhas been awarded £4 millionfrom the Sea Change programme towards the £11 millionTower FestivalHeadland projectwhich willprovidea new outdoorperformance area between Northand CentralPiers,helpingthe resortinitsambitiontobecome the UK’s ‘capitalofdance’.

Tate Liverpool’shostingofthe TurnerPrize2007 generatedover£10 millionforthe Merseyside economy accordingtoa new reportcommissioned by the N W DA and the Tate.Over 71,800 people visitedthe exhibitionand 3.6 millionwatched coverage on Channel4.

Manchesterand Liverpoolare tostage the European BadmintonChampionshipswithsupportfrom the N W D A and otherpartners.The eventwillbe splitbetween the Echo Arena,Liverpool(European Team Championships)inFebruary2009 and Manchester’sMEN Arena (European Individual Championships)inApril2010.

Ness BotanicGardens,Wirral(LargeVisitorAttraction)and Mersey FerriesManchesterShip Canal Cruises(SmallVisitorAttraction)were among 14 winnersinThe MerseysidePartnership(TMP) AnnualTourism Awards heldatthe BT ConventionCentre,Liverpool.

Grantfundingof£250,000 isbeing made availableby the N W DA tohelpoutdoororganisationsin Cumbriacreatemore high qualityadventureexperiencesforvisitors.Administeredby Cumbria Tourism the scheme willbe used tostage new outdoorfestivals,setup new activitiesand testnew ideas.

RAVE REVIEWS FOR LIVERPOOL 08 PRO G RA M M E They’reMADE UP inLiverpool.That’sthe titleofthe Internationalexhibitionofthe 2008 Biennial, which opened thismonth (Sept20) – and it’show organisers,sponsorsand visitorsare feelingaftera successfulfirstsixmonths ofthe European CapitalofCulture.

As the citymoved intothe finalquarterofLiverpool08,both visitorfiguresand the year’spredicted economic impactare impressive.

At the halfway stage almostfivemillionpeoplehad attended a culturaleventor attractionand the economic impactof£100 millionpredictedby the NorthwestRegionalDevelopmentAgency (NWDA) isnow seen as conservative.

LewisBiggs,Directorofthe LiverpoolBiennial,which iscelebratingitstenthanniversary,explains: “MADE UP isa desiretocelebratethe pointthe cityhas reached sinceitssuccessfulbidforEuropean CapitalofCulturestatus.

“The underlyingimplicationishavingvision-thatyou imaginewhere you want tobe and you tryto reach thatpoint.The visionthe citydeveloped eightyearsago has been realised,which isa fantastic measure ofhope forthe future.”

MADE UP, withworks thatexplore“theecologyofthe artisticimagination”from artistsacrossthe world,willbe presentedatTate Liverpool,the Bluecoat,FACT and Open Eye Gallerywithhalfthe

exhibitionsitedinpublicspaces acrossthe citycentre.

LewisBiggs says thatvisitorstothe ten-week Biennialwillenjoyan “absolutelyhuge artsoffer”as the 08 programme continues.

Artichoke,the company thatbroughtpartsofLondon toa standstill when itsspectacularSultan's Elephantparaded through the streetsinMay 2006,has againworked itsmagic – thistime in Liverpool.

Earlierthismonth a giganticmechanicalspider,the work ofFrench company La Machine,journeyed through the city’slandmarksinfivedays ofthe most spectacularpiece offreestreettheatrethe city had everseen.

HARD W O R K Thousands ofpeopleturned outtosee the 37-tonne,50ftcreature,which starteditsjourneyby clingingtothe sideofthe Concourse Tower beforetravellingaround the city.Com missioned by the LiverpoolCultureCompany,itinstantly became one ofthe highlightsofthe European CapitalofCultureyear.

InJuly– 08’sbusiestmonth todate,which included golf’sOpen ChampionshipatRoyalBirkdalethousands thronged the waterfronttowatch the biggestgatheringofTallShipsinEurope when a fleet ofmore than 70 vesselsfilledthe city’squaysideand docks.

Nick Brooks-Sykes,Head ofTourism Marketingatthe N W DA, says:“There’sno doubtthat Liverpool08 has confounded itsearlycritics– organisersand visitorsalikeare absolutelydelighted withitsprogressand the press coverage has been fantastic.

