http://www.nwda.co.uk/docs/315_Issue17_textT

315° THE RDA MAGAZINE FEB 2009 ISSUE 17 Supporting business New finance measures introduced to help Northwest companies Support package Immediate financial help for businesses Bold ambitions Preston sets its sights on major growth Landmark year Building on Liverpool’s 08 legacy PAGE 2- 3 Contents THE THIRD DEGREE PeterWatson

BUSINESS 6

-More cash aidtocombat effectsofrecession

8

Actionplan tosupportmanufacturing

10 -Key projectstospearhead innovationdrive

SKILLS AND EDUCATION 12 SkillsdriveforSME sector 13 -Funding boostforflexiblematerialsindustry

PEOPLE AND JOBS 14 Seizinga ‘PrestonGuild’opportunity 16 Workingtonbuildson civicpride 17 Maritimeparktowoo waterfrontvisitors 18 FirstERDF projectswin fundingapproval

INFRASTRUCTURE 20 -Canalschemes transform urban landscape

22 Green lightfor£30 millionsportsvillage 23 Tickettorideforbusinessand tourism

QUALITY OF LIFE 24 -More resourcestoboostNorthwesttourism 25 World-classvenues lure2012 teams 26 Lastinglegacyof‘A yearlikeno other’

REGULARS 28 Peopleinthe region 30 Eventhighlights 31 Gettingintouch

SUPPORT PACKAGE The N W DA has responded tothe economic downturnwitha multim -illionpound package ofsupporttoprovidebusinesseswithimmediatehelp.

BOLD AMBITIONS Far reachingplans toregeneratethe centreofPrestonand driveitsambitionsto become the Northwest’sthirdcityare being boostedby majornew developments.

LANDMARK YEAR Liverpool’sYear as CapitalofCulturehas finallycome toan end withthe vital message that08 may be gone,butnotforgotten.

CONTACTS NWDA EricaBoardman email:erica.boardman@nwda.co.uk tel:01925 400 217 visitwww.nwda.co.uk& www.visitenglandsnorthwest.com

OUR VISION: ‘-A dynamic,sustainableinternationaleconomy which competes on the

basisofknowledge,advanced technologyand an excellentqualityoflifefor all.’

PAGE 3 CHAIRMAN’S MESSAGE

SUPPORTING THE REGION IN CHALLENGING TIMES As we begin2009,itishard tobelievethe speed ofchange thatthe economy faced during2008.

Whilstthistough businessclimateisclearlyaffectingbusiness,the Northwesthas builta strong platform overrecentyears.Thisislargelyas a resultofpartnersidentifying,agreeingand delivering key priorities,a process on which the Agency has led.A nationalevaluationofRegionalDevelopment Agencies,commissioned by the DepartmentforBusiness,Enterpriseand RegulatoryReform (BERR), isdue imminentlyand Iam confidentthiswillshow the significantimpactthatRDAs have made on the economy overthe pastfiveyears.

The Agency continuestowork closelywithGovernment,providingregularupdateson how economic conditionsinthe Northwestare changingand what we are doing torespond.Recently,the regionwas fortunatetohosta meetingofthe Cabinetforthe firsttime inits300 yearhistory.Held in Liverpool,thiswas an excellentopportunitytoevidence firsth -and a range ofprojectsand programmes inwhich the Agency and itspartnersare investing,includingthe significantregenerationlegacyleftby CapitalofCulture.

The Cabinetvisitwas alsoan opportunityforus todiscusswithGovernmentthe issuesfacingthe Northwesteconomy. Ibelievewe are now robustand diverseenough todealwiththe challenges ahead,particularlygiven our strengthsinenergy,defence,science and innovation.However inthese challengingtimes,we cannotbe complacentand itwillbe vitalforus towork even more closelywith both businessand the publicsector.

We recognisethataccess tofinanceand cash-flow are majorissues forbusinesses,so last September,jointlywithGovernment, we published“The NorthwestEconomy – a jointresponse tochangingeconomic conditions”.Thisset outa range ofinitiativestohelpaddresssome ofthe more immediateconcernsovercash-flow, investment,and skills.The establishmentofa JointEconomic Com missionforthe Northwest,chaired

by RegionalMinisterBeverleyHughes and involvingmajorpublicsectoragencies,has alsobeen a significantstep forward.You willread more on these initiativeswithinthiseditionof315°.

Governmentbelievesthatstabilityand leadershipiscrucialduringthistime ofchange and Ihave been asked by the SecretaryofStateforBusinessLord Mandelson toextend my term as N W D A Chairman by up toa year.DuringthisyearIam keen toensure thatrelevantbusinesssupportis inplace and thatprogresscontinueson significantprojects,includingthe new RegionalStrategy.The firststage ofconsultationon thiswilltake place between Februaryand April2009.

There isno doubtthatthe currentbusinessclimateislikelytoremainchallenging.In2009,itwillbe vitaltocontinuetowork togetherand continuethe investmentthathas supportedregional regenerationand growth inthe past.

Bryan Gray CBE , Chairman, February2009

PAGE 4- 5 THE THIRD DEGREE

PeterWatson was appointedas Managing DirectorofBusinessLink Northwest(BLNW) inSeptember 2006.Since then,he has overseen itstransformationintoa highlyefficientbusinesssupportorganisation witha firsty -earcustomer satisfactionratingof90% from the 86,000 businessesithas worked with.He isa formerseniorexecutiveinthe UK and European printindustryand has an MBA from the Henley BusinessManagement College.

“WE SEE OURSELVES, ALONG WITH THE N W D A, AS BEING ON THE FRONT LINE IN TERMS OF BUSINESS SUPPORT. WE ARE STANDING UP AND BEING COUNTED BECAUSE WE'RE HERE TO HELP LOCAL BUSINESSES THROU G H DIFFICULT TIMES AS WELL AS MO RE FAVOURABLE ECON O MIC CONDITIONS." PETER WATSON

MANAGING DIRECTOR BUSINESS LINK NORTH W E ST

PETER W ATS O N As the downturnreallystartstobite,what’sthe most common problem you’reseeing?

The availabilityoffinanceforbusinesses inthe Northwesthas changed significantlyoverrecent months,which iswhy,withthe NorthwestRegionalDevelopmentAgency (NWDA),we have brought forwardthe launch ofthe Access toFinance programme. It’sdesigned tohelpbusinesses todiagnose theirfinancialneeds and providethem withthe guidance and skillsthattheymay need tosecure funding.We can alsoofferinformationaboutrelevantpublicand privatesectorfinance optionsand providea brokerage serviceon topossibleproviders.

What resourcesare you introducingtodealwiththisproblem?

So farwe have appointedan Access toFinance Manager and a team ofsixspecialistfinancial brokers,and we plan todoublethisnumber.They are workingalongsideourcurrentteam ofbusiness brokerstocomplementthe existingservice,and have significantfinancialand businessexperience.

