315° THE RDA MAGAZINE
OCT 2007 ISSUE 13
DREA M DEBUT UniversityofCumbriaopens forbusiness Waste revolution Novelsolutionsaidrecycling
Green light Go ahead for ‘mediacity’project
Turnerprize Raisingthe culturaltemperature
PAGE 2 CONTENTS THE THIRD DEGREE 4 David Anderson
BUSINESS 6 Technologydriveswaste revolution 8 -----Enterpriseisspurring Rossendalerecovery 10 Scientistsstep on the accelerator 11 Foreigncompaniesdrivegrowth
SKILLS AND EDUCATION
12 UniversitysettoboostCumbriaeconomy
PEOPLE AND JOBS 14 Energy Coastplan toreviveWest Cumbria 16 Southporttees up tobecome classicresort 17 More helpforruralcommunities 18 Green lightformediacity:ukdevelopment
INFRASTRUCTURE 20 Givingnaturea helpinghand 21 CruiselinersreturntoLiverpool 22 Design reviews forlandmark schemes
QUALITY OF LIFE 24 Turnerprizeraisesculturaltemperature 26 Measures tocombat climatechange 27 Sportingelitehead forManchester
REGULARS 28 Peopleinthe region 30 Eventhighlights 31 Gettingintouch
PAGE 3 HIGHLIGHTS WASTE REVOLUTION Householdrubbishissettobe turned intoa range ofeconomicallyvaluable
commoditiesas the Northwestgearsup fora new era ofsustainable waste management.
GREEN LIGHT Work beginson the taskofbuildingthe worldleadingcomplex thatwillhelptofuel the revolutiontakingplace inthe new media and broadcastindustriesas constructionteams move onto the mediacity:uksite.
TURNER PRIZE The internationalartspotlightfallson Liverpoolthisautumn as the TurnerPrize leaves London forthe firsttime in23 yearstosupportthe city'sEuropean Capitalof Cultureprogramme.
OUR VISION: ‘-A dynamic,sustainableinternationaleconomy which competes on the basisofknowledge,advanced technologyand an excellentqualityoflifefor all.’
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
CREATING SUCCESS With Liverpoolbeginningthe countdown toitsEuropean CapitalofCulture celebrationsnextyear,and as Itake on the Chairmanshipofthe Liverpool08 Board,Iwould liketoreflecton what Ibelievehas been an excitingtransformational periodofchange forthe cityoverthe pastfew years. For those visiting,workingand livinginLiverpool,the changes toitsskylineare evidentfollowingan unprecedented£2.5billionphysicaland economic regenerationofthe city’swaterfrontand central businessand shoppingdistricts. With key success storiesincludingthe Arena and ConventionCentreatKings Dock,the recently
launched cruiselinerfacilityatPierHead, Grosvenor’sLiverpoolOne retailand leisuredevelopment, and the new Museum ofLiverpool,investorconfidence isatan alltime high.These exciting developmentsare notonlycrucialtonextyear’sCapitalofCulturecelebrationsbutwillalsoenable Liverpooltorealiseitsambitionofcreatinga visitordestinationofinternationalquality.Importantly,all ofthese successes are the resultofyearsoffocused and sustainedinvestmentby publicand private sectorpartners. Since 1999,the N W DA has helped tolead a number ofhigh-profileprojectsand we know from experiencethatchange does nothappen overnight.Transformationisa long process and itisonly through workingtogether,prioritisingresourcesand investinginhigh-impactprojectsthatwillhelpus realiseour boldambitionforthe region. One excellentexample ofwhere thisapproach has worked isthe growth ofthe Northwest’s reputationas a stronggloballeaderinthe biomedicalsector.In1999,when Daresburylostthe £600 million‘Diamond Synchrotron’project,the region’sresponse was toestablisha number ofnew initiatives,includingthe creationofthe firstregionalscience councilinthe country,the publicationofa RegionalScience Strategyand the launch ofthe NorthwestScience Fund toinvestininnovative research. Through the strategicpartnershipestablishedbetween the key NorthwestUniversities,Daresbury Laboratory,the Agency and HaltonBorough Council,the siteisnow home tothe Daresbury InternationalScience and InnovationCampus and has been identifiedby the governmentas one of two majorresearchcentresinthe UK. Itisexpectedthatthe new Campus willmake a substantial contributiontothe region’s£1.69 billionresearchand developmentbase. The transformationstakingplace acrossthe regiondemonstratehow continuedeffortsand sustainedinvestmentfrom allpartnersinvolvedineconomic regenerationoverthe yearsare now payingdividends.The projectscoming tofruitionnow have been challengingbutprove thatwitha focuson transformationalprojects,we can continuetocreatethe success storiesofthe future. Bryan Gray, Chairman, October2007
PAGE 4-5 THE THIRD DEGREE “WE NEED TO GET THE MESSAGE ACROSS THAT IMPROVING ENVIRONMENTAL PERFOR M A N C E CAN GO HAND IN HAND WITH IMPROVING BUSINESS PERFOR M A N C E." DAVID ANDERSON
CHIEF EXECUTIVE CO-OPERATIVE FINANCIAL SERVICES
DAVID ANDERS O N DavidAnderson isChiefExecutiveofCo-operative FinancialServices(CFS),a bigregionalplayerwith
operationsinManchester,Stockportand Skelmersdale and an award-winningreputationforsocialresponsibility. A keen sailor,he has spentmost ofhiscareerinthe mutualsectorhavingbeen ChiefExecutiveofJob Centre Plus and the YorkshireBuildingSociety. Your organisationisbased on strongco-operativevalues.Given the competitivenatureofmodern businessisthereroom still forthatsortofprincipledapproach? Absolutely-the mutualsectoradds valuablediversitytothe economy. There’snothingwrong with plcsbutIthinkit’sreallygood thatthereare some organisationsthatare motivateddifferentlyand won’trespond tothe marketsinthe same way the bigplayersdo.That’sevidentby the Co-operative Bank being the firstintoethicalmarketingand the factthatwe’recelebratingthe 15th anniversaryof thatpolicyata time when the widerbankingand generalretailcommunitiesare justjumping on that bandwagon. How willCFS continuetodifferentiateitselfifyourcompetitorsare adoptingsimilarpolicies? What isdifficulttomatch isour trackrecordand authenticity.We have a realenvironmentalfocus on ourproducts.We offergreen mortgages thatoffsetemissionsfrom homes,and lastyearwe launched eco-friendlymotorinsurance.That’snotthe onlythingthatsetsus apart.Inthisoffice(theCIS Tower, Manchester)we recycleten times as much paperas the average office.Outsidewe have Europe’s largestarrayofphotovoltaiccellsand acrossthe cityon anotherbuildingwe have the largesturban wind farm.Wellover90% ofourelectricitycomes from green sources. Does yourcustomer feedback indicatesupportforwhat you do? Our customersmandate us todo the thingswe do.And they tellus what nottodo.Lastyear,for example,as partofits‘CustomersWho Care’campaign the Bank teamed up withitscustomersto combat climatechange.The partnershipethos isdeeplyembedded inour productsand inour relationshipswithcustomersand Ithinkforotherorganisationsitwould be quitedifficulttoreplicate. Does havinga strongenvironmentaland socialconscience win you business? We can show thata thirdofourcustomersjointhe Co-op Bank because ofitsethicalposition.Ifyou lookatthe corporatebankingside,the area where ourethicalpolicyhas most bite,we have turned down £700 millioninloansoverthe last15 yearsfrom organisationswho don’tmeet the bank’sethical criteria– peopleinvolvedinfossilfuelextraction,the arms industryor animaltesting.But thatstance has helped us grow ourcorporateloans book by 250% inthe same periodso it’sa two-edge sword. Where are the growth opportunitiesinyourmarketplace? Ethicalconsumerism isa veryfastgrowing marketand thatisa greatopportunityforus.In2005 it was worth£28 billioninthe UK and overtookspendingon tobacco on alcoholforthe firsttime.Itwas up 11% on the previousyearand the bigchallengeforus istomake sure thatwitheveryone else tryingtogetintothe same space,our voiceisheard. Big financialconcernstend tobe headquarteredinLondon.Istherea temptationtomove your operationstothe City? Although CFS isabsolutelya nationalbusinessthere’sa lotofbenefittobeing outsideLondon. That’spartlywhy we are abletothinkdifferentlyfrom our competitors.We alsoattracta lotofvery good peopletowork forus because oflifestyleissues. Supportforworthycauses isa hallmarkofsociallyresponsiblecompanies.How activeisCFS inthis area? We are workingon a number offrontstorealiseour socialobligations.Take the Chimney Pot projectwhere the Co-operativeBank has providedUrban Splash withan essentialfundingpackage to giveone ofSalford’smost run-down areas a realface-lift. And we’ve launched a pioneeringscheme thatwillenableinmatesatForestBank Prison,Pendlebury,toopen bank accountswhilestill inprison.
CFS staffhave alsocompletedthe entirerefurbishmentofa 20-room homeless hostelin Skelmersdale. How can we motivateotherbusinesses inthe Northwesttoimprove theirgreen credentials? Businesses acrossthe regionwillhave differentmotivationsand ways ofoperatingbutwe allshare a common goalofsecuringa sustainableand profitablefuture.We need togetthe message across thatimprovingenvironmentalperformance can go hand inhand withimprovingbusinessperformance. There has been an historicalbeliefinsome quartersthatbeing green and/orethicalcomes witha pricetag associatedwithit.We have successfullyproved thatitisn’tthe case and thatourethical policy,as Iindicatedearlier,has actuallybeen a positivedriverforour business. Financialservicesare a majorforceforeconomic growth.What do we need todo togrow the sector here inthe Northwest? The Northwesthas plentyofthingsgoing forit– good accessibilityinterms oftravelnetworks, strong businessand academic centresalreadyinplace and some terrificregenerationprojects underway inour towns and cities.The scaleofcommercialactivityinthe regionisalreadysufficientto provideattractivecareersinfinancialand professionalservices.The nextstep istocompete with London formore ofthe businessfrom the restofthe UK and internationally. CFS isdoing itsbitby investing£250 million– much ofitinthisregion– tosupportplanned growth ina number ofareas.We’re alsothe lead sponsorofa new Academy inNorthManchesterthatwill have a curriculum witha strongfinancialfocus toensurethatthereisa good supplyoftalentedand educated peoplecoming intothe sector.It’sa verysensiblethingforus tobe associatedwith. Isthereany key regionalmessage you would liketogetacross? Thisregionisincreasinglyseen as a success storyand itcan furtherraiseitsprofileby takinga nationallead on climatechange.I’dliketosee everypartofthe communityacceptthe challengeand tackleitwithvigour.It’snotallcost,there’splentyofbenefitand opportunityassociatedwithit,plenty ofwin-win thingsthatmake itworthwhile.From a businessperspectiveitwillenhance the region’s reputationand encourage companiesand individualstocome here. For furtherinformation: www.cfs.co.uk
PAGE 6-7 BUSINESS NE W S Newly released governmentfiguresshow thatthe N W D A createdor safeguarded 20,205 jobsin200607,createdor attracted3,036 businesses tothe region,helped 23,997 businesses improve their performance and attracted£373 millionofinvestmenttoregeneratedeprivedareas,69% ofitfrom the privatesector. CompetitivenessMinisterStephen Timms has announced the reappointmentoffourmembers ofthe N W D A Board.John Merryand PeterHensman have been reappointeduntilDecember 2010 while Brenda Smithand SirMartinHarriswillcarryon untilDecember 2008. Less than two yearsafteropeningitsdoors,One CentralPark,an £18 millioninnovativefacilityinEast Manchesterthatbridgesthe gap between academia and business,has supportednearly100 entrepreneurs.Now a modelforotherregions,the facilitywas establishedwith£8 millionofN W D A funding. HealthcarecompaniesFreseniusKabiand Calea celebratedthe opening oftheircombined HQ and manufacturingfacilityatManor Park,Runcorn,followingN W D A grantsupportof£490,000. The £2.8 millionprojectwilllead to50 new jobsby the end of2007.
Cumbriahas a new state-of-the-artvenue forbusinesssupport,conferencing,training,and sixthform studyfollowingthe officialopening ofMillom NetworkCentreby the Duke ofKent.Capitalcostsofthe buildingoverlookingthe Duddon Estuaryhave been providedby a number ofpartnersincludingthe N W D A. EN W O R KS, which ishelpingsmallcompaniesacrossthe Northwestmake majorenergy savings,has won the world’sleadinggreen energy prizeatthe Ashden Awards forSustainableEnergy.The organisationshared firstprizeinthe Energy EfficiencycategorywithCumbriaEnergy Efficiency AdviceCentre.