“It’sgreattosee thatallthe hard work and planningisnow deliveringtangibleresults.

“And thisisnota one-hitwonder.There’sa lotofhard work going on behind the scenes around legacyplanningtomake sure Liverpoolbenefitsinthe long-term from thisbrilliantyear.”

RARE ME M O R ABILIA Liverpoolwillbe on show towideraudiences twiceinthe nexttwo months when majoreventsatthe city’sArena and ConventionCentreare televised.

The RoyalInstituteofBritishArchitects(RIBA)StirlingPrize– the Oscars forarchitecture– willbe announced on October11 and the eventbroadcaston Channel4 the nextday and the 15thannual MTV Europe MusicAwards willbe broadcastliveon November 6.

“ItisonlynaturalthatLiverpoolshouldhostthe Awards,”says RichardGodfrey,SeniorVice PresidentContent& Music,MTV NetworksInternational.“NotonlyisitEuropean CapitalofCulture butthe influenceofitsrichmusicheritageisstill felttoday.”

Joiningartand musicon the agenda isliteraturewithLiverpoolUniversitystaginga one-offweekend literaryfestivalentitledShippingLines inNovember (8/9).

The event,partofthe University’scontributiontoLiverpool08,has attractedauthorsincluding Monica Ali,children’swriterPhilipPullman,Simon Armitage,CarolAnn Duffyand Liverpoolpoets PaulFarleyand Roger McGough.

Futureprojectsincludea £35 millionplan toredevelopand refurbishthe city’sEveryman and Playhouse theatreswithsupportfrom the N W DA which has agreed toinvest£1.7 million.

European culturecan alsobe seen through the lensoffootballwhen a five-month UEFA exhibition calledOnly a Game opens atWorld Museum Liverpoolnextmonth (Oct).Itwilllookatthe face of footballfrom the 1950s tothe modern era and featurerarememorabiliafrom legendarymatches and starplayers.

Liverpooland England midfielderSteven Gerrardsays:“It’sgreatthatwe are havingthe exhibition as partofLiverpool08 as thereisno cityinEurope where footballmeans more than itdoes tothe peopleofLiverpool.”

Bryan Gray,Chairman ofboththe N W D A and the Liverpool08 board,says:“Ibelievecultureis fundamentaltothe economy and hence toregeneration.”

He admitsthatregenerationinLiverpoolhas been “a long journey”butinvestmentlikeCapitalof Culturehas produced many positivegainsincludingthe revivalofthe citycentrepopulationinnewlybuiltand convertedapartments.

“Peoplenow are verymobileand can choose where toliveand work and placeswhich have a good qualityoflife,enhanced by cultureinthe widestsense,are more attractive.”

For furtherinformation: www.liverpool08.com

www.biennial.com

“THE VISION THE CITY DEVELOPED EIGHT YEARS AGO HAS BEEN REALISED, W HICH IS A FANTASTIC MEASURE OF HOPE FOR THE FUTURE.” LEWIS BIGGS LIVERPOOL BIENNIAL

Golfingtriumph – thisyear’sOpen Championshipwas staged atRoyalBirkdale Pivotalexhibit– RichardWilson’singeniousartwork atCross Keys House Tate coup – partofthe Gustav Klimtexhibition Culturalhighlight– the MTV Europe MusicAwards are being heldinLiverpool Maritimeheritage– Liverpoolhosted the biggestgatheringofTallShips inEurope Charityauction– a selloffofnearly70 superlambananas atSt.George’sHallraisedover£500,000 Shock and awe – this35-tonne mechanicalspiderthrilledthousands

PAGE 26-27 QUALITY OF LIFE What do a Conistonwoodland and a Liverpoolchurch towerhave incommon? Answer – both are venues forthe launch ofthe CulturalOlympiad leadingup tothe London 2012 OlympicGames and ParalympicGames inLondon.

FLYING THE FLAG FOR CULTURAL OLYMPIAD The UK-wide CulturalOlympiad,a four-yearperiodofculturalactivitydesigned tocelebratethe Olympicspiritinthe buildup tothe Games, willbe launched on September 26-28,based on the theme “Open Weekend”.

The two venues are the sitesofNeon Attractors-speciallycuratedvisualartworksby Culture Northwestand the Northwest’sfirstprojecttobe grantedthe London 2012 Inspiremark as partofthe CulturalOlympiad.Itisawarded to“outstanding,surprising,excitingand brand new culturalprojects inspiredby London 2012 and recognisedas helpingtodeliverthe Games’ lastinglegacy.”