We see ourselves,along withthe N W D A, as being on the frontlineinterms ofbusinesssupport.We are standingup and being counted because we’rehere tohelplocalbusinesses through difficulttimes as wellas more favourableeconomic conditions.

How are you workingwiththe banks?

Given the currentlendingmarket,we are workingwiththe banks toensure theyactas intermediariesand directsuch businesses straighttous so we can helpthem toexploreother avenues offinanceand supportthem inbecoming more investmentready.

Are you making iteasierforcompaniestoaccess support?

Absolutely.We have modifiedthe way we offerintensive,one-to-one supportso thatbusiness supportand company healthchecks are availabletoallNorthwestbusinesses.Inthe pastthiskindof directservicewas onlyavailabletocompaniesinprioritysectorsand/orcompanieswithgrowth potential,butnow almostany businesscan access intensivesupporttohelpittosurviveand thrive.

Iseverythingverymuch one-to-one advicethese days,then?

No. There’salsoa wealthofinformationon our websitewhich can be accessed 24/7,including healthcheck toolsand businessguides. Our telephone servicecan alsobe accessed withouthaving toprovidetoo many personaldetails,which isidealforbusy entrepreneurs.

So there’sa realdemand forsupportatthe moment?

Yes,thereisa realdemand outthereforour help.Our websitehas an onlinetoolformeasuringhow financiallyhealthya company is,and detailsthingsthatcan be done toimprove it,which was used over1,000 times inNovember – that’sten times itsnormalusage and it’scontinuingtogrow.Not surprisinglythereissignificantinterestinthisarea ofour work atthe moment.However,we offermuch more than that,and currentlyoffer30 differentfree-to-use businesssupportservicesacrossthe region.

What sortofpeopleare yourbusinessbrokers?

Our brokershave had directexperienceofrunninga businesssuccessfully,or have been involved ina largecompany ata seniorlevel.They’reoftenpeoplewho want togivesomethingback tothe businesscommunity– theywant toharness theirexperiencesand skillstohelpothers.

Itrulybelievethatas the primarygateway forbusinesssupport,we are here tohelpbusinesses through the difficulttimes as wellas bettertimes and we are wellequipped todo that.There are many individualsatBusinessLinkwithrealpracticalexperienceofmanaging and steeringorganisations through an economic downturn,includingmyself!

Obviouslysome sectorsare still registeringgrowth despitethe tough economic climate.IsBusiness LinkNorthweststillofferingsupporttothese companies,too?

At presenta sizeablenumber ofsmalland medium sizecompaniesare unsurprisinglyconcentrating on survivalratherthan long-term planning.But thereare exceptionsand some companiesare thriving.

That’swhy we’reworkingwiththe N W DA on initiativessuch as the £10 millionHigh Growth Programme, which isspecificallyaimed atthose businessesthathave the potentialtoexpand but need specificsupportinordertodo this.

Are thereany otherways inwhich you’reworkingwiththe N W DA? Yes -we’reproducinga new businessperformance indexand are startingtofeed business intelligenceback tothe Agency.Thiswillkeep them informed aboutthe region’sbusinesslandscape and helptoshape policiesand programmes designed toassistcompaniesindifficulttimes.

So what do you thinkthe next12 months willholdforNorthwestbusinesses?

Ithinkthereare some difficulttimes ahead,which iswhy we have equipped ourselveswiththe necessarytoolsand expertisetoprovidean increased levelofsupporttohelpcompaniesthrough this challengingperiod.

We’re alsoencouragingbusinesses toinnovateas well.We have justappointedan Innovation Manager and are inthe process ofrecruitinga number ofInnovationBrokers.Companies still need to keep an eye on the futureand thinkabouttheirlonger-term sustainability,even when the going does gettough.

For furtherinformation: www.businesslinknw.co.uk

PAGE 6-7

BUSINESS NEWS Businesswomen willbenefitfrom the new Wo men’s EnterpriseActionPlan,co-ordinatedby the N W D A and NorthwestWo men’s EnterpriseForum. Aiming toincreasethe number ofwomen-owned enterprises,the scheme willrun alongsidethe search forthe bestfemale-ledbusinesses atthe NorthwestWo men inBusinessAwards 2009.

Advanced MedicalSolutions,a Winsfordresearchand developmentcompany focusingon highperformance polymersforthe healthcaremarket,has receiveda £275,000 selectivefinancefor investmentgrantfrom the N W DA. ItwillhelpAMS, founded in1991,tomerge itstwo presentsites, safeguarding99 jobsand creating41 new positions.

The N W D A has awarded a £140,000 ‘GrantsforBusinessInvestment’toMonumentalGames, allowingthe onlinegames developertoestablisha Salfordbase,safeguarding23 jobsand creatingan additional32 jobsby 2010.

RedEye,an onlinemarketingand analysiscompany witha base inCrewe,has been awarded £185,000 N W DA fundingtosupportitssoftwaredevelopmentprogramme. Establishedin1997, RedEye helpsclients,includingWilliam Hill,Asda and WarnerBreaks,sellmore and communicate betterthrough the Internet.

Manchesteristhe UK’s bestcityforbusinessoutsideLondon,says a reportby realestatespecialists Cushman & Wakefield,based on responses from 500 European companies.Manchesterranked 14th ina survey ofleadingbusinesslocations,second foravailabilityofofficespace and tenthinterms of valueformoney.

“IT’SIMPORTANT IN CHALLENGING TIMES SUCH AS THIS THAT THE AGENCY REPRIORITISES ITS BUDGETS AND ITS INVESTMENT PLANS, AND THAT’S W H AT WE’VE BEEN DOING TO ENSURE THAT BUSINESSES HAVE GOT SOME W H E R E ELSE TO GO FOR FINANCE OTHER THAN THE BANKS.” STEVEN BROO M H E AD

CHIEF EXECUTIVE, NWDA

M O RE CASH AID TO

CO M BAT EFFECTS OF RECESSION The NorthwestRegionalDevelopmentAgency (NWDA) has responded tothe economic downturnwith a multim -illionpound package ofsupportdesigned toprovidebusinesses withthe immediatehelp theyneed.

Initiativesincludenew ways inwhich companiescan access finance,extrafundingtohelp businesses thatare buckingthe trendand continuingtogrow and simpleyetimportantmeasures to speed up paymentstobusinesses.

A new economic ‘supergroup’,the JointEconomic Com missionforthe Northwest,has alsobeen establishedtohelpensurethe region‘actsas one’inprotectingboth businesses and families.Along withthe N W D A, the group,which ischairedby RegionalMinisterforthe NorthWest,Beverley Hughes,includesGovernmentOfficeforthe NorthWest,Learningand SkillsCouncils,the Strategic HealthAuthorityand Highways Agency,among others.