TECHN OLO G Y DRIVES W ASTE REVOLUTION The Northwestisgearingup fora new era ofsustainablewaste management where householdrubbishisturned intoa range ofeconomicallyvaluable commoditiesfrom renewableenergy fuelstoagriculturalproducts. Faced withincreased pressurestoimprove recyclingratesand drasticallyreduce the amount and cost ofwaste going tolandfill, localauthoritiesare optingfornovelsolutionsinvolvingstate-of-the art technologiesthatwillhave a directimpacton reducinggreenhouse gas emissions. Up to£1 billionisexpectedbe investedincapitalinfrastructureinthe nextfew yearstotreatthe 4.5 milliontons ofmunicipalwaste generatedinthe regioneach year. The servicingoflong-term PrivateFinance Initiative(PFI)contractsbetween waste disposal authorities,councilsand privatesectorpartnersisalsoexpectedtoproduce many new business opportunitiesand createnew marketsforrecyclates,includingwaste-to-energy. The NorthwestRegionalDevelopmentAgency (NWDA) isworkingwitha number ofwaste-to-energy companiestoidentifysuitablesitesinthe regiontoestablishcombined heatand power stations (CHP). Recyclingand sustainablewaste management isone ofthe key growth areas inthe burgeoning environmentaltechnologiesindustry,contributing23,500 jobsand £700 millioninGVA tothe regional economy. One ofthe key driversforchange isclimatechange and the need toreduce green gas emissions. The potentialofnew technologytorevolutionisethe waste servicesindustrywas underlinedearlier thisyearwhen the governmentgave the go-ahead fora Defrabacked £13 milliondemonstrator recyclingand treatmentfacilityatHuyton BusinessPark. Due tostartoperatingatthe end of2007 followingplanningapproval,the plantwilltreatup to 50,000 tonnes ofwaste from Merseysidehomes and stop over80% ofitgoing intolandfill.
NOVEL PROCESS The projectispartnershipdrivenand involvesthe MerseysideWaste DisposalAuthority,Fairport EngineeringLtd,Defra,and the N W DA, which isproviding£2.1millionofsupportfunding. Fairportuses a novelprocess torecoverrecyclablematerialssuch as glassand plasticsand convert the residueintofuelproductsthatcan be specificallytailoredtomeet customerneeds.
Steve Whatmore,DirectorofFairportand sistercompany OrchidEnvironmental,says the technologyisBritishand has been developed inthe Northwestwithhelpfrom the N W D A. “Itworks and it’savailablenow. We willdemonstrateitscapabilityon Merseysideand show that peopledon’thave toshop abroad foralternativetechnologies.Itwillalsohelpus todispelsome ofthe myths aboutwaste disposalplants.” The company issellingthe technologyaround the worldand has an orderbook of£200 million. Envirolink,the N W DA-sponsored businesssupportorganisationforthe environmentaltechnologies sector,ispursuinga number ofstrategicinitiativestoincrease the profitabilityand competitivenessof supplychaincompanies. ChiefExecutiveNick Storerbelievesthatlegislativepressuresand the risingcostsoflandfill will inevitablymean thatthe recovery,treatmentand reprocessingofwaste willbecome the preferred routesofthe future. He says:“Thiswillprovidethe regionwitha platform forthe Northwesttobecome the premier businesshub forwaste-relatedoperationsthroughoutthe UK and the world.” Research and development,technologycommercialisationand marketdevelopmentare key areas ofactivityforEnvirolink.For example,ithas providedsupportfundingfora LiverpoolJohn Moores Universityprojectthatuses the potentialuse ofhybridmicrowave plasmas totreatnappy and tyre waste withinthe region.
STABILISED FUEL A new technologyand investmentmomentum isbuildingup withinthe regionas waste disposal authoritiesand councilsestablishlong-term waste-servicingPFI agreementswithprivatesector partnersleadingtonew job,entrepreneurialand constructionopportunities. The valueofprocurementcontractsinthe fivesub-regionsisestimatedatup to£10 billionoverthe next25 yearswithup to£1 billionbeing spenton stateofthe artwaste processingand recycling plants. GreaterManchesterWaste DisposalAuthority’spreferredpartner,the Viridor/Laingconsortia,plans toinvest£330 millionon new ‘worldclass’treatmentinfrastructuretodealwithwaste from nearlyone millionhouseholds. Five large-scalemechanicaland biologicaltreatmentplantswillbe builtacrossthe conurbationto convert600,000 tonsofwaste thatcannotbe recycledinto275,000 tonnes ofstabilisedfuel,which will be transportedby railtoa proposed new Ineos Chlorpower generationfacilityatRuncorn.Ineos is planningtoinvestover£300 millioninthe new 100M W Combined Heat and Power Station,creating over40 jobs.
RENE W A BLE ENERGY InLancashire,the countycounciland Blackpoolcouncilare furtherdown the linehavingagreed a £2 billionPFI waste servicecontractwithGlobalRenewables– a Manchester-based subsidiaryofthe Australiangroup GDR Ltd – and BovisLend Lease earlierinthe year. The technology-drivenagreementwillhave a strongfocus on the supplychainand willgenerate300 jobswhen two new cuttingedge plants,costing£330 million,come on stream in2009. The facilitiesatLeyland and Thorntonwillhandle600,000 tonnes ofwaste a yearwithorganic portionsbeing convertedintorenewableenergy and a high qualitycompostproductsuitableforland remediation,woodland and crop planting. Merseysideisinthe veryearlystages ofthe biddingprocess and itcouldbe anothertwo years beforea PFI waste serviceagreementissigned.One ofthe aims istoincreaserecyclingratesfrom 23% – one ofthe lowestinthe country– to50% by 2020. “The pressureson localauthoritiesare verygreat,”says CarlBeer,DirectorofMerseysideWaste Authority,“butitwillbe cheapertodo somethingthan do nothingbecause ofthe financialpenalties from notmeetinglandfill targets.” For furtherinformation: www. envirolinknorthwest.co.uk
Heartofthe operation– Fairport’snew facilityatHuyton Finishingtouches – the Fairportplantwillbe operationalby the end of2007
Home-grown technology– domesticwaste istreatedintwo rotatingvesselsatthe Huyton plant
PAGE 8-9 BUSINESS
ENTERPRISE IS SPURRING ROSSENDALE RECOVERY Rossendale,the area ofLancashirebetween metropolitanGreaterManchester,the M6 and itsWhite Rose neighbour,and once a majorcentreofthe footwearmanufacturingindustry,has won official recognitionas the region’s“capitalofenterprise”. The area,which containsa collectionofsmalltowns includingBacup,Rawtenstalland Haslingden, isthe Northwestwinnerinthe EnterprisingBritain2007 Awards thanks tothe effortsofthe communitybased project,PEER (PeopleEncouragingEnterpriseinRossendale). PEER alsowins £75,000 from the NorthwestRegionalDevelopmentAgency (NWDA) toassistthe continued creation,growth and survivalofnew businessesand socialenterprises,a key factorin Rossendale’semergingeconomic recovery. PEER’s EnterpriseFacilitatorAndy MacNae, says:“When Ifirststartedfouryearsago,peoplehere said‘thesituationwillneverchange,so many placesare vacant,empty,forgotten.’ “Now peoplerealisetherehas been improvement,thereispotentialand it’snow up toeveryone to realisethatpotential.” The fistprojectofitstype inEurope,PEER was founded inSeptember 2003 aftercommunity leaderspledged toreversethe economic fortunesofa borough ratedas one ofthe worstperforming localauthoritiesinEngland and withbelow nationalaverage businessstartup numbers.
BUSINESS DREAM A communityenterprise,based around a 40-strong board ofcommittedvolunteersfrom acrossthe borough,aims tohelppeopletostartor grow businesses and socialenterprises. Initsfirstfouryears,PEER has providedsubstantivehelptoover200 businessesand offered advicetomany more. Latestdata shows an increaseinbusinessstartups and VAT registrationsfrom 4.3 per1,000 ofthe workforcein2002 to5.7 per1,000,around 25% above the Lancashireaverage and 15% above the GreatBritainaverage. There isnota typicalexample ofthose who have soughthelpfrom PEER, says MacNae. “Often peoplewe meet forthe firsttime have a dream ofrunninga business– they know what they want to do butnotmuch more than that.Othersare alreadydown thatroad butwant toexpand and again
need help.” Ronnie Barker,formerManaging Directorofthe footwearmanufacturingSuttonGroup ofcompanies inRossendale,ischairman ofthe PEER board which heldan ‘open day’inJuly,attended by representativesoflocalauthoritiesand regenerationagenciesacrossthe UK. Already neighbouringlocalauthorityBurnleyisconsideringa similarPEER EnterpriseFacilitation project. “When we startedoutin2003,therewas a lotofapathy,”he said.“Butwe are ‘cando’peoplewho are helpingtogiveRossendalean enterprisefacelift.” Across the Northwest,thereare around 500,000 smalltomedium sized enterprises(SMEs), employing47% ofthe populationand accountingfora surprising37% ofprivatesectorturnover,but onlyaround a thirdofnew startups make itintoa fourthyear. The N W D A recentlycommissioned an EnterpriseCultureproject,entitled‘Risingtothe Enterprise Challenge’,aimed atdevelopingforward-thinkingpeoplethroughoutthe region,from schoolthrough to employment. A NorthwestEnterpriseForum willalsobe launched inNovember,duringEnterpriseWeek. Designed tochallengeand monitorthe success ofenterpriseacrossthe region,the core forum of15 people,willhead ‘shortlife’workinggroups who willmeet when requiredtoexplorespecificissuesin detail.
ENTREPRENEURS NET W O R K The Agency has alsolaunched a BusinessStartup and SurvivalProject,targetingspecificunderperforminggeographicregions,includinghousingrenewaland urban regenerationareas,and hard-toreach groups ofpeopleincludingblackand ethnicminorities,peoplewithdisabilitiesand women. Jim Johnstone,N W DA BusinessStrategyManager,says:“Inan increasinglycompetitive,global and knowledge-based economy, we must createa cultureinthe Northwestthatfostersenterprising people– whetherineducation,seekingtostartinbusinessor inemployment– who are responsiveto change and abletoseizeopportunities.” InJulythe N W DA officiallysigned up over70 businesswomen as Wo men’s Enterprise Ambassadors,torepresentthe Northwestinthe drivetobuilda nationalnetworkoffemale entrepreneurs. Steven Broomhead,N W D A ChiefExecutive,said:“Women are drasticallyunder-representedinthe businessworldand we are hoping,witha littlesupportand encouragement,we can persuade women tothinkaboutenterpriseand address the businessgenderimbalance.” The CentreforEnterpriseatManchesterMetropolitanUniversity(MMU) has launched a new service – IntoEnterprise– which aims toprovidesupportand expertisetonew entrepreneurs. The project,which aims tohelp110 businesses by July2008,willprovidea programme ofsupport forthe region’sSMEs tradingwithintheirfirstyear.Itoffersfreeaccess tobusinessexpertsand coaching,onlinebusinessskillstraining,promotionalopportunitiesand peersupportnetworkswhich are intended tofostera business‘community’. For furtherinformation: www.peer-support.co.uk www.intoenterprise.co.uk
PEER SUPPORT FOR PLAY CENTRE When PeterFosterspotteda good dealon eBay – a children’slargeplayframe withslidesand tunnels– he tookthe plunge.He and hiswifeLindsey,a childminder,wanted tostarttheirown businessbuthad no premises. “Ihad toputthe equipmentinstorage fora year,”says Peter,now the owner ofthe flourishing Kids@Play,a playcentreforthe under11s which opened inApril2006. Whilehe searched fora suitablesiteinBacup,Peterwas helped topreparea businessplan and eventuallytofindthe formerwarehouse siteatAlderStreet,now home tohisbusiness,by PEER’s Andy MacNae. “Andy gave me verygood adviceearlyon,”says Peter,whose playcentrehas a baby and toddler
area,a caféand rooms tohireforpartiesand specialoccasions.“Iwas interestedina coupleof buildingsbutAndy found outthey would notbe suitable.” For furtherinformation: Kids@Play tel01706 877066
Home from home – the Bacup playcentrekeeps childrenactiveand amused Enterprisehotspot– Bacup High Street
“PEOPLE REALISE THERE HAS BEEN AN IMPROVE ME NT AND IT’SNO W UP TO EVERYONE TO REALISE THAT POTENTIAL” ANDY MACNAE PEER ENTERPRISE FACILITATOR
PAGE 10-11 BUSINESS
SCIENTISTS STEP ON THE ACCELERATOR Scientistsare making importantheadway intheirbidtohave a new £230 millionworld-beatingparticle acceleratorbuilton the DaresburyScience and InnovationCampus inCheshire. The projectteam behind the proposed 4GLS (FourthGenerationLightSource)iscurrently commissioninga £15 millionprototypeatDaresburyLaboratorythatwillhelptoprove the technology crucialtothe developmentofthe much largerresearchfacility. 4GLS willbe designed toproduce veryshortpulsesoflighta milliontimes more intenseand a thousand times shorterthan current‘thirdgeneration’synchrotronsand willhave applicationsinkey industrialsectorssuch as healthcare,energy,catalysis,electronicsand security. “Thisisan idea whose time has come and the technologyrequiredtobuildithas matured tomeet the promise ofthe concept.Itwillundoubtedlyopen up new areas ofNobelPrizewinningscience,” enthused ProfessorElaineSeddon,the 4GLS Programme Leader. “The bioscienceopportunitiesare huge and ifwe can securethe investmentforthe Northwestitwill be a majorgeneratorofeconomic wealth.” A 50-strong team ofphysicists,engineersand technicalstaffledby Dr Susan Smithisexpectedto have the Energy RecoveryLinac Prototype(ERLP) runninginthe nextsixmonths.The Northwest RegionalDevelopmentAgency has providednearly£3 millionofsupportforthe projectthrough the NorthwestScience Council. ERLP bringstogetherthreetechnologies– photoinjector,super-conductingacceleratorand free electronlaser– ina singleunique facility.Once runningitwillbe the most intensesource of broadband THz radiationinEurope. The prototypephase willreduce the technicalriskofdesigning,procuringand building4GLS and has alreadyprovideda wealthofinformationon technicaldesign,costingsand operations. The 4GLS team, whose members are drawn from Northwestand otheruniversitiesas wellas DaresburyLaboratoryand RutherfordAppletonLaboratory,expecttosubmita bidforfundingforthe fullfacilitythisautumn.