TORCHLIGHT WALKS Neon Attractorscombines two speciallycuratedlightinstallations:‘Rabbit’by LiverpoolBiennialin Toxtethand ‘ThickSpace_FRED’ nearConistoninCumbria.

‘Rabbit’was createdfrom a linedrawing by a pupilatVincentde PaulPrimarySchoolinLiverpool as partofRon Haselden’s‘Animal’project.The drawing has been transformed intoa colouredneon lightartworkand islocatedon the northfaçade ofSt James’Church inToxteth.

‘ThickSpace_FRED’ islargefibreopticcube which the publiccan enterintoby internationalartists Laura Belevica,Aaron J Robin and Feng Gouchaun.The installationwillbe suspended from treesin

NationalTrustwoodland nearConiston,Cumbria,and willbe accessibleby footpaths.

DISTINCTIVE EVENTS DebbiLander,CreativeProgrammer forthe CulturalOlympiad inthe Northwestsays:“We are developinga globalprogramme fora globalevent.The CulturalOlympiad isan opportunityfor disciplinestoconverge and communitiestoconnect.

“Our excitingand legacy-orientatedplans willdrivecross-sectordevelopment,explorethe artistic and culturalcapacitiesofyoung peopleinthe regionand developnew relationshipsand collaborations acrossand beyond the Northwest.”

The two installationswhich combine toform Neon Attractorsalsofeatureas partofothercultural eventsoccurringthroughoutthe regiontocelebrateOpen Weekend.‘Rabbit’willfeatureas partofa seriesofNeon lightinstallationsthroughoutLiverpoolnamed ‘WinterLights’as partofthe 2008 LiverpoolBiennial.

‘ThickSpace_FRED’ willbe a centralfeatureofthe ConistonWalkingFestivalinthe Lake District,a new stylewalkingfestivalcombiningphysicaland culturalactivity.

The launch ofthe CulturalOlympiad followsthe August24 Handovercelebrationson the day the Olympicflagpassed toLondon atthe end ofthe BeijingGames.

Over 30 localauthoritiesacrossthe Northwestjoinedthe nationwide‘Flyingthe Flag’projectby raisinga speciallyd -esigned OlympicHandoverflagina varietyofsettings.

The most prominentwas the flagcarriedby legendaryclimberSirChrisBoningtontothe top of ScafellPike inCumbria,the highestmountaininEngland at978 metres.

For furtherinformation:www.london2012.com www.beinspired.com

“WE ARE DEVELOPING A GLOBAL PRO GRA M M E FOR A GLOBAL EVENT AND WE WA NT ALL DISCIPLINES TO CONVER GE ON A SINGLE THEME OF PLAY.” DEBBI LANDER CREATIVE PROG RA M M E R CULTURAL OLYMPIAD NORTH W E ST

Standard-bearer– legendaryclimberSirChrisBoningtonraisesthe Olympichandoverflagon top ofScafellPike, Cumbria

NE W LIFE FOR ART DECO ICON ThinkMorecambe, thinkEric.ThinkMorecambe, thinkMidland.Since earlysummer the Victorian seasideresorthas boasted a second iconalong itspromenade withthe newly-restoredGrade II*listed Midland Hoteljoiningthe lifesizebronze statueofJohn EricBartholomew, one halfofthe revered Morecambe and Wise comic duo.

Builtinthe 1930s and once a favouritehauntofstarslikeCoco Chaneland SirLaurence Olivier,the ArtDeco hotel re-opened on June 1 afterstandingempty forten years.

GRANT SUPPORT Boughtby award-winningregenerationspecialistsUrban Splash,partnersina planned new mixeduse developmenton an adjacentsite,the 44-room hoteloverlookingMorecambe Bay has undergone an £11 millionrestoration.

The projectwas supportedby a grantof£4 millionfrom the NorthwestRegionalDevelopment Agency (NWDA) by LancasterCityCouncil,the HeritageLotteryFund (HLF)and EnglishHeritage.

James Berresford,DirectorofTourism atthe N W DA, says:“We are delightedtosee thisiconofthe Northwestcoastreturnedtoitsformerglory.Itsredevelopmentisa crucialpartofthe masterplanto

breathenew lifeintoMorecambe which we hope willactas a majorcatalystforfurtherinvestment.”