CHALLENGING TIMES The Agency’sChiefExecutiveSteven Broomhead explains:“It’simportantinchallengingtimes such as thisthatthe Agency reprioritisesitsbudgetsand itsinvestmentplans,and that’swhat we’ve been doing toensure thatbusinesses have gotsomewhere elsetogo forfinanceotherthan the banks.”

The supportincludesa new £10 millionTransitionLoan Fund,which ishelpingtoimprove the finance optionsavailabletonew and existingbusinessesinthe region.

“Thisispartofa package ofmeasures we are puttinginplace inthe Northwesttosupport businesses facingdifficultiesinaccessingfinance and improve cash flow,”explainsDavidRead, the Agency’sHead ofFinance forBusiness.

As partofthissupportthe Agency isenhancingitsexistingsmallbusinessloan producttoprovide lendingtothe region’sSMEs. The loans ofbetween £3,000 to£250,000,are designed tohelp businesses thathave a viablebusinessplan butare unabletosecurefinance from traditionallenders.

STRON G DIALOGUE Also new isthe £140 millionVentureCapitalLoan Fund (VCLF),availablefrom April2009,halfof which willcome from the European RegionalDevelopmentFund (ERDF) programme. The fund is designed tostimulateinnovation,R&D and growth inthe region’sSMEs by providingfinance to businesses thatare unabletoraisecapitalon the commercialmarketbecause ofthe financegap.

As Read explains,privateventurecapitalistsare now oftenunwillingtomake investmentsbelow the £2 millionmark:“Overthe lastfew yearsthey’vebeen doing biggerdealsand haven’tbeen particularly keen insupportingearlystage businesses,”he says.

“We’re doing our bitwithour resourcesand we’realsohoping thatthe banks willcontinuetoprovide new lendingand renewing existingfacilitiesatthe rightpriceforbusinesses,”says Broomhead.

Duringthiseconomic downturnthe N W DA ismaintainingdialogue witha seriesofbi-monthly meetingswithseniorrepresentativesfrom allthe majorbanks inthe Northwest.The firstmeetingled toa jointactionplan topromote awareness ofpublicsectorproductswithinthe banks,especiallythose now underthe auspicesofBusness LinkNorthwest,such as the Access toFinance service.

TARGETED SUPPORT There isfurthersupportforgrowing businesses too,withthe new £10 millionHigh Growth Programme. “Whilstthe focushas been on the challengesand the coolingofthe economy, we must remember as wellthatthisisa diverseeconomy inthe Northwestand some businesses are actually doing verywell,”says Broomhead.

The programme istargetedataround 1,000 businesses thathave the potentialtogrow by around 20% a year,and,therefore,have the greatestimpacton the growth ofthe regionaleconomy. The programme involvesmentoringand workingwithconsultantswho have specificexperienceofthe areas where a businesswants toimprove.

Allthe new initiativesare partofthe timelyBusinessSupportSimplificationProgramme (BSSP),a

Governmentprogramme thatisreducingthe number ofnationalsupportschemes from over3,000 toa more manageable30 SupportforBusinessproducts.

Anne Boyd,the Agency’sBSSP regionalleader,said:“The principleofthe programme isabout consistencyand making businesssupporteasiertounderstandand easiertoaccess.”

Allthe new SolutionsforBusinessproductscan be accessed through BusinessLinkNorthwest (BLNW).

And the Agency,along withEngland’seightotherRDAs, have alsocommittedtopayingsuppliers withinten days inordertoallow companiestoretaina steady cash-flow.

But Broomhead remainsupbeatthatthe region’seconomy isstrongenough tosurvivethe worstof the impendingrecession.

“We’ve had a good lastten yearsand we’ve gotsome good insulatorsagainstthe downturn,such as the defence and nucleartechnologysectors,environmentaltechnologies,and even some aspects ofcreativeand new media industries.

“My message for2009 islet’sbe realisticallyoptimisticaboutthe natureofthe economy,”he adds.

“We must nottalkourselvesintofurtherdifficulty.”

For furtherinformation: www.nwda.co.uk

EXPERT ADVICE BENEFITS LOCAL CO MPANIES FatMedia isa digitalmarketingcompany based inLancaster.Managing DirectorMichaelGibson has recentlysigned the company up tothe High Growth Programme.

“We highlightedseveralareas where we thoughtwe needed more support,such as adviceon corporatefinance,particularlyforacquiringbusinessesand engagingwithothercompanieson joint ventures,”he explains.

Manchester-based Mass Spec has alsoenrolledon the initiative.The company serviceand repair mass spectrometers,which are used tocarryoutanalyticaltestssuch as assessingthe purityofa drug.

But followinga majorcontractwin,theyare now branchingoutintosales.“We’ve neversoldnew instrumentsbefore,justourservices,so we’reina completelynew market,”explainsexecutive directorBarrieNixon,who hopes the High Growth Programme willhelpfill any knowledge gaps around areas such as sales,marketingand importing.

“You’ve gottouse the expertsand thisisthe idealopportunity.Itjustseems likeallthe partsofthe jigsaw have come togetheratthe righttime,”he says.

For furtherinformation:www.businesslinknw.co.uk

PAGE 8-9 BUSINESS

ACTION PLAN TO SUPPORT MANUFACTURI

NG The manufacturingsectorremainsthe backbone ofthe Northwesteconomy, and witha new ManufacturingStrategyActionPlan (MSAP) settobe launched by the NorthwestRegional DevelopmentAgency (NWDA),2009 lookstobe a crucialone forthe sector’sdevelopment.

As the latestdata from the OfficeofNationalStatisticsconfirms,the Northwestisthe largest manufacturingemployerinthe UK, accountingfor368,000 jobs,13.1% ofthe nationaltotal.The regionisalsothe top UK regionformanufacturingturnover,generatingsalesof£60.5billion,around 13.2% ofthe totalUK figure.

The MSAP aims toprovidea regionalframework offundingand supporttoensurethatthissuccess continues.

Ithas been developed inconsultationwithregionalbusinesses and otherpublicsectorbodies,and isinformed by the Government’snationalmanufacturingstrategy,‘New Challenges,New Opportunities’,launched by the DepartmentforBusiness,Enterpriseand RegulatoryReform (BERR) and the DepartmentforInnovation,Universitiesand Skills(DIUS),inSeptember 2008.

As ChrisRowlands,SectorLeaderforAdvanced Engineeringand Materialsatthe N W D A, explains: “The MSAP willgiveus a clearframework fordefiningthe interventionsthatthe publicsectorcan put inplace toassistmanufacturinginthe long term.

“We can buildon existingthingslikethe ManufacturingAdvisoryService(MAS),which has been verysuccessful.We willenhance and add toitinordertodriveforwardperformance ofthishuge sector.”