“Ifthe money tobuild4GLS isapproved then thereare two options,eitheritwillbe builtatthe DaresburyCampus or the equivalentHarwellCampus,”says ProfessorSeddon.“I’mquietlyconfident thatifthe go-ahead isgiven itwillbe builtatDaresbury.A costbenefitanalysisindicatedthat Daresburywas a clearwinner.” Though the science on 4GLS isinternationalshe believesthe regionhas a bigroletoplayin ensuring4GLS islocatedatDaresburybecause ofthe potentialbenefitsitcan delivertothe regional economy injobs,inwardinvestmentand visitorspend. 4GLS isexpectedtohave up to1,000 visitingscientistsa yearwho willtypicallystayforone totwo weeks.A largeproportionofconsumablesboughtforthe operationof4GLS isalsolikelytogo tolocal suppliers. Industrialcollaboratorsare contributingtothe designof4GLS toensure itmeets the needs of21st Centurybusiness.Two industrydays attractedseniorfiguresfrom some ofthe region’skey industries. InadditiontoProfessorSeddon,the projectteam includesProfessorWendy Flavellofthe University ofManchester,ProfessorPeterWeightman ofthe UniversityofLiverpool,ProfessorMike Pooleofthe AcceleratorScience and Technologyand the world-renowned physicistProfessorSwapan Chattopadhyay,Directorofthe CockcroftInstitute. For furtherinformation: Prof.ElaineSeddon email:e.seddon@dl.ac.uk www.4gls.ac.uk
“IF WE CAN SECURE THE INVESTMENT FOR THE NORTH W E ST IT WILL BE A MAJOR GENERATOR OF ECON O MIC WEALTH.” PROFESSOR ELAINE SEDDON 4GLS PROG RA M M E LEADER
Beacon ofscientificexcellence– RachelBuckleyofthe 4GLS team workingon the new ERLP facility
FOREIGN CO M PANIES DRIVE GRO W T H Overseas companieshave given the Northwestanothervoteofconfidenceby ploughing nearly£1.8 billionintonew projects,expansionsand acquisitionsmaking itthe UK’s leading UK regionforforeigndirectinvestment. Accordingtofiguresreleased by UK Trade and Investment(UKTI),the Northwestattracted138 inwardinvestmentprojectsin2006-07,a riseof23%, creatingor safeguarding7,520 jobs,700 more than lastyear. The US contributedthe lion’sshare ofprojects(50 intotalor 40%) butChina contributedan impressive17 projects(12%) as the world’sfastestgrowing economy targetsinvestmentinEurope. Close collaborationbetween the NorthwestRegionalDevelopmentAgency (NWDA) and itspublic sectorpartnersresultedinthe flow ofnew investmenttouchingallpartsofthe region. Handleman,a US customerservicesand fulfilmenthouse has created400 jobsby investing£17 millionina new GreaterManchesterprojectwhileLancashirecelebrateda £15 millionexpansionby AsahiGlass ofJapan. India’sTata InternationalacquiredBrunnerMond’soperationsinCheshire,Eastman Chemicals (USA) investednearly£40 millioninan expansioninCumbriaand inMerseysideO2 (Spain) expanded theircallcentreoperation. John Cunliffe,Head ofInvestmentServicesforthe N W D A which oversees operationsinthe US,
Japan,Australiaand China,said:Thisisanotherverystrongperformance.From ourexperience companiesunderestimatethe numbers ofpeoplethatwillbe employed and we expectthese numbers tobe exceeded even further. “We have revisitedprojectsannounced threeor fouryearsago and have found thatemployment targetsinmany cases have been exceeded.We are findingthatcompaniestend tobe conservative on jobnumbers”. The contributionofForeignDirectInvestment(FDI)tothe region’seconomic growth isimpressive. Overseas companiesrepresentlessthan 1% ofthe Northwest’s300,000 businesses,they contribute 16.4% ofgross valueadded (GVA) and accountfor11% ofjobs. “The impactisphenomenal.Nearly£2 billionwas investedlastyearby foreignowned companies from nearly20 countries.These investmentsbringgood qualityjobsand new technologies,”says Cunliffe.
CHINESE INVESTMENT The number ofinwardinvestmentprojectssupportedby grantsisfalling.Only 10 ofthe 138 projects attractedlastyearwere supportedby grants.Thisistwo fewerthan the yearbefore,further underliningthe generalcompetitiveappealas an internationalbusinesslocation. “We are notsayinggrantsare no longerimportantbutmore and more companiesare coming tothe Northwestbecause theyrecognisethe regionisthe bestlocationifthey want the rightskills, infrastructureand sectorsupport,”adds Cunliffe. Chinese companiescontinuetobuilda marketingand salesbridgehead,which the Agency hopes willlead tofutureR&D and manufacturinginvestment. The Northwestoutperformed most otherregionsinthe number ofjobsperproject(54 against Yorkshireand the Humber’s52 and the South East’s27)butthe number has been decliningfora number ofyears. “What we are doing now isaimed atbetterqualityinvestmentsand highervaluejobs,”explained Cunliffe. Faced withfierceglobalcompetitionforFDI,the N W DA isputtingmore effortand resourcesintoits investmentmarketingactivitiesfollowingthe launch ofan ambitiousthree-yearregional internationalisationstrategy,which takes a more integratedapproach tooverseas trade. The regionhas made a good startto2007-08 withGeneralMotorsannouncingthatitisinvesting £300 millioninthe VauxhallplantatEllesmere Port. For furtherinvestment: www.englandsnorthwest.com Load factor– a Handleman operativerefillsstackingequipment High productivity– Handleman’snew Boltonfacilityisfullyautomated
PAGE 12-13 SKILLS AND EDUCATION NE W S LiverpoolHope Universityand BusinessBridge graduateOlusegun Adetunjihas outperformed 155 otherstudentsnationallytowin the ‘NationalStudentEmployee ofthe Year’Award forhis achievementincombininguniversitystudieswithqualityparttime employmentwithWirralCouncil. EntrepreneurDeirdreBounds,who grew a bed-sitbusinessintoa globalleaderinethicaltravel,was the guestspeakeratthe officiallaunch ofthe NorthernLeadershipAcademy heldinLancaster UniversityManagement School’sLeadershipCentre.The NLA’s aim istoboostNorthernproductivity.
LancasterUniversityhas opened the thirdstage ofitsLancasterEnvironmentCentredevelopment. Partfunded by the N W DA, the £8.4millionofficeand labbuildingwillprovidespace forsmall companieswishingtolocateintoLEC or co-locatenew activities. More effortand resourcesare being investedindevelopingthe knowledge and trainingrequiredfor futuredecommissioningand new buildprogrammes followingthe opening ofthe TyndallCentrefor NuclearResearch atthe UniversityofCentralLancashire,the firstofitskind inthe UK. SalfordUniversity’snew £10 millionpurpose-builtLaw Schoolhas opened itsdoorstoa targetbeating firstintakeofalmost100 students.Baroness Brenda Hale,one ofthe UK’s 12 Law Lords unveiledthe foundationstone in2006 and willreturnforthe officialopening inFebruary2008. Healthexpertshave unveiledplans toestablisha £20 millionBiomedicalResearch CentreinLiverpool topioneerthe developmentofnew drugs and diagnostictoolstotreatmicrobialdisease.The scheme isa collaborativeventurebetween the UniversityofLiverpool,the city’sSchoolofTropicalMedicine and the RoyalLiverpoolUniversityHospital.
UNIVERSITY SET TO BOOST CU MB RIA ECON O M Y ‘-Bringyourdreams tothe UniversityofCumbria’isthe new catchy marketingslogan forBritain’snewesthighereducationinstitution and Vice-ChancellorChristopherCarr,aims tomake sure those student dreams become reality. Although the universityisbiddingtoattractstudentsfrom alloverthe countryProfessorCarris anxioustoraiseeducationaland careeraspirationsmuch nearerhome where HigherEducation(HE) participationamong young Cumbriansispatchyand insome placespoor. Businessleaders,educationalistsand economic plannersbelievethatbuildingand retaininga skilled,graduate-richworkforceiscrucialtorestoringthe county’sprosperity. “Ifyou lookaround the countryatthe most prosperouscitiesand sub-regionsa majorcontributing factoristhe presence ofa good localuniversityand there’sa hope and expectationwe can replicate thatinCumbria,”explainsProfessorCarr,formerPrincipalofSt.Martin’sCollege,Lancaster. Access isanotherbarriertogreaterHE participation,largelybecause ofthe remote geographical characterofthe area.Academic officialshope the distinctivestructureofthe universitywillhelpto overcome thisproblem.
AMBITIOUS PLANS The 17,600 fulland parttime studentsenrolledatthe universityare spread overa distributed networkofcampuses inheritedfrom the main institutionsthathave amalgamated toform the UniversityofCumbria. These includethe Carlisle,Lancasterand Amblesidecampuses ofSt.Martin’sCollege,the Cumbria Instituteofthe Arts(CIA)inCarlisleand the UniversityofCentralLancashire(UCLAN) sitesatCarlisle and Penrith.There are alsosmalleroutpostsinWhitehaven,Barrow and London. Conceived forthe broadband age,the universityofficiallystartedlifeon August1 withProfessor Carrpledgingtobreak down culturalbarrierstohighereducationand developa universityCumbrians willbe proud of.
“It’stheiruniversity.Iwant them totalkaboutit,supportitand send theirchildrentoit.It’sfairly challengingcreatinga brand new institutionfrom a collectionofdisparatepartsbuteveryone here is up forit.” The universityhas ambitiousplans foritsbuiltestate,itsteachingand researchactivities,its relationswithemployersand itslinkswiththe new Tigereconomies ofChina and India. Over the nextten yearsitwillinvestup to£190 millionindevelopingthe variouscampuses,IT infrastructureand teachingprogrammes.An earlyprioritywillbe tobuildan iconicHQ buildingin Carlisle. Italsoaims toincreasestudentnumbers by 50% to22,800 by 2017,a “challenging”target,admits ProfessorCarr,butone he insistscan be achieved. The university,which willhave an opening budgetof£80 millionand 1,600 staff,has managed to acquiresignificantstartup fundingincluding£10 millionfrom the HigherEducationFunding Council forEngland (HEFCE) and £9.4millionfrom the NorthwestRegionalDevelopmentAgency.Itisalso being supportedby the NuclearDecommissioningAuthorityand willhave a particularfocus on developingskillstosupportthe nuclearindustry.