Othermajorregenerationprojectsare underway,boosted by the TransportSecretary’sdecisionto approve plans foran M6/Heysham linkroad,a £138 millionscheme thatwould greatlyimprove access tothe coastaltown.

LancasterCityCouncilisalsoplanningan applicationtothe Sea Change fundingprogramme, set up by the DepartmentofCultureMedia and Sport,tokickstarteconomic regenerationincoastalareas through specificinvestmentincultureand heritage.

The bidwillfocus on the restorationofthe famous WinterGardens theatreGrade II*listedbuilding, which isalsosubjecttoa bidtothe HLF forits£12 millionrestoration.The N W DA has provided £300,000 offundingtowards a feasibilitystudy and pre-developmentwork on the bid.

LancasterCityCouncillorEvelynArcher,chairofthe WinterGardens TheatreTrustand portfolio holderforthe regenerationofMorecambe says:“The restorationofthe Midland iswonderfuland now we hope the same willhappen forthe WinterGardens.Both are key tothe regenerationofthe town, which must now lookforwardsand notback toitspreviousheyday.”

NE W HO MES A furtherpartofMorecambe’sregenerationistobe seen inthe town’sWest End,which inthe last fiveyearshas receivedinvestmentsofmore than £30 million,where multio -ccupancy propertiesare being returnedtosinglehouses and more 100 new homes are being built.

Ian Whittaker,N W DA Policyand PartnershipManager forLancashire,says:“We see the potentialof Morecambe as a place tolive,work and visitwhich iswhy we are lookingatotherprojectsinthe town.

“Itbenefitsfrom itsproximitytoLancaster,a growth centreinthe Northwestwithitsenvironment, heritageand universityand the constructionofan M6 linkroad would improve access enormously.”

“WE SEE THE POTENTIAL OF MORECA M BE AS A PLACE TO LIVE,W O R K AND VISIT W HICH IS W HY WE ARE LOOKING AT OTHER PROJECTS IN THE TO W N.” IAN W HITTAKER POLICY AND PARTNERSHIP MANAGER FOR LANCASHIRE N W DA

Rebirthofan icon– the Midland Hotel,Morecambe, has been restoredtoitsformerglory

PAGE 28-29 NOTEBO OK PEOPLE IN THE REGION

Bloxham elected Chancellor PropertydeveloperTom Bloxham has been electedthe new Chancellorofthe Universityof Manchesteraftera ballotofUniversitystaff,alumniand GeneralAssemblymembers.His tenurewill begininthe autumn and he willholdthe officeforseven years.

He isChairman and co-founderofUrban Splash,the innovativepropertydeveloperthatis responsibleforregenerationprojectsinManchesterand Liverpool.To datethe company has received 237 awards forarchitecture,designand businesssuccess, Bloxham, 44,graduatedin1986 inpoliticsand modern historyand in2007 receivedan Honorary Doctoratefrom the UniversityofManchester.He chairsArtsCouncil(NorthWest),sitson the Arts CouncilEngland and in1998 was awarded an MBE forservicestoarchitectureand urban regeneration.

Museums rolefor Redmond PhilRedmond, bestknown forhiswork intelevisiondrama butmore recentlyforhisroleas Creative Directorand DeputyChairofthe Board ofThe LiverpoolCultureCompany,isthe new Chairman of NationalMuseums Liverpool,which isresponsibleforeightmuseums inthe city.

He has writtenextensivelyforradio,televisionand stage and made hismark by creatingthreeof Britain’slongest-runningdrama programmes,Grange Hill(30 years),Brookside(21 years)and Hollyoaks(11 years).

Philbecame ‘Professor’Redmond when he was awarded the HonoraryChairofMedia atLiverpool John Moores Universityin1989 and since1993 has alsobeen a Fellow and Member ofthe Board of Trustees.He isa Fellow ofthe RoyalSocietyofArtsand was awarded a CBE in2004 forservicesto drama.

Bernsteintodriveresort masterplan ReBlackpool’sdrivetodelivera programme ofcomprehensiveregenerationthatwillgivethe town a year-round economy has been given a boostby the appointmentofSirHoward Bernsteinas the new Chairofthe urban regenerationcompany (URC).