CATALYST FOR SUCCESS The MSAP supportsthe generationofa modern manufacturingsectorinthe regionthatwillbe innovative,enterprising,highlyskilled,and wellled.To achievethis,the MSAP has actionswhich supportthe singleaim ofraisingproductivityinthe regionthrough increasingmanufacturing’s contributiontoGVA. The actionsare broken down ina number ofthemes,and the N W DA and itspartnersare working collaborativelyon allofthese.Partnershave agreed tolead the analysisand tocome togetheras a workinggroup toshare ideas.

The themes are:ensuringthatspaces,placesand infrastructureare suitableformanufacturing; increasingbusinessstartups;and improvingaccess toinformationon marketsand change,which will be ledby the N W DA. The ManufacturingInstitutewilllead on ‘improvingthe image ofmanufacturing’;EEF, the EngineeringEmployersFederationon ‘Increasinginnovation’;and the NorthWest Universities Associationon ‘improvingthe interactionofbusinessand education’.

Andrew Semple,regionalspokesperson forEEF ishopefulthatthe MSAP willbe a catalystfor continued manufacturingsuccess.

“The strategyisa recognitionofthe importanceofthe sector.Itfocuses on the practicalstepstobe taken toimprove itsproductivityand competitiveness,and the initiativesata regionallevelthatcan be supportedtohelpachieve these aims.”

Two initiativesare being introduced inconjunctionwiththe MSAP. A Manufacturers’Forum, planned tobe formallylaunched during2009,willoversee and adviseon the MSAP’s implementationand actas an industryledlobbyingbody.

Adam Buckley,DeputyDirectorofthe ManufacturingInstitutesays itsroleistocontinuallylookat the MSAP and ask searchingquestionsaboutobjectivesand whethercertainelementsneed realigninginlightofthe changingeconomic situation.

ECON O MIC CLIMATE A ManufacturingPortal,aimed atboth manufacturersand investors,isalsobeing established.Itwill provideinformationon the manufacturingsectorand where togo forexpertadviceand support.

Given the downturninthe economy overthe past12 months,the launch ofthe MSAP isperfectly timed,providingthe region’smanufacturerswiththe supportand fundingthey need togetthrough what isexpectedtobe a challengingyear.

One ofthe strengthsofthe region’smanufacturingbase has been itsdiversity.The Northwestisthe UK’s largestregionalcentreforchemicalmanufacture,employingover43,000 highlyskillspeoplein 800 companies,including30 ofthe world’stop 50 chemicalcompanies.

Itisthe largestcentreofaerospace manufacturingproductioninthe countryand as the second largestcentreforautomotiveinthe UK, alsoaccountsfor12% ofUK automotiveturnover,18% of coke,petroleum and nuclearfuels,16% oftransportmanufacturingand almost11% offood and drink.

“Itsdiversityisone ofthe reasons why manufacturinginthe Northwestisrelativelyresilientto currenteconomic conditions,”says Buckley.“That’snottosuggestthatitwon’tbe significantly affectedand we’renotremotelycomplacentaboutwhat isinstore,butithas shown inthe pastthatit has the strengthand the dynamism tocope withmost thingsand come through the othersidestronger and wiser.”

For furtherinformation: www.nwda.co.uk

“THE MSAP WILL GIVE US A CLEAR FRAME W O R K FOR DEFINING THE INTERVENTIONS THAT THE PUBLIC SECTOR CAN PUT IN PLACE TO ASSIST MANUFACTURING IN THE LONG TERM.” CHRIS RO WLANDS

SECTOR LEADER, ADVANCED ENGINEERING AND MATERIALS, NWDA

DOOR OF OPPORTUNITY SpecialistdoormanufacturerClarkDoor inCumbriaepitomisesthe resilienceand innovationthatis the hallmarkofNorthwestmanufacturing.

Having survivedone naturalcatastrophewhen the company was allbutwiped outinthe floodsof 2005,managing directorPaulAshleyisprepared forwhateverthe economic downturncan throw at him.

"Outofadversitycomes opportunity,and we've triedtocarrythatlesson forward,"says Ashley.

He says thatformanufacturerstothrive,they need tobe constantlylookingtoimprove theirprocess efficiency,and they need toinvestininnovation.

ClarkDoor has recentlybeen testingitsnew acousticsound-proofdoorswithresearchersatSalford University,tofinetune and improve the new designs.

"You'vegottoidentifymarketniches where you can be worldclassand you need toinnovateto differentiateyourofferingtoyourcompetitors– innovateinterms oflowercostdesigns,and innovate interms ofprovidingadditionalbenefits.That’sthe HolyGrail,tomake somethingthat’sbetterthat's alsocheaper."

Manufacturingexcellence– A new actionplan aims tosupportgrowth inthe sector New opportunities– Cumbriancompany ClarkDoor has been workingwithSalfordUniversitytodevelopan innovativenew product

PAGE 10-11

KEY PROJECTS TO SPEARHEAD

INNOVATION DRIVE The Northwestisleadingthe drivetoencourage innovationinbusiness,communitiesand public services– an area seen tohave a vitalroletoplayinhelpingthe regionemerge from the economic downturnwitha more sustainableand diversifiedeconomy.

Accordingtothe UK InnovationSurvey 2007,carriedoutby the DepartmentforInnovation, Universitiesand Skills(DIUS),around 33% ofbusinesses inthe Northwestdo notinnovate,with80% ofthe GVA gap between the regionand the UK average putdown tolowerproductivity.To tacklethis, a number ofkey projectsare underway toencourage Northwestcompaniestoharness the business benefitsofinnovation.

An increasinglycompetitivebusinessenvironmentisdrivingbusinessestoseek greaterreturnsfrom ‘highervalueadded’activitiesinordertosurviveand grow,accordingtothe NorthwestRegional DevelopmentAgency’s(NWDA) Head ofInnovationand Knowledge Transfer,Jim Keane.

“The primarydriverishow innovationcan assistbusinessesofallsizestoadd greatervalue tothe activitiesthey undertake”,he says,“and thisisnevermore importantthan inthe currenteconomic climate.”

Businesses willneed togo beyond the traditionalview ofinnovationas a linearprocess,starting withbasicresearchthrough development,leadingtoproductionand acceptance,accordingtoJim.He believesitisnecessarytoadopta widerapproach where “theconceptofinnovationismore collaborative,it’saboutopen access toideas.Innovationisjustas applicabletoprocesses as wellas products– it’smore holisticnow encompassingallaspectsofthe businessand notjustaboutscience and technology,”he says.

Thisisone ofthe aims ofthe Knowledge toInnovate(K2i)programme, a threeyearN W DA funded scheme designed toassistbusinesses who recognisethe importanceofinnovationbutrequire practicalassistancetotake theirknowledge and experiencetothe nextlevel.

INNOVATION AGENDA Eighteen months intoitsdelivery,the programme iscurrentlyworkingwithmore than 250 businesses inthe region,helpingthem developnew or improved products,servicesand processes and addressmarketinnovation.