INNOVATIVE PROSPECTUS Recruitmentfairand websiteinterestinthe new institutionhas been high,“hugelyinexcess ofthe experiencewe have hithertohad as colleges,”reportsthe Vice-Chancellor. He ishopefula strongmarketingcampaign themed on ‘bringyourdreams tothe Universityof Cumbria,’an innovativeprospectusand attractivestudy locationscan convertthatinterestintoa healthflow ofapplications. The universityisdevelopinga number ofideasand niche specialismstodifferentiateitselfinthe marketplace. Plans are welladvanced tocreatean InstituteofTransportand Logisticsinpartnershipwitha privatesectortrainingbody and a privateoperator,which willhave formallinkswithtwo Chinese universitiestoprovidea two-way flow ofstudy and researchopportunitiesinwhat are key growth areas forthe Cumbrianeconomy. Inanotherpioneeringmove the universityissettingup an InstituteofPolicingatPenrith,one ofthe firstinthe country.Ithas alreadybeen chosen as the preferredtrainingpartnerby CumbriaPoliceand isbiddingforsimilarstatuswiththe CivilNuclearConstabulary. Enterprisewillfigureprominentlyinthe university’sinteractionwithlocalcommunities.A commercial and trainingarm, Unisolutions,isbeing establishedon Kingmoor BusinessPark,Carlisle,tomeet the needs ofthe publicand privatesectors. For furtherinformation:www.cumbria.ac.uk
DISTRIBUTED LEARNING The UniversityofCumbriaadds a differentdimensiontoeducationalprovisionby engagingwithlocal FurtherEducation(FE)collegesand threeuniversitiesina lifelonglearningnetworkofferinga range ofstudymodes includingface-to-face and electronic. Jane Inman,ExecutiveDirectorforCumbriaHigherLearning,says the key focusofthe partnership willbe todevelopprogressionopportunitiesforstudentswho would nototherwisebe abletostudy because ofgeographicalconstraints.“Thisreallyisan opportunityofa lifetime,”she says. Members ofthe learningnetworkincludefourFE colleges(Carlisle,Kendal,Furness and Lakes) and fourHE providers(theUniversityofCumbria,UCLAN, LancasterUniversityand the Open University). ProfessorSirMartinHarris,formerVice Chancellorthe UniversityofManchester,recommended that Cumbriashouldhave itsown universitybuiltaround the conceptofdistributedlearningina reporton the futureofhighereducationinCumbriapublishedby HEFCE inSeptember 2006. The new universitywillhave 21-strongBoard chairedby the VenerablePeterBallard,the Archdeacon ofLancaster.The Church ofEngland providesa thirdofBoard members,a linkage inheritedfrom St.Martin’s.The Archbishop ofYork,Dr John Sentamu, willbe installedas Chancellor on November 21.
Popularlocation– studentsenjoya break from lectureson the Carlislecampus Dream girl– a catchymarketingposterforthe new university Qualityoflife– the Amblesidecampus
PAGE 14-15 PEOPLE AND JOBS NE W S BlackpoolTask Force has publisheda ten-yearactionplan forthe sustainabledevelopmentofthe resortwhich identifiesa seriesof measures toleveralmost£2 billioninprivatesectorinvestment,create11,000 netjobsand provide 2,000 new homes. Developmentwork has begun on the £5 millionNew PortBusinessPark,Ellesmere Port,which will provide30,000 sq ftofnew space inseven industrialunitsand generateup to95 jobs.The firstphase projectsecured itsfundingfrom the Borough Council,the N W D A and Europe. New EastManchester(NEM),the urban regenerationcompany setup todrivethe regenerationof EastManchester,has been recognisedas the regenerationagency ofthe yearinthe Regeneration and RenewalAwards.NEM alsogained the top award inthe trainingcategoryforthe Regeneration Assistantsproject,which helped localresidentstogainemploymentinregeneration. Afterextensiveconsultationthe LancashireEconomic Partnershiphas launched a £1.6 billion blueprintaimed atcreating50,000 jobsby the end ofthe decade.The N W D A has identifieda potential fundingcontributionof£245 millioninitsStrategicInvestmentPlan for2007-10. Burnley’sWeavers Triangle,one ofthe world’sbestcollectionsofcottonweaving mills,istoreceive heritagelotteryfundingof£1.9 milliontosupportthe £76 millionrepair,restorationand re-use ofsome ofthe area’s60 historicbuildings.The N W DA has helped fund a masterplantoguide regeneration. Economic regenerationorganisationCumbriaVisionhas announced the appointmentofRoger Liddle as Chairman.Inhisrole,Roger willhead the 14-strongBoard ofDirectorsgatheredfrom the public and privatesectors.
ENERGY COAST PLAN TO REVIVE W EST CU MB RIA Publicand privatesectorpartnershave unveileda far-reachingsetofeconomic proposalstotransform West Cumbriaoverthe next20 yearspositioningitas Britain’s‘EnergyCoast’. A nationalnuclearlaboratory,new acuteserviceshospital,betterschoolsand housing,improved road linksand more businessparksare among the investmentprioritiesidentifiedina new masterplanfor the area. The blueprintforgrowth isexpectedtogenerate16,000 new jobsand givethe Cumbrian economy a much needed £700 millionboost.
Itisnow being finetuned inpreparationfora bidforgovernmentfundingthisautumn.Although the measures willcostover£1.7billionlittlenew money willbe requiredtodeliverthem. The focus willbe on persuadingministerstospeed up existingprogrammes. Members ofthe West CumbriaStrategicForum – the CumbriaPartners– believethe area can make a significantcontributiontosecuringthe UK’s futureenergy needs and combatingclimate change ifthe ‘prospectusforchange’recommendationsare implemented. The Forum was setup two yearsago todealwiththe challengesand opportunitiesarisingfrom the lossof8,000 jobsinthe nucleargenerationand reprocessingindustryatSellafieldoverthe nextfew years. The NorthwestRegionalDevelopmentAgency (NWDA) and the NuclearDecommissioningAuthority commissioned GrantThorntontoproduce a masterplanthatwould buildon the area’sstrengthsin energy and environmentaltechnologies. Key ministersand seniorcivilservantswere briefedon the 2027 visionofWest Cumbriaas Britain’s ‘EnergyCoast’ata summitinJune attended by a CumbriaPartnersdelegationthatincluded the two MPs and representativesoflocalauthoritiesand publicsectoragencies.Ministersdescribedthe masterplanas “impressiveand coherent”. The plan isaimed atcreatingan asset,skills,and opportunityrichenvironmentbuoyantand welcoming enough toattractthe new businesses,advanced nuclearand environmentaltechnologies and new investorsrequiredtoenergisean under-performingWest Cumbrianeconomy. Itidentifies29 actionswithinthe threemain economic driversofbusinessand enterprise,skillsand research,and connectivityand infrastructure,highlightingsixoverridingprioritiescosting£745 million ofwhich the governmentwould contribute£455 million: -NationalNuclearLaboratoryheadquartersinWest Cumbria(£18 million) -New schools(£205 million) -New acuteserviceshospital(£310 million) -Housing marketrenewal(£80 million) -Gap funding(£120 million) -Road improvements(£30 million) Consultantslooked ata do-nothingscenarioand concluded from an economic analysisthatthe economy would startdecliningin2010 withthe annualGross Value Added – a measure ofprosperity – down by £400 millionby 2027. The totalintegratedpackage ofpublicand privatesectorinvestmentthrough masterplan interventionsisestimatedatover£1.7 billionwithlittlenew money being requiredimmediately. West Lakes Renaissance,the regenerationcompany setup by the N W DA witha projectedten-year budgetof£180 million,would co-ordinatedeliveryofthe actionplan. StewartSwift,Policyand PartnershipsManager atthe N W DA, rejectsany notionthatWest Cumbria issimplyaskingformore handouts. “Thisplan isallaboutofferingparticularsolutionstohelpthe government’sagenda inareas such as energy securityand climatechange,”he says. Nucleardecommissioningand nucleargenerationare highlightedinthe masterplanas strong businessopportunitiesforlocalcompanies.The long-term costofcleaningup the UK’s civilnuclear sitesisputat£80 billionofwhich £43 billionwillbe spentinCumbria. The plan raisesthe possibilityofusing locallystoredstocksofdepleteduranium and plutonium to fueltwo 1.6 G W (e)fourthgenerationreactorsfor60 years.Buildingthese on the Sellafieldsitecould generateinwardinvestmentof£20 billion. Success inimplementingthe masterplan,says Swift,willhinge on advancingprogrammes already inthe government’sin-trayincludingbuildinga new hospitaland investinginschoolsand other infrastructureprojects. “Ifwe are going toattractmore businessexpertisewe have toimprove a broad range offacilities and servicessuch as hospitals,and healthcare,schools,roads,new homes and businessspace,as wellas addressingthe skillsagenda.” He says thereisstilla perceivedneed tocontinuewithpublicsectorgap fundingtosecureprivate sectorleddevelopment.However incertainplaceslikeWest Lakes Science and TechnologyPark thereisno longerthe need forgrantaidbecause improved rentalsare now atlevelsthatwillmeet developerrequirements.
For furtherinformation:www.westlakesrenaissance.co.uk
SHIPYARD WINS NE W W O R K Barrow has receiveda majoremploymentboostfollowingnews thatBAE Systems Submarines Solutions’shipyardistoshare inthe constructionoftwo new 65,000 tonne aircraftcarrierscosting £3.8 billion. Itisanticipatedthe AircraftCarrierAlliancewillaward buildcontractsinthe nearfuture.Thiswill resultinsignificantnumbers ofextraworkersbeing needed duringthe buildprocess. One ofthe key issuesfacingbusinessand civicleadersiswhetherthe aircraftcarrierscontractwill have any impacton the high levelsofworklessnessinthe town where up to6,000 are on incapacity benefit. BAE Systems recentlyreceivedplanningpermissionfora 22,600 sq metrenew buildcomplex, which includesa panellineand assemblyhallatBarrow forfabricatinglargemodules forthe shipbuildingand nuclearindustries.The £66 millionprojectwould accommodate between 700-1,000 personnelbuta go-ahead forthe capitalinvestmenthinges on BAE Systems winninggrantaid.The plan istohave the complex ready for2009-10.
“THE PLAN IS ALL ABOUT OFFERING PARTICULAR SOLUTIONS TO HELP THE GOVERN M E NT’S AGENDA IN AREAS SUCH AS ENERGY SECURITY AND CLIMATE CHANGE.” STE WART SWIFT POLICY AND PARTNERSHIPS MANA GER NWDA
Sylvan setting– tastefullandscapinghas made West Lakes a flagshipdevelopment Image courtesyofThe Land RestorationTrust
Intellectualpowerhouse – West Lakes Science and TechnologyPark isthe modern face ofWest Cumbria Advanced technology– West Cumbriaisa worldleaderinnuclear‘know how.’* Ship shape – an aerialview ofthe Barrow shipyard *Everyeffortistaken toensure the accuracyofmaterialor images produced,used or suppliedby theNDA. However,the NDA cannotguaranteethatthe images shown willalways be current,accurateor completeand does notwarrantor endorse the accuracyor completenessofthe images.
PAGE 16-17 PEOPLE AND JOBS
SOUTHPO RT TEES UP TO BECO M E CLASSIC RESORT
Oh we do liketobe besidethe seaside… and the renaissance ofthe coastaltowns inthe Northwest aims toensure thatitstaysthatway. As the futureofcoastaltowns comes underscrutinyata two-day EnglishHeritageconference in October,changes are alreadyevidentinthe diverseresortsalong the region’scoastline. Southport,which nextyear(2008)willhave a chance toshowcase the town’sappealwhen Royal BirkdalehostsThe Open Championship,and Lytham St Annes have bothsettheirsightson becoming ‘classicresorts.’ Alan Ryan,SeniorDevelopmentManager inMerseysideand Lancashireforthe NorthwestRegional DevelopmentAgency (NWDA),which has investedalmost£86 millioninitscoastaltowns since2002, says:“We are workingwiththe localauthoritytocreatea classicresort. “Ratherthan concentratingon bucketsand spades,we want tocreatea high qualitydestinationwith excellentshops,restaurantsand hotels,focused on the town’sfamous Lord Streetarea.” Work iswellunderway on the transformationofLord Streetwithimproved access and lightingand the restorationofitsgardens totheiroriginalEdwardiandesigns. On the seafront,buildinghas startedon a £20 millionscheme by Neptune Developmentstoinclude a four-starhotel,casinoand an extensiontothe nearby FloralHallconference centre.There willalso be a new publicplaza,barsand restaurants.