As ChiefExecutiveofManchesterCityCouncilsince 1998 he has builtan impressivetrackrecordin urban renewal.He was awarded a knighthood in2003 forservicestothe reconstructionofManchester and the XVIICom monwealthGames.

SirHoward steps down as a member ofthe Board ofthe OlympicDeliveryBody (ODA) – the body responsibleforthe facilitiesand infrastructureforthe 2012 London OlympicGames and Paralympic Games – followinghisnew parttime appointment.

Fresh challengeforEmery Design expertHeatherEmery takesup a new challengeas Ambassadorforthe newlyestablished NorthwestHeritageSkillsHub. The ventureisbeing hosted by the CentreforConstructionInnovation atSalfordUniversityand funded by EnglishHeritageand ConstructionSkills.

Duringher fouryearsatthe N W D A she was Head ofDesign and BuiltEnvironmentand was instrumentalinsettingup the NorthwestDesign Review Panel,which now operatesas partofthe successfulPlaces Matter!Programme.

Rachelistop apprentice RachelHoyle,21,an aerospace engineeratBAE Systems inLancashire,has been named as Advanced Apprenticeofthe Year by the Learningand SkillsCouncil.She receivedher award from ‘Britain’sGot Talent’presenterAmanda Holden inLondon.

Rachelstartedher apprenticeshipat16 straightfrom Ashton-on-RibbleHigh School.She carriedout an ONC and HNC inAerospace Engineeringand in2007 enrolledatManchesterMetropolitan Universityfora parttime degree inMechanicalEngineering.

Rachel’sdutiesatBAE Systems involveengineeringwork on the EurofighterTyphoon,one ofthe world’smost advanced aircraft,atthe company’sWarton plant.

Cap and gown for Gerrard Steven Gerrard,LiverpoolFC’s inspirationalCaptain,added anotheraward tohisgrowing collection when he was made an HonoraryFellow ofLiverpoolJohn Moores Universityinrecognitionofhis servicestosport.

He joinedLiverpoolas a schoolboyaged nine and duringhiscareerhas won severaltitlesincluding PFA Young Playerofthe Year and UEFA’s Most ValuablePlayer.

Born atWhiston,Merseyside,he has captainedEngland,making hisdebutforthe nationalteam in May 2000.In2006 he was awarded an MBE forservicestosport.He receivedhisFellowshipatone of LJMU’s graduationceremoniesinLiverpool’sAnglicanCathedral.

Dwek isenvironmentchampion Joseph Dwek, Chairman ofEnvirolinkand one ofthe region’smost prominentbusinessleaders,isthe Northwest’sEnvironmentalChampion ofthe Year.He receivedthe accolade atthe Northwest BusinessEnvironmentAwards.

A Board member ofthe N W D A, he was ExecutiveChairman and ChiefExecutiveofBodycote InternationalPlc from 1972 untilhisretirementin1998 and still holdsa number ofexecutivepositions and directorshipswithUK companies.

He was formerlyChairman ofthe Mersey BasinCampaign and the HealthyWaterways Trustand was awarded a CBE in1997 forservicestoindustryand the CBI Northwest.

GON W postforWigan executive Deborah Brownlee,DeputyDirectorofChildrenand Young People’sServicesatWigan MBC, is joiningGovernmentOfficeNorthWest (GON W) as DirectorforChildrenand Learners.She willtake overfrom NigelBurke when he retireslaterthisyear.

She has worked ina range ofroleswithchildrenand young peopleover25 years.Originallyfrom Salford,she initiallytrainedas a CareersAdviserbeforeundertakinga range ofmanagement roles withthe publicand privatesector.

Her previousjobshave included ChiefExecutiveofWigan CareersService,PositivesFuturesLtd and ActingCEO ofWigan Chamber ofCom merce.She was appointedAssistantDirectorofChildren and Young People’sServicesinWigan in2006 risingtobecome DeputyDirectorin2007.