GeoffBirkett,who leads the K2iprogramme, said:“Allbusinessesneed toremaincompetitiveand K2ican ensure thatbusinessesrealisetheirpotentialand do notgetleftbehind.Ifa businesshas an innovativeidea butneeds supporttosee itthrough,then thisisthe projectthatcan help.”

Otherschemes underway topromote the innovationagenda includethe N W D A and ERDF funded InnovationVouchersproject,a two yearjointinitiativelaunched inOctober2008 designed to proactivelyprovidesolutionstoimmediateproblems whilstencouraginglongerterm business engagement withthe Northwestknowledge base.Provisionofa cash voucher,valued atup to£3,000, and through brokeringcontactbetween SMEs and the expertsinthe region,the scheme aims to encourage 1,100 businesses tointeractforthe firsttime withthe region’shigherand furthereducation institutionsoverthe next2 years.

BusinessLinkNorthwestisalsostrengtheningitsinnovationsupporttocompaniesthrough recruitingan innovationchampion,John Chisholm,who willbe responsiblefora team ofinnovation brokers.An innovationspecialistbrokerage servicewillprovideSMEs acrossthe Northwestwith supporton innovation-relatedbusinessissues,withthe existingtargetedsectorbrokerage service being enhanced by the integrationofInnovationSpecialists.

Inaddition,thereare a range ofotherinnovationrelatedsupportprogrammes which are closeto introduction.These aim toassistbusinesses through the shortterm issues;increasecollaborations around new ideas from the knowledge base;and toencourage retentionand furtherinvestmentinthe long term assetsofthe businesses.

For furtherinformation: www.nwda.co.uk/innovation

Innovatingforsuccess – The N W DA isworkingtonurturea businesscultureofinnovationthroughoutthe region

REAL TIME AIM FOR THE BIG TIME Lancashirebased businessRealtimeUK, currentlyone ofthe leadingcomputer-generated(CG) animationcompaniesinthe country,enlistedthe helpofthe K2iprogramme tohelpthem develop the business.

The company,which works withpremiergames developersand publishersincludingSony ComputerEntertainment,EvolutionStudios,JuiceGames and Namco, were introduced toK2iby their BusinessLinkadviser,where theyreceivedprofessionalmentoring.

As a directresultofK2i’sadvice,the company were abletoincrease theirstaffon both the digital creativeand non-productionsectors.

Managing DirectorTony Prosser,said:Knowledge toInnovatehelped us examine ourcompany’s structureand productionprocesses and analyzethe way we work.Theirconsultantshelped us benchmark our businessagainstsimilaroperationsinthe UK, identifyingkey performance indicators and helpingus setnew targets.

“Theirinputhas reallyhelped ensure we are equipped tomeet the challengesoffurtherexpansion and adopta process forcontinuousinnovation.”

For furtherinformation:www.k2i.org.uk

RealtimeUK – The company has increased itsstafffollowingsupportfrom the K2iProgramme

PAGE 12-13 SKILLS AND EDUCATION NE W S -New pathways intoemploymentinthe media industrywillbe createdby the UniversityofSalfordand the BBC followinga partnershipagreementbetween the two organisationsthatwilllead tonew joint courses,enterprisetrainingand studentplacementswithinthe BBC. -Over 250 new and emergingbusinesses are being nurturedinthe UniversityofCentralLancashire’s Media FactoryincubatorenablingUCLan tocome second nationallyand top regionallyinthe latest HigherEducation– Businessand Com munityInteractionsurvey.

-LiverpoolUniversityand the RoyalLiverpoolUniversityHospitalhave been awarded £5 millionto establisha BiomedicalResearch Unitfocused on ‘translationalresearch’intopancreaticdiseases that willallow patientstobenefitmore quicklyfrom scientificbreakthroughs.

-Funding of£90 millionisinplace tofacilitatethe relocationofBlackpooland Fylde Collegetoa site withinthe Second Gate area ofthe town centre.Phase one ofhighereducationdevelopmentwillbe completedinSeptember 2009.

-LancasterUniversity’sincome from collaborativeresearchwithbusinessrose from £7 millionto £11.5millionin2006-07,moving the universityintothe top tierofUK HigherEducationinstitutions generatingwealththrough workingwithbusiness.

-The UniversityofCumbriahas been awarded a further£26 millionfrom the N W D A. The investment willtransform the Cumbrianeconomy by encouraginggraduateretentionand helpingpeoplemove to highervalueemploymentoverthe nexteightyears.

SKILLS DRIVE FOR SME SECTOR Thousands ofbusinessesinthe Northwestare being offeredthe chance to‘raisetheirgame’ viaan innovativerange ofskillsprojectstargetedparticularlyatthe smalland medium enterprise(SME) sector.

Over the nextthreeyearsover£20 millionisbeing investedby the NorthwestRegional DevelopmentAgency (NWDA) ina bidtoenhance leadershipand management skillswithinsmaller businesses.

AmitaChawda, the Agency’sLeadershipDevelopmentManager,says:“We have a greatdealof evidence aboutthe currentand futureneeds ofour businesses,based on consultationswiththem and an analysisofthe existingskillsinthe Northwestcompared tootherregions.

“We have developed threepriorities,notjustforthe Agency butforour strategicpartners,funders and providers,who collectivelyshare the challenges.”

They are:todevelopdemand so thatbusinessesare aware ofthe skillssupportavailabletothem, to improve supplyand tomeasure the impact.The Agency has agreed threelarge-scaleprojectsto match the priorities.

The programme, which willsupport9,200 businessesoverthreeyearsto2011,isthe national‘Train toGain’Leadershipand Management initiative.Itisbeing boosted inthe regionby Agency fundingof £6.5 milliontobroaden the base ofcompanieswho can benefit.

The money willextend the nationaloffer,which targetsbusinessesemployingbetween fiveand 249 people,tothose withup to999 staff.

Followingthe success ofthe pilotLeadershipDevelopment(LEAD) Programme forSMEs withless then ten employees – whose participantsincreased theirsalesturnoverby an average of£200,000 perannum – the Agency isinvesting£9.5 millionina three-yearprogramme.

ENCOURA GING COLLABORATION Itwilltarget2,000 businessestoenableowner/managerstotake partina ten-month programme builtaround masterclasses,coaching,businessexchange,theory-based work and peertopeer networking.

The first25 businesses have alreadybeen recruitedby the UniversityofLancasterManagement School,which ran the pilotand isnow developingan overallLEAD programme framework.

The thirdmajorproject,tobe launched laterthisyear,isa £4.9 millionthree-yearregionalmentoring programme tosupportbusinesses withan annualturnoveroflessthan £1 million.

The Agency’semphasison skillsisalsohighlightedby an investmentofover£40 milliontosupport highereducation(HE) inthe region,the majorityofwhich willbe spentinCumbria.