INVESTOR CONFIDENCE The town,describedinthe N W D A’s ‘New Vision’coastalresortstrategyas “thejewelinthe regional crown”,has alreadyseen a steady increase inallyear-round visitornumbers overthe lastfiveyears. StefanJankowski,Manager ofSouthportPartnership,says:“We definea classicresortas a place which isthe verybestofitstype,offeringhigh qualitypublicspaces,facilitiesand services. “Allthattakes time and although we’reaiming tohave many ofour improvementscompletedbefore The Open, we are planningSouthportforthe next50 to100 years.” Aftermillionsofpounds ofpublicsectorsupport,he says privateinvestorsare now showing confidence inSouthport.Buildingwork has startedon a five-starboutiquehotelon Lord Street,with plans fortwo more hotelsinthe pipeline. The councilisnow seekinga lead developerforits40-acre siteofthe formerPleasurelandatthe southerngateway tothe town. James Berresford,the N W D A’s DirectorofTourism,says:“We are happy tosupportthe work which isgoing ahead inmany ofour coastalresortsincludingBlackpooland Lytham.” InMorecambe, award-winningdevelopersand regenerationspecialistsUrban Splash are renovating the town’sArtDeco Midland Hotel,due tore-open in2008. The adjoiningten-acre seafrontsiteisalsobeing developed withlive,work and playunitsand a masterplanforthe densely-populatedWest End area ofthe town isbeing prepared by architects appointedby the N W D A, EnglishPartnershipsand LancasterCityCouncil. EnglishHeritageispublishingEngland’sSeaside Resorts,the resultofa five-yearstudyby architecturalinvestigatorsAllanBrodieand Gary Winter,tocoincidewiththe Octoberconference “SeasideHeritage,colourpast,brightfuture”which isbeing heldinHastings. For furtherinformation: www.english-heritage.org.uk/seasideheritage www.sefton.gov.uk
M O RE HELP FOR RURAL CO M M U NITIES When PrinceCharlesenjoyed a pintatThe Old Crown atHesketNewmarketinCumbriaearlierthis
year,he gave the RoyalsealofapprovaltoBritain’sfirst co-operativelyowned pub. Itisan excellentexample ofHRH’s The Pub isThe Hub initiativelaunched back in2001 topromote the improvementofpubs inruralcommunities. The pub,ina villagebetween Penrithand Carlisle,was alsochosen by the NorthwestRegional DevelopmentAgency (NWDA) forthe May launch ofitsStrengtheningRuralCom munitiesacrossthe NorthWest programme inwhich itisinvesting£825,000. David Hunter,the Agency’sHead ofRuralAffairs,said:“The Old Crown isthe perfectexample ofa successfulco-operative,one thatreallycapturesthe communityspirit.” The pub,which was boughtby a co-operativeof125 customersinAugust2003,isnow home toa smalllibraryand internetcafé,providesa cashback service,sellslocallyproduced videos and bookletsand offersmeetingrooms – one ofwhich ishome toa wellsubscribedeveningclass teachingphilosophy. JulianRoss,freelancetranslatorand Chairman ofthe co-operativemanagement committee,says: “The idea oflocalsbuyingtheirvillagepub has a romanticappealbutitmust alsomake commercial sense.”
ENTERPRISE CULTURE Now a group ofpeopleare consideringfollowinga similarpath tobuy the villageshop. The new Northwest-wide programme aims tosupportotherruralcommunitieswho have theirown ideas forimprovingruralservicesand benefitinglocalpeople. Ruralareas – where 40% ofthe region’sbusinessesand around 25% ofthe populationare based – alreadymake a significantcontributiontothe overalleconomy, says DavidHunter. “Thisisnotan impossiblechallengebecause thereisan enterprisecultureinmany rural communities,”he said.“Butwe recognisethereare many differentneeds and no singlesolution.We know thatsocialenterprisecan address some ofthe problems and we hope thatby offeringfinancial support,itwillencourage communitiestotake a firststep.” Phase One involveda mapping exercisewhich identifiedaround 350 communities,witha population sizeofbetween 250 and 10,000,which couldtake advantage ofthe programme, although initiatives putforwardby smallersized communitieswillbe consideredon theirmerits. Smalltowns and villagesare invitedtoapplyforfundingfora specificprojectwhich can includea community-owned shop or pub,care facilities,villagehalldevelopment,provisionofIT or broadband services. Applicationsare then assessed by a panelincludingrepresentativesofthe N W D A, The Pub isThe Hub, the NorthWest RuralAffairsForum and the PlunkettFoundation,which ismanaging the project withthe NorthWest RuralCom munityCouncils. The N W D A ishoping tosupporta totalofaround 80 projects,40 from each Fund,overtwo years, withprogressmonitoredon a quarterlybasis. For furtherinformation: www.ruralcommunityfund.org.uk
“THE OLD CRO W N IS THE PERFECT EXAMPLE OF A SUCCESSFUL CO-OPERATIVE, ONE THAT REALLY CAPTURES THE CO M M U NITY SPIRIT.” DAVID HUNTER HEAD OF RURAL AFFAIRS NWDA
Resortmakeover– an impressionofthe new seafronthoteland FloralHallextension Shoppersparadise– WayfarersArcade,Lord Street Aiming high – PrinceCharlesenjoysa game ofdartsinThe Old Crown Com munityspirit– 125 customersunitedtobuy the villagepub
PAGES 18-19 PEOPLE AND JOBS
GREEN LIGHT FOR MEDIA CITY DEVELOP ME NT Constructionteams have moved on tothe mediacity:uksitetobeginthe three-yeartaskofbuildingan iconic,world-leadingcomplex thatwillhelptofuelthe revolutiontakingplace inthe new media and broadcastindustries. The £300 millionPeelHoldingsdevelopmentwillprovidea creative,technologyand trainingrich environmentforthe fiveBBC departmentsthatwillrelocatetoSalfordQuays in2010-11.Itisalso expected toactas a magnet forscoresofsmallermedia,technologyand TV enterprises. BBC DirectorGeneralMark Thompson joined200 guestsinJune tocelebratethe signingof contractsthatwillturnthe mediacity:uksiteintoa dynamic,internationallysignificantcentrefor convergentmedia production. The ceremony was heldatThe Pie Factory,a formerfood manufacturingplantthathas been transformed intoa sound-stage complex fora wide spectrum ofindependentproductionand support companies. The BBC isplanningtorelocate1,500 London-based jobstoSalfordQuays.Departmentsmoving includeBBC Sport,Children’sBBC, BBC Radio Five Live,Five LiveExtraand Research and Development.An estimated800 BBC staffcurrentlyworkinginManchesterwillalsotransfertothe Quays. Mark Thompson saidthe new BBC Trustwas fullybehind the project.“mediacity:ukisa brilliantidea and potentiallyone ofthe most excitingmedia projectsinthe world.”Programming made atthe new complex,he said,shouldbe seen as contentforthe whole world. “The propositionofwhat the BBC coulddo here,the numbers ofpeopleand departmentsinvolved and the scaleofoperationsis,ifanything,slightlybiggerthan the visionwe had overthreeyearsago and Ithinkoverthe nextfouryearsitisgoing togrow further.”
IMPROVED ACCESS More detailhas emerged ofthe developmentsand infrastructuregoing on tothe site.Landowners PeelHoldingswillprovidethreelandmark 100,000 sq ftofficebuildingsforthe BBC withthe firstready by October2010. The firstphase scheme covering52 acres ofthe total200-acre formerdockland sitewillalsoinclude a 20,000 sq ftstudioblockwithflexibleproductionand audience facilities,a hoteland some speculativeofficespace. Itwillcontaina number ofstunningdesignfeaturesincludinga publicpiazza nearlytwiceas bigas TrafalgarSquare,floatingperformance platforms and a glasscolonnade thatwilldoubleas a digital screen. Improvingaccess isa key elementofthe developmentpackage and a new sectionofroad willbe builtalong the edge ofthe ManchesterShip Canal. The developersand otherfundingpartnersare alsobuildinga 350-metre long Metrolinkspurtodelivercommutersand visitorsintothe heartof the complex.
Ed Burrows,PropertyDirectorofPeelMedia,saidthe developmentwould be aimed atother broadcastersand peopleinthe digitalmedia field.“Thereisa much closerconnectionbetween the digitalmedia and traditionalbroadcastersand we willexploitthat.” A strategywas being developed tomarketthe siteinternationallynow thatthe anchortenanthad been confirmed.“We are developinga whole creativecommunityand thismay be attractiveto companieslikecomputergames organisations,”he explained. Peelisone offourmain projectpartners.The othersare the NorthwestRegionalDevelopment Agency (NWDA),SalfordCityCounciland CentralSalfordUrban RegenerationCompany (URC). The NorthernWay, a vehiclesetup by the NorthernRDAs tospeed economic growth acrossthe threeregions,isinvesting£9 millionina Media EnterpriseCentreatmediacity:ukconnectingitto othercentresacrossthe northby way ofa high-speed telecoms network. Othermajorinitiativesare underway totap intothe training,job,enterpriseand knowledge transfer opportunitiesgeneratedby media:city.uk.The projectwillprovideemploymentforup an estimated 15,500 peopleand 1,500 traineepostsperyear. SalfordUniversityisexploringintegratingitsFacultyofArts, Media and SocialSciences withinmediacity:ukwhileSalfordCityCouncilisworkingtodevelopa pipelineofpeoplefrom a young age through toadulthood totake advantage ofthe opportunities offered. “It’snotjustaboutputtingshinynew buildingson tothe Quays,”explainedCath Inchbold,the city’s AssistantDirectorofRegeneration Strategy.“Salfordpeopleneed tofeelit’sdoing somethingfor them so we are making as many connectionsas possiblewiththe projectso media companiescan identifynew talentwhetherit’satthe SalfordFilm Festivalor withinschools.”
MEDIA ACADE MY The councilisaddressingthe issue on a number offrontsfrom lifestylemarketing–“debunking myths thatBBC staffinLondon mighthave ofSalford”– tolocatinga new academy atthe entrance to the complex toprovidea seedbed oftalentand enterprise. Sponsored by OASIS,the 11-18 academy isa key elementinSalford’s£150 millionBuilding Schoolsforthe Futureprogramme. Due toopen by 2011,itwillspecialiseinmedia and entrepreneurship. Two-yearadvanced apprenticeshipsare alsobeing developed incollaborationwiththe BBC withthe firstintakeof20 due tostartinSeptember. “We need totake a broad view and bringinpeopleatalllevelsso the BBC can diversifyits workforce,”added Inchbold.“It’snotjustaboutwritersand producers,butengineers,accountantsand even peopletomake sandwiches.” For furtherinformation:www.mediacityuk.co.uk www.centralsalford.com
PIE FACTORY REINVENTS ITSELF A dozen smallproductionand TV servicecompanieshave shown earlyfaithinthe mediacity:uk conceptby relocatingtheiroperationstoThe Pie Factory,a formerfood plant,which has been refitted as a sound-stage complex. Two majorBBC filmswere underway withinweeks ofthe 100,000 sq ftSalfordQuays studioand officefacilityopeninginFebruaryand productioncrews have shota number ofcommercialsthere. PaulAbbott’sTightropeFilms joinedthe rush toputdown rootsthere,along witha TV service company,JustShoots,two castingsagencies,an eventstagingcompany and otherenterprises. “It’sjusttaken offand we’refullup untilwe can findsome more space,”reportsChiefExecutive Andy Sumner who iscelebratinganothercoup by signingup BBC OutsideBroadcastsas a tenant.He describesthe Pie Factoryas “thefirstgreen shoots”ofmediacity:uk. The complex boastswarehouse sizeproductionand post-productionspaces and willbe the only majormedia centreon the siteuntilthe firstBBC buildingsare completedin2010-11.Up to500 peoplecan be workingon productionshootsatany one time. SituatednearBroadway Metrolink,the projectwas “green lit”by John Whittaker,Chairman of
mediacity:ukdevelopersPeelHoldingsinSeptember lastyear,nine months beforethe BBC Trust gave the go-ahead forthe BBC move. Ed Burrows,PropertyDirectorofPeelMedia Ltd,says The Pie Factoryis“a usefulprovingground forreassuringpeoplethatthey are notgoing toa businessparkinthe middleofnowhere.” Iconiclandscape – mediacity:ukwillhave a number ofstunningdesignfeatures Productionpowerhouse – the proposed studioblock Hive ofactivity– insidethe Pie Factory
PAGE 20-21 INFRASTRUCTURE NE W S Newlands,the jointN W D A and ForestryCom missionprogramme todevelopmultip -urpose community woodlands on 900 hectaresofbrownfieldland isreceivea furtherinvestmentof£36 millionon top of the £23 millionalreadycommittedtothe project. Work torestoreand renovatethe 135 year-oldPugin-designed Gorton Monastery,Manchester,has been completed.The £6 millioncommunity-ledprojecthas seen the Grade IIlistedbuildingconverted intoa culturalcentreforEastManchester. Over 20 companieshave locatedtoLiverpoolScience Park inthe 12 months since the firstbuilding, the 36,000 sq ftInnovationCentre(LINK),was completed.Work istostarton a second landmark buildingthatwillprovidespace and serviceforyoung science and technologybusinesses. EnvironmentalimprovementstobusinessparksatPortlandBasin,Tameside,and WinsfordIndustrial Estatecarriedoutby Groundwork have broughtnew jobsand betterproductivity,accordingtoa study by the CentreforLocalStrategies(CLES). Railjourneytimes between Liverpooland Manchesterwillbe reduced by 40 minutesand fastservices between Manchesterand Leeds cutto43 minutesas partofNetworkRail’splans totacklebottlenecks affectingthe regionby 2014.Otherimprovementsincludeprovisionofmore carriagesand refurbishmentofBoltonand Chesterstations. West Lakes Renaissance has been awarded £8 millionby the N W DA towardsinfrastructureand site preparationforRamsden BusinessPark,the firststep inthe developmentofthe 23 ha (60-acre) Barrow WaterfrontBusinessPark.