PAGE 30 EVENTS

EVENT HIGHLIGHTS For furtherinformationwww.nwda.co.uk/events SEPTEMBER 20SEPT30NOV LIVERPOOL BIENNIAL The UK’s onlyfestivalofcontemporaryart Variousvenues

20-24 SEPT LABOUR PARTY CONFERENCE The seriousbusinessofpolitics ManchesterCentral

OCTOBER 1-2 OCT THE LIVERPOOL SUM MIT An unrivalledexecutivelearningopportunity BT ConventionCentre,Liverpool

2OCT17JAN LE CORBUSIER EXHIBITION The artofarchitecture The Crypt,MetropolitanCathedral,Liverpool

11 OCT RIBA STIRLING PRIZE Oscarsforarchitecture BT ConventionCentre,Liverpool

11-19 OCT HI-TEC W O RLD SQUASH CHA MPIONSHIPS Top playerscompete forthe sport’stop awards

NationalSquash Centre,Manchester

13 OCT MANCHESTER FOOD & DRINK FESTIVAL AWARDS Spotlighton the kingsand queens offlavour Palace Hotel,Manchester

22 OCT NORTH W E ST TOURISM AWAR DS Accolades forthe region’stop tourism businesses St George’sHall,Liverpool

NOVE MBER 3-5 NOV WATERFRO NT EXPO 08 The world’slargestwaterfrontregenerationevent LiverpoolEcho Arena and BT ConventionCentre

6 NOV MTV EUROPE MUSIC AWARDS Pop musiccoming home Echo Arena,Liverpool

6-15 NOV EUROPEAN SENIOR BOXING CHA MPIONSHIPS The firstmajorpost-BeijingOlympicstournament Echo Arena,Liverpool

20-23 NOV KENDAL MO U NTAIN FESTIVAL Films,literatureand an audience withclimbinglegend ReinholdMessner Variousvenues,Kendal

26-28 NOV THE MEDIA FESTIVAL Exchangingideas,buildingpartnerships Midland Hoteland Radisson Edwardian,Manchester

DECE MBER 5 DEC CBI N W BUSINESS AWARDS

The businessworldhonoursitsheroes Midland Hotel,Manchester

14 DEC BBC SPORTS PERSONALITY OF THE YEAR An oldfavouriteina new setting Echo Arena,Liverpool

ArtisticLandscape -these biennialtreesreinventthe traditionofthe publicpark Echo Arena – venue forthe BBC SportsPersonalityofthe Year

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GETTING IN TOUCH At the NorthwestRegionalDevelopmentAgency (NWDA), we valueyourviews and feedback.

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

KEY CONTACTS The N W DA’s ExecutiveTeam are based atitsHeadquartersin Warrington.

STEVEN BRO O M H E AD

ChiefExecutive Tel:01925 400 133 Email:Steven.Broomhead@nwda.co.uk BERNICE LAW

ChiefOperatingOfficer, (currentlyon secondment atthe

LiverpoolCultureCompany)

Tel:01925 400 532 Email:Bernice.Law@nwda.co.uk IAN HAYTHORNTH W AITE

ExecutiveDirector, Resources Tel:01925 400 116 Email:Ian.Haythornthwaite@nwda.co.uk MARK HUGHES ExecutiveDirector, Enterpriseand Skills Tel:01925 400 531 Email:Mark.Hughes@nwda.co.uk PETER MEARNS ExecutiveDirector, Marketingand Com munications Tel:01925 400 212 Email:Peter.Mearns@nwda.co.uk PATRICK W HITE ExecutiveDirector,Policy Tel:01925 400 274 Email:Patrick.White@nwda.co.uk PETER W HITE ExecutiveDirector, Development Tel:01925 400 299 Email:Peter.White@nwda.co.uk JAMES BERRESFORD

DirectorofTourism Tel:01925 400 472 Email:James.Berresford@nwda.co.uk FIONA MILLS DirectorofHuman Performance Tel:01925 644 422 Email:Fiona.Mills @nwda.co.uk

HEAD OFFICE The N W DA manages alloperationsfrom itsHeadquartersat:

HEAD OFFICE PO Box 37,Renaissance House, CentrePark,WarringtonWA1 1XB Tel:+44 (0)1925 400 100 Fax:+44 (0)1925 400 400 e-mail:information@nwda.co.uk

PRINT STOCK: Cover:ChallengerLaserMattistotallychlorinefreeand acquiredonlyfrom suppliersoperating

sustainableforestreserves.

Text:Cyclusoffsetismanufacturedusing only100% recycledpostconsumer waste.

Designed and produced by Kaleidoscope ADM, Liverpool.www.kadm.co.uk N W DA KADM 09/08 21172