“We want toraisethe aspirationsand progressionopportunitiesinCumbria,toopen the doortoHE, toup the game,”says Dr MicheleLawty-Jones,Head ofSkillsand Educationatthe N W DA. Ithas alsoagreed £9.9millionoffundingforBurnley’snew collegeand universitycampus,a joint initiativebetween BurnleyCollegeand the UniversityofCentralLancashire(UCLan),which isdue to open inSeptember,and £3.2 milliontowardsthe majorredevelopmentofBlackburnCollege.

For furtherinformation: www.nwda.co.uk/skills

Leadershipdrive– LancasterUniversityManagement Schoolisleadingthe developmentofthe LEAD Programme forSMEs

FUNDING BOOST FOR FLEXIBLE MATERIALS INDUSTRY InnovativeNorthwestcompaniesinvolvedinproducingsome ofthe most advanced,high-tech materialshave receiveda fundingboostfrom the NorthwestRegionalDevelopmentAgency (NWDA).

The Agency isinvesting£400,000 tomeet the trainingneeds ofbusinessesfrom the Advanced FlexibleMaterials(AFM) sector,and helpensure thatthe regionretainsitsmarketleadingposition.

England’sNorthwesthas one ofthe highestconcentrationsofAFM companiesinthe world, producinghigh added valuematerialsthatare widelyviewed as a ‘platformtechnology’.

Severalotherimportantclustersmake use ofAFM products,includingaerospace,automotive, chemicals,construction,biomedical,environmentaltechnology,maritimeand sport.

The investmentwillfund skillsdevelopmentintwo key areas – new productdevelopmentand balanced sourcing,a conceptthatencourages businesses tomove the productionoflowervalue commoditiesabroad,allowingcapacitytofocuson highervaluecommodities.

AccordingtoBillMills,DirectorofN Wtexnet,the regionalclusterorganisationforthe AFM sector, balanced sourcingwillhelptokeep jobsand high valueproductioninthe Northwest.

“Essentiallymany products,such as a non-woven textilefora filter,can be made more cheaply overseas,freeingup the capacityofregionalbusinesses toconcentrateon hi-tech products,”he explains.

“But making thisjump can be a huge move forsome ofthe region’ssmallerbusinesses,which is why partofthe N W DA investmentwillgo towardsspecifictraininginthisarea.”

Crucially,adds Mills,the trainingwillbe sectorspecificand coverthe legislativevariationsofthe many industriesthatuse AFM products.

Mark Hughes,the N W DA’s ExecutiveDirectorofEconomic Development,says:“The rightskillsare criticaltothe economic developmentofthe region,ensuringvitalsectorsremaincompetitiveand productive.Inthe case ofthe AFM market,thisiseven more importantgiven the region’shigh

concentrationofAFM companiesand the potentialtogrow as Europe’sleadingcentreforthe sector.”

NE W TECHNOLO GY OtherN W D A investmentisalsobeing used toconducttrialsintonew areas such as atmospheric plasma technology,a method ofcoatinga materialor usingplasma techniques,eithertocolouritor giveitspecialproperties,such as waterproofing.

Untilnow thisprocess couldonlybe carriedoutinsidea vacuum butNorthwestcompaniesare lookingatways tocarryoutthe process.

Itisexpected todeliversignificantenvironmentalbenefitsas itreduces the quantityofdyestuffused, which inturnradicallyreduces the amount ofwaterand chemicalsthatare used.

LEADING INNOVATION Northwestcompaniesalsolead the way inmedicaltextiles,withelectrospinningthe latestmethod ofcontrollingfibresatthe nano-scale.Thistechnologyallows companiestocreate3D structuressuch as ‘bridges’forpeoplesufferingfrom a clefpalette.These can then be fittedand naturalcells encouraged togrow around them.

Collaborationisalsounderway withthe aerospace and automotiveindustries.The developmentofa new 3D weaving technologyisnow enablingAFM specialiststosupplycomponentswoven from ultralightcarbon fibreas an alternativetotraditionalaluminium parts.

For furtherinformation: www.nwtexnet.co.uk

A technicaltextilebeing used inshouldersurgery– The textileactingas a replacementjoint IllustrationcourtesyofPrimalPictures

Embroiderytechnology– Being employed tostrengthena compositestructure

PAGE 14-15 PEOPLE AND JOBS NE W S InvestinginSalford’sregenerationhas alreadymet itsoriginaltargetof£550 millionofprivatesector investmentby 2020,ChrisFarrow,ChiefExecutiveofCentralSalfordURC tolddelegatestothe annualmeeting.CentralSalfordhas now raiseditssightsto£4 billion.

RochdaleDevelopmentAgency has appointedPat Rattiganas DirectorofPhysicalRegeneration.

FormerlyAssistantDirectorofPlanningand Economic DevelopmentatTameside Council,Rattigan willwork alongsideRochdaleCounciltoattractinvestment,createnew jobsand boostthe local economy.

CarlisleRenaissance has submitteditsfirstActionPlan,settingoutitslong and shortterm priorities,to the N W D A, CarlisleCityCounciland CumbriaCountyCouncil.Work toimprove CastleStreetinthe city’sHistoricQuarterisdue tostartearlyin2009.

Work has startedon a new £1.9millionbusinesscentreinMaryportwhich itishoped willcreateup to 40 new jobs.Partfunded by the N W D A viaWest Lakes Renaissance,the projectwillcreatea high qualitymanaged workspace forsmalltomedium sized companies.

Improved access totreatmentforsome mentalhealthconditionswillbe availabletoNorthwestpeople sufferingfrom depressionand anxietywiththe announcement ofa £43 millionprogramme by the IncreasingAccess toPsychologicalTherapiesscheme. Itwillproduce an extra500 specialistsover the nextthreeyears.

Ministerforthe NorthWest,BeverleyHughes,awarded CharterStatustofourlocalauthoritiesLancaster,Blackburn-with-Darwen,Oldham and Wyre – atan awards ceremony atThe Lowry, Salford.Forty-two authoritieshave now receivedthe charter,launched in2000 and awarded foran authority’scommitmenttothe developmentofitselectedmembers.

SEIZING A ‘PRESTON GUILD’ OPPORTUNITY Far-reachingplans toregeneratethe centreofPrestonand boostitsambitionstobecome the Northwest’sthirdcity,willadd new impetustoitsbest-known celebration,the PrestonGuild.

By 2012,the date ofthe nextGuild,evidence ofthe £750 millionscheme totransform the heartof the citywillbe onlytoo apparent.

The Tithebarnproject,firstconceivedalmostten yearsago,has reached outlineplanning applicationstage – a decisionisexpectedinthe firsthalfofthisyear.

The massiveregenerationscheme by the PrestonTithebarnPartnership,a jointventurebetween developersGrosvenorand Lend Lease,isa “once everyPrestonGuild”opportunity(Prestonwas given the righttoholda GuildMerchantevery20 yearswhen itwas firstgranteda RoyalCharterin 1179).