GIVING NATURE A HELPING HAND Reclaimingthe vastlime beds thatwere once so importanttothe chemicalindustryiscentraltoa new land regenerationprogramme thatistakingplace acrossCheshire,mainlyinthe Weaver Valley. REVIVE isan ambitious£17.3millionprogramme funded by the NorthwestRegionalDevelopment Agency (NWDA) aimed atrestoring170 hectaresofformerindustrialland togreen landscape uses. RichardTracey,the Agency’sLand RegenerationManager,says the aim ofREVIVE istotransform
thislargestockofdisused land intoan environmentalassetthatcontributestothe improvementofthe region'simage,actingas a leverforinwardinvestment,as wellas enhancingthe qualityoflifeforlocal people. Whilemany derelictsitesinCheshirehave alreadybeen reclaimed toconventional'hardend' economic uses,a significantnumber ofsitescan’tbe regeneratedinthisway,explainsTracey. “Because we are dealingwithlegacysitesfrom the chemicalindustry,theremay be a requirement todo more investigationsand riskassessmentsinordertomake them safeforpublicaccess,”he says.
CHE MICAL LEGACY The N W D A willbe workinginpartnershipwithCheshireCouncilCountyata number ofkey sites.In Crewe the emphasiswillbe on greeningrailwaysidings,screeningeyesoresand generallyimproving the image ofthe area forvisitorsarrivinginthe regionby train. Similarwork willtake place nearStanlow by the M53, whileinChesterwork willinvolvetransforming disused railwaytracksintonew multiu -serroutesforlocalpeople. But itisthe legacyofthe chemicalindustrythatdominatesREVIVE, particularlysitesinWarrington and around the Weaver Valley. “We have a number oflime beds which are builtup from the surroundingland toform largebunded lagoons,”explainsGarethEllis,Land RegenerationTeam Manager atCheshireCountyCouncil. As the chemicalindustryhas refineditsprocesses,the lime beds have become redundant. However,the alkalinewaste has proved attractivetosome speciesofplantsand insects,such as the fragrantorchidand dingyskipperbutterfly,which are notnormallyfound inCheshire’smore acidic conditions. “The olderbeds can be ecologicallyinteresting,so the process ofreclamationwillinvolveworking withnaturetoenhance theirpotential,whilealsoprovidingpublicaccess forinformalrecreation,”he adds. For an exemplarofwhat can be achieved,the councilneed lookno furtherthan the work they carriedatAshton’sand Neumann’sFlashes inthe NorthwichCom munityWoodlands,following Agency investment. Justundertwo yearsago theywere vastexpanses ofalkalinepastebutwithsensitivereclamation theyhave been transformed intoa superb naturalhabitatand popularrecreationarea. REVIVE alsoneatlydovetailswithNewlands,the region’slargestland regenerationprogramme, and ensuresthatallthe Northwest’ssub-regionsnow have theirown softend land use reclamationprogrammes. For furtherinformation: RichardTracey tel:01925 400100 email:richard.tracey@nwda.co.uk
Bridge tothe future– a new footbridgeisplanned acrossthe RiverWeaver atNorthwich
CRUISE LINERS RETURN TO LIVERPOOL Afteran absence ofover30 years,the world’sgreatcruiseshipswillonce againbe abletoberthat
Liverpool’sPierHead,thanks tothe openingofa new multim -illionpound cruiselinerberthingfacility. The £19 millionproject,funded by the NorthwestRegionalDevelopmentAgency (NWDA),Mersey WaterfrontRegionalPark,the CityFocus SingleRegenerationBudgetand the European Regional DevelopmentFund,willhelpensure thatLiverpoolbecomes a majorplayerinthe burgeoningcruise market. The September openingcoincidedwitha 40th birthdayvisitby the QEIIand a totalof21 cruise shipswillmake a callatLiverpoolduring2007-08. LiverpoolCityCouncilwillown the berthwithcruisemanager AngieRedhead responsiblefor marketingthe citytothe InternationalCruiseCompanies as wellas ensuringpassengershave a world-classexperiencewhen exploringthe cityand the Northwest. “Cruiseshipsare now so accessibletoeverybody,”she explains.“They caterforallsocialgroups and incomes,and the growth ofthe cruiseindustryisthe fastestinthe whole ofthe tourism and leisuremarket. “It’sphenomenalhow many new shipsare being built… and these are shipsthatare carryingup to 3,000 passengersata time.” Crucially,at350m long,the berthhas been designed toaccommodate these new superships.“The logisticsofwhere shipscan now actuallyberthisbecoming an issue,”continuesRedhead.“Thereare onlyso many portsthatcan accommodate them and Liverpoolisone.” The returnofthe linersisalsosettobringa tourism boom tothe city.More than 25,000 cruise passengersare alreadyconfirmed overthe next18 months,and theyare settobringinaround £2 millionofextraspendingtothe city.The facilityisalsocreating160 jobs. The returnofthe cruiselinerscomes atthe same time as skillsand traininginthe Mersey’smaritime industrieshave receiveda significantboost. Two ofMerseyside’sleadingmaritimeorganisations,the skillsf -ocused LairdFoundationand the business-orientatedMersey Maritime,have merged toform the Mersey MaritimeGroup. ChiefExecutiveJim Teasdalesays thatthe sectorcurrentlybringsinsome £2.5 billiona yeartothe localeconomy and employs over26,000 people.The new group willhelptoaddress skillsgaps that couldaffectthe long-term growth ofthe sector. “There isactuallymore cargo on the rivernow than atany time initshistory– and the volumes are continuingtogrow,allofwhich isverypositiveforour sectorand forthe city,”explainsTeasdale. “The new cruiselinerterminalwillhelptobringaboutgreaterpublicawareness ofthe river’s significance,and veryobviousbenefitstothe city’seconomy interms oftourism and jobs.” For furtherinformation:www.cruiseliverpool.com Grand farewell– the QEIIon a finalvisittoLiverpoolbeforesailingoffintoretirementinDubai Queen ofthe seas – the QEIIberthedatLiverpool’snew cruiselinerfacility
PAGE 22-23 INFRASTRUCTURE
DESIGN REVIEWS FOR
LANDMARK SCHE MES Design conceptsformajornew schemes inthe Northwestare now underexpertscrutinyby a regional Design Review Panel,which has alreadyassessed itsfirst12 projectsincludingan observatorytower, a bridge,villagecentreand a businesspark. The Panel,which expectstoreview atleast80 projectsduringitstwo-yearpilotperiod,aims to improve the designqualityofnew significantschemes by offeringexpertadvicetoarchitects, developersand plannersatan earlystage. Made up ofover35 professionalsdrawn from a varietyofrelevantdisciplines,the Panelwillmeet 10 times a yearatdifferentvenues acrossthe region. “Ensuringthe rightdesigninthe builtenvironmentisone ofthe most importantfactorsin regeneration,”says landscaperarchitectTom Lonsdale,Chairofthe new body. “The Paneloffersconstructivesupportand guidance todevelopersand planningauthoritiesbringing schemes forward.Our aspirationistocreateattractiveplaceswhere peoplewant toliveand work and ensure thatthese placesare trulysustainableforfuturegenerations.” Lonsdaleisa member ofthe nationalDesign Review Panelsetup in1999 by CABE (Commission forArchitectureand the BuiltEnvironment),which has sincereviewed over3,700 schemes,including over400 in2007. The idea ofregionalpanelsistoextend and complementthe nationalprogramme. Five members of the Northwestpanelconsidereda diversecollectionofschemes atitsfirstmeetingUlverstoninMay. On the agenda was the plan fora new Mersey Observatory,toreplacethe existingCrosby Radar Tower,which a feasibilitystudy earlierthisyearconcluded was unsuitablefordevelopmentas a visitor attraction. WalterMenzies,ChiefExecutiveofthe Mersey BasinCampaign,said:“Thisisa veryexcitingand ambitiousprojectwhich fallswithinthe Mersey WaterfrontRegionalPark.
LANDMARK PROJECTS “The Tower isina unique positiontogivea 360 degree view acrosstothe Welsh hills,the Pier Head, intoLiverpool’sworkingport,showing the river,the estuary,shipping,wildlife.We know from researchthattalltowersacrossthe worldare verypopular– peopleare attractedtothem,” Plans forthe Observatoryare still atan earlystage butit’sthoughtitcouldbecome a majortourist attractionforvisitors,includingthose arrivingby shipatthe city’snew cruiselinerfacility. The Design Review Panel’sreportwas “veryconstructive”,says Menzies.“They gave us an interestingsetofinsightsand itwas veryusefultobe provoked inthatway.Ithinkthe process is helpful,particularlyforambitiousprojects.” At itsfirstmeetingthe Panelalsoreviewed a new bridgeoverthe RiverWeaver atNorthwich,close tothe presentbridgewhich was closed threeyearsago,and a housingdevelopmentand business park,both inCumbria. The second meetinginJulyatCrewe broughttheirexpertisetobearon plans tocreatea new village centre,green space and playarea atthe Tower Hillestate,Kirkby,Knowsleyon Merseyside. The NorthwestDesign Review Panelispartofthe Places Matter!Programme ledby the Regional CentreofExcellenceforSustainableCom munities,RENE W Northwest,withthe supportofthe NorthwestRegionalDevelopmentAgency (NWDA),CABE and the regionalbranch ofRIBA (Royal InstituteofBritishArchitects) “The aim ofthe Panelistoprovidepeerreview ofprojectsatan earlystage,beforea planning applicationissubmitted,”explainsRENE W NorthwestDirectorPhilBarton. “Thatwillgivetime forthe Panel’sinformed expertview on the qualityofthe proposals,and its suggestionsas tohow theymay be improved,tobe consideredby the projectproposersata stage where revisionswillcostlittleand willnotholdup the statutoryplanningprocess.
“We alsohope thatthe Panel’scomments willbe reportedtoany futureplanningcommitteealong withthe planningofficer’scomments.” The aim istoraisethe qualityofthe designoflandmark projectsand increasethe regionalcapacity toassess such schemes,which can then be adjustedand improved. “We encourage anyone toapproach us as earlyas possible,”saidBarton.“Earlyfeedback suggests thatthe regionaldesignreview isalreadyhavingan impact.” As wellas consideringdesign,the panelishoping touse the process progressivelytolookatthe environmentalimpact– the carbon footprint– ofany development. Places Matter!has a number ofcomplementarystrandsincludingofferingexpertadvicetopublic and privatesectorclientsand developerson new schemes and providingresearchfindingson the economic valueofgood design.Italsoincludesa schools’educationprogramme, a supportand trainingnetworkand a publicrealm good practiceguide. For furtherinformation: www.renew.co.uk/placesmatter
DRIVING UP ENVIRON ME NTAL STANDARDS A new SustainableStandardsforBuildingspolicyhas been introduced by the N W D A toaddressthe environmentalimpactofsignificantnew buildingschemes inthe region. Inlinewithgovernmentstrategyon climatechange and the sustainableuse ofresources,the new policy,approved inMay, setsouta clearvisionfor2020 withthreeheadlinetargetsfornew buildings: zero netcarbon,zero netwaste and zero netwater. Between now and then,a progressive‘pathway’,which includesa stargradingsystem,willapplyto allnew buildingsinwhich the Agency invests.
KNOCK-ON EFFECT Mark Atherton,the N W DA’s Head ofSustainableDevelopmentand ClimateChange,believesthis approach ismore sensiblethan insistingon “practicallyunachievabletargets.” He says:“We are the firstRDA toincludesuch stringentconditionsinourbuildingspolicy. “Inthe medium term we hope todriveup the standardsofconstruction,which we expecttohave a knock-on effecton the environmentaltechnologiessector,as itbecomes more involvedinsustainable development.” He expectsthe policytoassistthe region’sdrivetowardsa low carbon economy, whileactingas an exemplartodevelopersand localauthorities,by demonstratingwhat can be achieved.
“THE AIM OF THE PANEL IS TO PROVIDE PEER REVIEW OF PROJECTS AT AN EARLY STAGE BEFORE A PLANNING APPLICATION IS SUBMITTED.” PHIL BARTON DIRECTOR RENE W NORTH W E ST
Symbolofregeneration– an idea ofhow the planned MerseysideObservatorymightlook Fun time – designadvicewas soughton a new playarea atKirkby Stargrading-new buildschemes willhave tomeet clearstandards
PAGE 24-25 QUALITY OF LIFE NE W S
Transformationwork on the 290-yearoldBluecoatArtsCentre,Liverpool,has reached the toppingout stage.The £12.5millionproject,partfunded by the N W D A, involvesthe additionofa new artswing, fournew galleries,a 200-seatperformance space and completerestorationofthe buildingand garden. Cheshire’sYear ofGardens 2008 initiativeisexpectedtoboostthe county’svisitoreconomy by an estimated£15 million.The N W D A has approved fundingsupportof£750,000 forthe project,which is designed tocomplementLiverpool’syearas European CapitalofCulture. SculptorRichardWilson’sstunningnew commissionforLiverpool’sYear as European Capitalof Culture,Turningthe Place Over,has been launched.The work consistsofan eightmetrediameter ovoidcutfrom the façade ofCross Keys House,Moorfieldswhich ismade tooscillateinthree dimensions. CumbriaTourism has notched up £10 millioninaccommodationbookingsforthe county’shotels, B&Bs and selfcateringbusinessessince itintroduced its‘golakes’websitefouryearsago.A survey has revealedthat31% ofvisitorsbook theirvisiton the internet. Burnley’sSingingRingingTree artworkby TonkinLiu,one ofa seriesoficonic21stcenturylandmarks acrossEastLancashire,has won a RIBA award forarchitecturalexcellence.The projectispartofthe visionaryPanopticonsinitiativefunded by the N W D A and the LancashireEconomic Partnership. ManchesterraiseditsinternationalvisitorprofileinOctoberby hostingthe 52nd conventionofthe SocietyofAmerican TravelWriters,the world’slargestgatheringofprofessionaltraveljournalists.The 500 delegatesattendingthe four-day eventheard a keynotespeech from anglophilewriterBillBryson.
TURNER PRIZE RAISES CULTURAL TEMPERATURE The internationalartspotlightfallson Liverpoolthisautumn as the thoughtprovokingTurnerPrize leaves London forthe firsttime in23 yearstosupportthe city’sEuropean CapitalofCulture programme. Four leadingBritishartistsare vyingforthe iconic£25,000 prize,regarded by many as a beacon of contemporary,cuttingedge art.It’sequallyfamous forstirringup scandaland notorietyforthe type of artselected. Tate Liverpoolisspending£500,000 stagingan eventthatDirectorChristophGrunenberg,who chairsthisyear’sjury,describesas “a fantasticcurtainraiser”forCapitalofCulture. An exhibitionofthe shortlistedartistswillrun from October19 2007,toJanuary13 2008,withthe winnerbeing announced atthe AlbertDock Galleryon December 3 duringa livebroadcastby Channel4.There willbe a retrospectiveTurnerPrizeexhibitionrunningatthe same time inLondon. Tate Liverpoolisone ofthe principalartisticdriversofthe 2008 CapitalofCulturecelebrationsand isalsoplanninganothertourde forcenextyearby stagingthiscountry’sfirstGustav Klimtexhibition.
FREE ADMISSION The attention-grabbingTurnerPrizehas been surrounded by controversysinceitwas established in1984,generatinga mixed,oftenvolatile,reactionfrom artlovers,criticsand politicians. “That’spartlybeen itsattraction,stimulatingdebate,”argues Grunenberg.“Thatdebatehappens on many differentlevels,sometimes itspure outragebutitmakes peoplethinkaboutcontemporaryart and the differentforms itcan take.” “You neverknow what willhappen,butit’snotour intentiontoartificiallycreatea scandal.It’s
importantthatit’sa good exhibition,thatthe bestwork isshown and taken seriously.” Thisyear’snominees are Mark WallingerforhisTate Britaininstallation,StateBritain,Glasgow artistNathan Colley,who makes installationsfrequentlyfeaturingarchitecturalstructures,Zarina Bhimji,a Ugandan Asian photographerand filmmaker and Mike Nelson,an installationartist. To make itas accessibleas possible,Tate isofferingfreeadmissiontothe exhibition,thanks tothe sponsorshipsupportofthe ArtsCouncilEngland,LiverpoolCultureCompany,NorthwestRegional DevelopmentAgency (NWDA),Milliganand Tate Members. An importantcontributortothe Northwestculturaleconomy, Tate Liverpoolgenerated£15 millionin visitorspend in2006,accordingtostudiescarriedoutby The Mersey Partnership. “Stagingthe UK’s most prestigiousartexhibitionand awards ceremony here willbe instrumentalin encouragingmore visitorstocome and experiencethe region’soutstandingartisticoffering,”declares PeterMearns,the N W DA’s ExecutiveDirectorofMarketing. Of the gallery’s600,000 visitorsabout135,000 were specificallyattractedtovisitMerseysideby the Tate. ChristophGrunenberg believesthe TurnerPrize,the Klimtexhibitionand the now established LiverpoolBiennial– the 2008 festivalisthe fifth– willhelptocorrectan imbalance inartprovision between London and the regions. He says:“Thereisno reason why the culturalofferinghere inthe Northwestshouldnotbe as good as thatinLondon.Sometimes the problem has been the lackofcourage and ambition.What we do here isas good as inLondon.”
SPECIAL SHO W Tate Liverpool’sroleas the culturalstandardbearerforregionalcitiesingeneralwillbe reinforced when itstages the exhibition,Gustav Klimt:Painting,Design and Modern LivinginVienna 1900 (April 21-August27 2008),an atmosphericrecreationofelegantlivinginthe Austriancapital. The AlbertDock Gallerycelebratesits20thanniversarynextyearand isplanninga bigweekend of eventsinMay includinga focuson the impactithas had on the regenerationofLiverpool. Tate Liverpoolhas investedinbetterfacilitiestocope withan anticipatedincreaseinvisitorsin 2008,includingreconfiguringthe foyerarea,improvingcloakroom and hospitalityspaces and redevelopingthe galleryshop. Businesses likeLiverpoollaw firmDLA Piper,sponsorsofthe Tate Collectionseries,and organisationssuch the N W D A have become “criticallyimportantpartners”inhelpingTate Liverpool fund itsexhibition,display,educationand outreach activities,accordingtoExecutiveDirectorAndrea Nixon. “We’re everambitioustocarryon testingthe range and qualityofwhat we do butwe need toraise more ofour own resourcestodo so.” Thisyearthe gallerywillbe raisingover£1 millionfrom non Tate sourcestosupportitsvarious programmes. For furtherinformation:www. tate.org.uk/turnerprize
CABBIES SW OT UP ON MO DE R N ART Step intoa Liverpooltaxiinthe nextfew months and there’sa fairchance you’llend up witha driver as wellversed aboutcontemporaryBritishartas he isaboutLiverpoolFC’s successes. Anxioustoreach the widestpossibleaudience,Tate Liverpoolhas enlistedthe helpofsome 20 localcabbiesina unique culturalexperimenttopromote the TurnerPrizeexhibitiontooutoftown visitors,businesspeopleand shoppers. The AlbertDock Galleryhas devisedan introductorycourse on modern arttohelpthe taxidrivers understandmore aboutit. “We want togivethem confidence so thatwhen passengersask aboutthe TurnerPrizetheycan respond informativelyor can initiateconversation,”explainsExecutiveDirectorAndrea Nixon. Tate willbuilda video recordofdialogue between driversand willingpassengers,which can be played toTate visitors.
AmnesiacShrine– Mike Nelson transportsviewerstoimaginaryworlds No bordercrossing– ZarinaBhimjiengages withuniversalhuman emotions StateBritain– Mark Wallinger’swork communicatesunpalatablepoliticaltruth Culturalmagnet – Tate Liverpoolisa majorvisitorattraction Camouflage Church,Santiagode Compostela– Nathan Colley’sinstallationsfrequentlyfeaturearchitectural structures
PAGE 26-27 QUALITY OF LIFE
MEASURES TO CO M BAT CLIMATE CHAN GE The Northwestisforcingthe pace on tacklingclimatechange by introducinga wide range ofpracticaland insome case novelsolutions tomove the regiontoa low carbon economy by 2020. One ofthe initiativesbeing consideredwillcombine a regional,offsettingstyleemissionsscheme witha carbon-reductionfund availabletoboth consumers and businesses. Itwould have fourmain strands– developinga region-wide access toa C0 2 Pledge reduction programme, an incentivisedprizechallengeforgroups and communitiesand a ‘payback’lotteryfor unavoidableemissionsthatcan’tbe cut,which willresultina ‘NorthwestClimateChange Fund.’ Itisone ofa number ofprojectsthatwillpotentiallybenefitfrom a £23.5millionportfolioof investmentbeing made overthreeyearsby the NorthwestRegionalDevelopmentAgency (NWDA) to address the causes and effectsofclimatechange. The Agency used WorldEnvironmentDay on June 5 toannounce thatapprovalforthe fundinghad been grantedinprinciple.The investmentwillbe used toimplementthe continued deliveryofthe NorthwestClimateChange ActionPlan. “The threatsofclimatechange are seriousso our response must be equallysubstantialand serious,”stressed Steven Broomhead,the N W DA’s ChiefExecutive. “The increasingneed forenvironmentalmeasures such as efficientenergy waste management, renewableenergy productionand adaptingtothe likelyeffectsofclimatechange isparamount.Our missionistomake England’sNorthwestthe leadingregionon tacklingclimatechange.” The NorthwestClimateChange Partnership(NWCCP), chairedby ProfessorNick Jenkinsofthe NorthWest Energy Council,has been charged withoverseeingimplementationofthe ClimateChange ActionPlan ‘Risingtothe Challenge.’ Itisproposed that£6 millionofthe N W DA’s investmentpackage willbe used tofund a fullyregional,
comprehensiveenvironmentalbusinesssupportprogramme linkedintoBusinessLinkNorthwestand deliveredby the EN W O R KS partnership.
ECON O MIC GAIN The projecthas a dualaim – toboostbusinesscompetitivenessand productivityby improved resourceefficiencyand reducingexposuretoenvironmentalrisk,and toreduce carbon emissions, waterand materialusage and divertwaste from landfill. There was furtherproofofthe region’scommitmenton tacklingclimatechange inAugustwhen the N W C CP publishedthe resultsofa perceptionsstudy,a key stage initscampaign tochange attitudes on the subject. The findingsshow clearevidence thatpeopleand businesses are takingactiontotackleclimate change.Over 68% ofthose questioned – 550 individualsand businesseswere surveyed – believe theyare doing somethingtohelpslow down climatechange butare aware thatthereismore theycan do. Many ofthe businessesquestioned were optimisticaboutclimatechange,recognisingthe potential foreconomic gainthrough tacklingthe issue.However,the study alsorevealedthatwhilstclimate change isan importantissue theirlevelofconcernaboutitreduced overthe longerterm. Mark Atherton,Head ofEnvironmentalSustainabilityatthe N W D A, describedthe studyas “a key baseline”forthe N W C C P inhelpingtomeasure improved awareness ofthe causes ofclimatechange and the actionsneeded toaddressthem. “The challengenow istobuildon thisand ensure thatthe Northwestisequipped totacklethe environmentalchallengesahead and take advantages ofthe opportunitiesa changingclimate presents.” For furtherinformation; www.climatechangenorthwest.com
STUDY FINDINGS The climatechange perceptionsstudy identifiedfourcategoriesofpeoplewithinthe Northwest. 20% ofpeopleare doing nothingtoaddressclimatechange 40% ofpeopleare thinkingaboutdoing somethingbuthaven’tyetdone anything 40% ofpeopleare doing somethingbutcoulddo more 20% ofpeoplebelievethey are doing alltheycan toaddressclimatechange Weatherwarning– the threatsfrom climatechange are serious
SPORTING ELITE HEAD FOR MANC HESTER Manchesterwillbe buzzingwithpassionand excitementnextyearas the cityhostsa seven-month, multim -illionpound fiestaofinternationalsportthatwilldraw intop athletesfrom alloverthe world. Dubbed ManchesterWorldSport08,fivemajoreventswillbe staged between March and October generatingan estimated£16.6millionforthe region’svisitoreconomy and reinforcingManchester’s prestigeas a showcase venue forworld-classsport.