Anchoringthe 1.5 millionsq ftretailand leisurecomplex willbe the departmentstoreJohn Lewis– theirnextnearestoutletsare atManchester’sTraffordCentreand inLiverpool– and a new, larger Marks & Spencerstore.

There are alsoplans tocreatespecialist,high-qualityfood markets– Preston’sanswer to Southwark’sBorough MarketinLondon.Restaurants,bars,a multis -creen cinema,a new bus station, extracarparkingand up to400 homes willbe included.

Tithebarnwillunderpinthe work startedby the PrestonVisionBoard,establishedwiththe supportof the NorthwestRegionalDevelopmentAgency (NWDA),which aimed toattractprivateand public sectorinvestment.

Mike Brogan,AssistantDirectorofCityProjectsatPrestonCityCouncil,says:“Foryears,Preston has hidden itslightundera bushel.Now Ibelievethatwe have achieved the statusof‘thirdcity’inthe Northwestand we want tocapitaliseon that.”

CHANGING PERCEPTIONS Publicconsultationrevealedthat81% ofpeoplewho responded believeTithebarnwillencourage more visitorsand 78% saiditwould boostthe statusofthe city.

RichardCoppell,SeniorDevelopmentManager atLend Lease,says:“Thiswillplace Prestonback on the map as a firstc -lassshoppingdestination.The amount ofpositivefeedback was a great endorsementofthe plans fornew, high-qualityshopping,living,workingand entertainmentfacilities.”

To enhance the cityfurtherstill, Prestoniseventuallyaiming toachievePurpleFlag Accreditation, an internationalstandardforthe way town and citycentresare managed atnight.Itwillbe launched thisyearby the CivicTrustfollowingitssuccessfulNightVisionProgramme, forwhich Preston isalreadya pilotcity.

But Prestonhas setitssightson regeneratingmuch more than itsretailheart.The two main squares,the 800-year-oldFlag Market,surrounded by the HarrisMuseum and Courts,and the GeorgianWinckleySquare,withcentralparkland,have bothbeen the subjectofarchitecturaldesign competitions.

The area between the station,withquicklinksviathe West CoastMain Line toLondon and

Glasgow,and the UniversityofCentralLancashire(UCLan)a ten-minutewalk away,has been targetedas a centralbusinessdistrict,idealforhigh spec officespace.

The potentialofthe city’sdocklands,which house Europe’sbiggestsingledock basin(it’sthree times the sizeofLiverpool’sAlbertDock),has been underscrutinyforsome years.With a technical solutiontothe long-standingwaterqualityproblem now underconsideration,Prestonhopes toattractdevelopment partnerstomake the most ofitswaterassets.

“We are workingwithour Dutch twintown ofAlmelo,which isdevelopingitswaterways,tosee whetherwe can share ideas,”says Brogan.

LONG TERM VISION Now Prestonhas establisheda PrestonVisionCompany Limited,todrivedeliveryofsome ofthese plans.

Ian Whittaker,the N W DA’s Policyand PartnershipManager forLancashire,says:“The new company isan evolutionforPrestonVisionfrom visioningand strategytoa focus on delivery.The timingisperfecttobuildon the opportunityprovidedby Tithebarnand PrestonGuild.

“We have supportedPrestoninitswork todevelopa visionforthe citybutnow isthe time tobegin deliveryforreal.”

“The Prestonarea has been an importantcentreofgrowth forthe regionoverthe last10 to15 years.The cityofPrestonnow has the chance torealiseitsambitionsatthe heartofthatgrowth.”

For furtherinformation:www.preston.gov.uk Retailcentre– Plans forthe Tithebarnprojectincludea majornew retailand leisurecomplex forPreston

THE CITY’S UNIVERSITY CHALLENGE The UniversityofCentralLancashire(UCLan) has “a symbioticrelationship”withPreston,according toitsVice-ChancellorMalcolm McVicar,who isalsoChairman ofthe PrestonVisionboard.

“The universityisimportanteconomicallytoPrestonand the cityisimportanttothe university,”he says.“We are hoping the universitywillcontinuetogrow,developand be strongand itcan only benefitas the citydevelops,too.

“One ofour challengesistoencourage talentedgraduatestostayinPreston,tobecome the businessleadersand entrepreneursofthe future.We have a number ofschemes tohelpus to achievethisand we can alreadysee ithappening,particularlyinthe media field.”

He believesPrestonis“clearly”now the region’sthirdcityand believesthe new PrestonVision Company must encourage the privatesectortobe involvedinthe city’sfuturedevelopment.

Highereducation– The UniversityofCentralLancashireplaysan importantroleinPreston’seconomic growth Photograph courtesyofTony Worrall

PAGE 16-17 PEOPLE AND JOBS

W O R KINGTON BUILDS ON CIVIC PRIDE

A seriesofambitiousregenerationprojectsishelpingtobringnew lifetothe formersteeltown of Workington,an importanthub inthe Cumbrianeconomy.

Followingthe completionofa £50 millionshoppingcentreforthe area,builtwithan investmentof £10 millionfrom the NorthwestRegionalDevelopmentAgency (NWDA),severalmajorinitiativesare now underway torejuvenatethe area,includingthe redevelopmentofDerwentForest,a former MinistryofDefence site.

“Workingtonsharessimilaritieswithmany otherNorthwesttowns and overtime has seen a decline inthe traditionalindustriesthatsupporteditsgrowth and providedmuch ofitsemployment,”explains CharlesHolmes,Head ofRegenerationatAllerdaleBorough Council.

“Thisdeclinehas contributedtopocketsofworklessness,higherlevelsofdeprivationand lower levelsofskills.”

Holmes believesthe town’snew retailofferingwillencourage peopletoshop inWorkingtonwhile alsoprovidingitwith“a vibrantnew town centrethatgivespeoplea sense ofprideand ownershipin the place where theyvisit,liveand work.”

Many peopleemployed inthe shoppingcomplex found jobsaftertakingpartinRoutes toWork,an innovativeemploymentprogramme developed by the counciland targetedatlocalpeople.

ENERGY SECTOR Routes toWork has helped over500 peoplefindwork withretailers,as wellas localconstruction companiessuch as Thomas Armstrong,who are currentlybuildingthe new Energus building,home of the NationalNuclearAcademy atLillyhall,between Workingtonand Whitehaven.

Energus willbe a world-classcentreforskills,trainingand businesssupportforthe energy sector, and willalsohouse the new £10 millionUniversityofCumbriacampus inWest Cumbria.“The region’s linkstonucleardecommissioningand new nuclearbuildpotentialare the strategiccontextfor everythingwe'redoing inWest Cumbria,”says Andrew Sproat,SeniorDevelopmentManager atthe N W D A. Lillyhallisalsoa prime locationforattractingbusinessestothe area,witha new InlandRevenue call centrebeing the latestaddition,which isdue toopen itsdoorsearlyin2009.The new centreis expected tocreateup to350 new jobsforthe area.