Civicleadersand eventorganisersare promising2008 willbe a vintageyearofsporting spectacularsthatwillincludethe WorldShort-Course Swimming Championships,the WorldTrack CyclingChampionships,the UEFA Cup Finaland the WorldSquash Championships. ManchesterCityCouncilhas worked witha number oforganisations,includingthe Northwest RegionalDevelopmentAgency (NWDA),tocapturethese high-profileevents.They are expectedto lead to180,000 bed nightbookings. Eamonn O’Rourke,the Council’sHead ofLeisure,saiditwas the singlebiggestyearofglobalsport inManchestersincethe XVIICom monwealthGames in2002. “We are now developinga majorsportsportfoliothatwilldeliversignificanteconomic,socialand culturalbenefitstoManchesterwhileprofilingthe cityand the regiontoan internationalaudience. “Furthermore we are providingopportunitiesforhome athletestomake the bestpossible preparationsforboth the OlympicGames and ParalympicGames inBeijingnextyearand inLondon in2012.” The action-packed seriesofeventsin2008 willbeginwiththe Velodrome,the NationalCycling Centre,hostingthe UCI Track CyclingWorldChampionships(March 26-30).Competingwillbe 300 of world’sbestracingcyclists. Over 650 ofthe world’sbestshortcourse swimmers from 120 countrieswillconverge on Manchesterthe followingmonth totake partinthe 9th FINA WorldSwimming Championships(25m) (April9-13).Two huge temporarypoolswillbe builtatthe MEN arena forthe five-day event,the firstof itskindtobe heldinthe UK.
BIGGEST PRIZE On May 14 Manchesterwilljoinan eliteband ofcitieswho have staged the UEFA Cup. The finalof the 2008 tournament,which involves80 clubsacrossEurope,willbe played atthe CityofManchester Stadium and televisedliveinover200 countries. Laterthatmonth the BUPA GreatManchesterRun (May 18)willtake place inthe citycentre. Recognised as one ofthe world’sgreatroad runningcompetitions,the 10 km race willalsoprovide spectatorswitha chance tocheeron an allstarcastofcelebritiesand thousands ofcharityand fun runners. Manchester’swillagainbe inthe internationalspotlightwhen itbecomes the firstUK citytohostthe Hi-Tec WorldSquash Championships2008 atthe NationalSquash CentreatSportcity(October1219).Itisrecognisedas the most importanteventinthe worldsquash calendarand the biggestprizeon the professionalcircuit. The main draw forthe tournamentwillsee 64 playerscompete inthe Men’s Championshipand 32 playersinthe Wo men’s Championshipwithrepresentationfrom 40 countries.Manchesterwillalso stage the qualifyingrounds immediatelyprecedingthe main competition. The N W D A issupportingManchesterWorldSport08 as partofitscontributiontothe Regional MajorEventsStrategy.Inparticular,the N W DA isa leadingsponsorofthe worldswimming championshipsand the worldsquash championships. Over the lastthreeyearseventssupportedby the Agency have resultedin1.7 millionvisitors, 200,000 bed nightsand a £58 millioncontributiontothe regionaleconomy as wellas 36 hoursof nationaltelevisioncoverage. For furtherinformation:www.manchestersporttalks.com Making a splash– 650 ofthe world-bestshortcourse swimmers willcompete inManchester Allstarcast– celebritiesplan tocompete inthe BUPA GreatManchesterRun
PAGE 28-29 NOTEBO OK PEOPLE IN THE REGION
NE W UNIVERSITY OF LIVERPOOL VICECHANCELLOR DistinguishedadministratorSirHoward Newby, a formerChiefExecutiveofthe HigherEducation Funding CouncilforEngland (HEFCE),has been appointedVice Chancellorofthe Universityof Liverpool.He succeeds ProfessorDrummond Bone who retiresinSeptember 2008. He iscurrentlyVice-Chancellorofthe Universityofthe West ofEngland (UWE) inBristolhavingalso been Vice-Chancellorofthe UniversityofSouthampton from 1994 to2000. SirHoward has helda number ofdistinguishedpostswithinand outsidehighereducation.He isa formerChairman and ChiefExecutiveofthe Economic and SocialResearch Council(ESRC) and a formerPresidentofUniversitiesUK. A professorofSociology,he isan experton ruralEngland and spenteightyearsas a Rural DevelopmentCom missioner.SirHoward was made a CBE in1995 forhisservicestosocialscience and was knightedin2000 forhisservicestohighereducation.
HEALTH EXPERT IN DIVERSITY ROLE EvelynAsante-Mensah has joinedthe N W DA as Head ofEqualityand Diversity.She was previouslya StrategicAdviserforGovernmentOfficeforthe NorthWest (GON W) on secondment from the Black HealthAgency (BHA). Her rolewillbe toensure thatallthe N W D A’s investmentand programmes benefitthe whole region and thatallgroups atriskofdisadvantage are fullyengaged inthe Agency’sstrategyand programme development. Evelynworked forBHA for13 yearsatregionaland nationallevelsspendingseven yearsas Chief Executive.She holdsa number ofpublicappointmentsincludingChairofManchesterPrimaryCare Trustand membershipofthe EqualOpportunitiesCom missionand the HealthisWealthCom mission.
GUARDIAN OF THE COUNTRYSIDE NaturalEngland,the new body setup toconserveand enhance biodiversity,landscape and wildlife, has appointedoutdoorsenthusiastLizNewton from StocktonHeath,Warrington,as itsnew Director forthe Northwest. She has worked inthe environmentalfieldfor25 yearsand aims tochampion recreationand access tonaturalenvironmentsas a preventativepublichealthsolution. She was previouslyRegionalDirectorofthe CountrysideCom missionand has heldseveralnational rolesincludingdeliveryofthe MarketTowns Initiative,where the N W D A isa key partner.
EDMU N DSEN RESPONSIBLE BUSINESS CHA MPION Dave Edmundsen,ChiefExecutiveofBurnleyFootballClub and Chairman ofthe Com munitySports Trust,isthe PrinceofWales’2007 Ambassadoron CorporateResponsibilityinthe Northwest.He succeeds Bryan Gray,Chairofthe N W D A who heldthe award in2006. The award was announced ata Businessinthe Com munityAwards forExcellencedinnerin ManchesterinJune.Dave was selectedforhisinfluentialroleas a catalystforsocialand economic
withinNorthwestCom munities. Already an ambassadorforthe BetterBurnleyCampaign,he isalsoa member ofthe Princeof Wales’Seeing isBelievingAlumni.Burnleyisseen as an area withhuge potentialforeffective,high impactbusinesscommunitypartnerships.
TOP TMP ROLE FOR LORRAINE Former lawyerand investmentbankerLorraineRogers,currentlyChairman ofTranmere RoversFC, is the new ChiefExecutiveofThe Mersey Partnership,which has responsibilityforencouraging economic growth,investmentand tourism inthe sub-region. A specialistincorporatelaw,she trainedwitha London-based law firmbeforeworkingwithBarclays de Zoete Wedd and laterHambros Bank advisinginternationalcompanieson corporateinvestments, especiallyinthe financialservicessector. She isa prominentfigureinthe public,business,culturaland sportinglifeofMerseyside.She isa Trusteeofthe NationalMuseums Liverpool,Chairofthe RoyalLiverpoolPhilharmonicSocietyand was recentlyappointedtothe Board ofThe FootballLeague fora second term.
PRO M O TION FOR NICK STORER ChemicalengineeringgraduateNick Storer,who has 20 yearsofexperiencehelpinga range of industriesreduce theirenvironmentalimpacts,isthe new ChiefExecutiveofEnvirolinkNorthwest,the businesssupportorganisationforenergy and environmentaltechnologies. DuringhisfouryearswithEnvirolinkhe secured fundingfora majorexpansionofground breaking work withthe region’swaste and recyclingsector. He has worked ata seniorlevelinindustryand was previouslyconsultinggroup directorwiththe consultingfirmEnviroswhere he played a lead roleinthe developmentofReMaDe projectsacross the UK includingthe Clean MerseysideCentre.
NE W CREATIVE LEADER FOR LIVERPOOL CULTURE CO M PA NY Former Mersey Televisionowner PhilRedmond willlead the culturalprogramme forLiverpool’s CapitalofCultureyearfollowinga restructuringofthe CultureCompany Board. The new slimmed down Board,which willbe chairedby N W DA Chairman Bryan Gray,has been put inplace toensure thatitisabletoreactmore quicklyand fasttrackdecisionsforthe 08 schedule.Phil Redmond has been appointedDeputyChairman withresponsibilityfor creativedirection. Phil,bestknown forcreatingthreeofBritain’slongestrunningdrama programmes, Grange Hill, Brooksideand Hollyoaks,has a wealthofexperienceinthe culturalsector. He has writtenextensivelyforradio,televisionand stage and isa foundermember ofthe first regionalbranch ofthe BritishAcademy ofFilm and TelevisionArts(BAFTA) inManchester,a council member ofthe IndependentProducer’sAssociationand a formernationalnegotiatorforthe Writer’s GuildofGreatBritain.In1996,Philwas electedas Fellow ofRoyalSocietyofArtsand in1997 he was alsoappointedVice Chairofthe newlycreatedNorthWest Film Com missionand became a Patronofthe Com missioninJuly1999.He was awarded a CBE inJune 2004 for‘servicestodrama in the Queen’sBirthdayHonourslist.
NORTH W E ST AUTO M OTIVE AMBASSAD O R
TO SIT ON REGIONAL ADVISORY GRO UP Tom Schmidt,ofGeneralMotors,has been appointedonto the NationalSkillsAcademy’sRegional AdvisoryGroup. Tom isPlantDirectorofGeneralMotors(GM) inEllesmere Portand has 28 yearsofmanufacturing experiencewiththe company acrossthe globe.He has been assigned tooverseas assignmentsthree times and has managed manufacturingfacilitiesinfourGM regionsincludingLatinAmericaand the MiddleEast,AsiaPacificand NorthAmerica,inadditiontoEurope. The NationalSkillsAcademy forManufacturingisa centralpartofthe government’sskillsstrategy. Inhisroleon the RegionalAdvisoryGroup,which was establishedtoidentifythe skillsneeds of employersand enablethe SkillsAcademy todevelopsolutionstomeet these needs againstnational standards,Tom willrepresentthe needs ofthe automotivesectoracrossthe Northwest.
PAGE 30 EVENTS
EVENT HIGHLIGHTS For furtherinformationwww.nwda.co.uk/events OCTOBER 10 OCT NORTH W E ST TOURISM AWAR DS AnnualOscars forthe bestand brightestintourism ManchesterCentral
15 OCT 10TH MANCHESTER FOOD & DRINK FESTIVAL AWARDS Celebratinga decade ofdecadence Town Hall,Manchester
16-18 OCT THIRD UK-US MANUFACTURING SUM MIT The revolutionstartshere – workshops,seminarsand bestpractice Old Trafford,Manchester
17 OCT ART07 AWARDS Risingstarsofthe region’screativeindustries ManchesterTown Hall
18 OCT N W D A ANNUAL CONFERENCE AND AGM Reviewing the region’seconomic progress ManchesterCentral
19OCT13JAN TURNER PRIZE EXHIBITION OPENS Provincialdebutforthe world’smost prestigiousartprize Tate Liverpool
27-28 OCT NORTH W E ST FOOD LOVERS FESTIVAL Guaranteed toexcitethe tastebuds TattonPark,Cheshire
NOVE MBER 9-18 NOV KENDAL MO U NTAIN FILM FESTIVAL An extravaganza offilms,books,art,photography and more BreweryArtsCentre,Kendaland othervenues
15 NOV THE NEXT BIG THING Inspiringthe nextgenerationofentrepreneurs The Printworks,Manchester
DECE MBER 3 DEC ROYAL VARIETY PERFOR M A N CE Famous artistsperform inthe presence ofHM The Queen LiverpoolEmpireTheatre
3 DEC TURNER PRIZE AWARDS Gala ceremony toannounce the winner Tate Liverpool
7 DEC CBI BUSINESS AWARDS Honouringthe region’stop businessperformers Midland Hotel,Manchester
JANUARY 2008 11 JAN OPENING OF LIVERPOOL ARENA AND CONVENTION CENTRE Iconicnew venue forbusiness,sportand entertainment Kings Waterfront,Liverpool
11-13 JAN EUROPEAN CAPITAL OF CULTURE CELEBRATIONS BEGIN A weekend ofshowcase events VariousLiverpoolvenues Oscar ceremony – awards fortop tourism companies Theatreofdreams – venue forHallofFame Awards LiverpoolArena – new multipurpose venue
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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
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, Marketing 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
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