Elsewhere,the portofWorkingtonishalfway through a ten-yearredevelopment,which has seen investmentfrom the N W D A through West Lakes Renaissance.The fundinghas helped todevelop infrastructuresuch as new berthsand storage facilities,which have given the porta platform from which itcan starttodiversifyand develop.

MAJOR REDEVELOP ME NT But by farthe biggestregenerationprojectisthe transformationofthe 1,000 acre DerwentForest, one ofthe largestbrownfieldsitesinthe UK, acquiredby AllerdaleBorough and CumbriaCounty Councilsfrom the MinistryofDefence lastAugust.

The N W D A has provided£1.42 milliontohelpsecureand marketthe site,and Ian Haythornthwaite, the Agency’sExecutiveDirectorofResources,believesitrepresentsa huge opportunitytobuilda high qualityleisureand commercialcomplex,withan outstandingnaturalsetting.

“Redevelopmentofthe sitecouldmake a significantcontributiontoregenerationinCumbria,helping toattractmore visitorsand businesses tothe area,as wellas creatingjobs,”he says.

For furtherinformation: www.nwda.co.uk Publicart– The Hub isone ofthe publicrealm schemes thathas helped totransform Workingtontown centre

MARITIME PARK TO W O O W ATERFR O NT VISITORS

Transforminga lostpiece ofLiverpool’sseafaringheritageintoa majornew visitorattractioniscentral tothe latestwave ofimprovementsalong the city’swaterfront.

Canning MaritimePark,centredon Canning GravingDocks immediatelysouthofthe PierHead, is being developed as partofphase two ofthe city’sWaterfrontConnectionsproject.

The NorthwestRegionalDevelopmentAgency (NWDA) has investedjustover£1.9 millionintothe WaterfrontConnectionsprogramme, witha largepartofthatinvestmenttargetedon Canning.

Along witha seriesofotherinfrastructure,environmentaland publicrealm improvements, investmentinthe MaritimePark isdesigned tostrengthen the waterfront’sroleas a majorinternational destination.

VISITOR EXPERIENCE AccordingtoAlistairMacDonald,ProjectManager atLiverpoolVision,the Connectionsprogramme willimprove the overallvisitorenvironmentand developlinkagesbetween Kings Waterfront,Albert Dock,Mann Islandand the PierHead helpingto“establishthe waterfrontas a coherent,single destination,as opposed toa collectionofindependentattractions.”

Echoing these views,Mark Hughes,the N W D A’s ExecutiveDirectorofEconomic Development, says thislatestfundingwill“helptomaximise the impactofthese and otherattractionsatthe waterfront,helpingtoboostLiverpool’svisitoreconomy.”

Canning GravingDocks are owned by NationalMuseums and are still used as an occasionalberth forshiprepairs.The docks played a vitalroleoverhaulingboatsinvolvedinthe Atlanticconvoys ofthe Second WorldWar butare currentlyofflimitstothe public.

The new investmentwillbringlifeback tothishistoricallyimportantarea,withnew walkways and interpretationsboards,as wellas a seriesoffournew bridgesthatwillcompletethe pedestrianlink from Mann IslandtoAlbertDock.

Workingwithadjoiningland owners BritishWaterways and Gower StreetEstates,developers CountrysideNeptune LLP and officersfrom the localplanningauthorityand WorldHeritageSite, NationalMuseums Liverpoolisdevelopingdetailedplans tobringback tolifethishistoricallyimportant area through a combinationofwalkways,interpretationsboards and bridesacrossthe ends ofthe dock thatwillcompletethe pedestrianlinkfrom PierHead/Mann IslandtoAlbertDock.

NE W ATTRACTIONS These new pedestrianlinkswillmake iteasierforvisitorstomove between the attractions, encouraginglongerstaysand a more fulfillingexperience.

Otherphase two initiativesincludeimprovementstothe lighting,streetfurnitureand signposting around AlbertDock,mooringfacilitiesatSalthouse Dock forboatsusingthe new Leeds/Liverpool canallinkand new signage atKings Waterfront.

Famous Liverpudlians– and the city’sadopted sons and daughters– willalsobe celebrated adjoiningthe piazza atKings Waterfrontina seriesof100 inscribedplaques.

Chosen by readersofthe LiverpoolEcho,the plaques willcovervariousthemes includingpublic service,sportand music,withthe likesofformerLiverpoolmanager Bob Paisley,musicimpresario BrianEpstein,and actorRex Harrisonamong those tobe immortalised.

Work isalsocontinuingon the new Museum ofLiverpoolon Mann Island,which has been backed by a grantofover£32 millionfrom the N W DA. The museum willfocuson the creativityand industriousnessofthe city,and isseen as one ofthe majorlegaciesofLiverpool’syearas European CapitalofCulture.Itisestimatedthatwhen itopens in 2010,the museum willattractmore than 750,000 visitorsa year.

For furtherinformation: www.liverpoolvision.co.uk

Taking shape – The WaterfrontConnectionsprojectwillenhance new and existingattractionsatLiverpool’s famous waterfront

PAGE 18-19

PEOPLE AND JOBS

FIRST ERDF PROJECTS WIN FUNDING APPROVAL The green lighthas been given tothe firstround ofprojectstoreceiveinvestmentfrom the European RegionalDevelopmentFund (ERDF).

Among the earlybeneficiariesofthe halfa billionpounds injectionofEuropean cash willbe a new gateway intoLiverpool,majorinfrastructureimprovementsata key businessparkinBarrow,and a number ofnew supportpackages aimed atboostingthe region’sexcellentrecordinaddressingthe needs ofbusinessand the environment.

The fund ismanaged by the NorthwestRegionalDevelopmentAgency (NWDA) and accordingto the Agency’sDirectorofEuropean Programme, DavidMalpass,itwillsupporta diverserange of differentprojects,from businesssupportprogrammes totourism initiatives,activityfocusingon innovationand developmenttowork withthe disadvantaged and unemployed.

“There are a lotofsmallerprojects… so the money isgoing acrossthe whole region,”says Malpass.

“Withsome ofthe businesssupportprogrammes the idea isthattheyare cross-regional,so the money willgo where the demand isgreatest.”

Over the nextseven yearsthe Northwestwillreceive£521 millionfrom the ERDF – more than any otherEnglishregion– withthe money foreach projectusuallybeing matched by otherpublicor privateinvestment.

The fundingwillbe closelyalignedtothe EU’s Lisbon Agenda as wellas the NorthwestRegional Economic Strategyand among the targetsare a £1.17 billionimprovementinthe region’sGross Value Added (GVA) and the creationofover26,000 new and sustainablejobs.

INFRASTRUCTURE Around £212 millionfrom the ERDF programme is‘ringfenced’forMerseyside,and one ofthe first projectstoreceivefundingisthe new Lime StreetGateway,which istoreceivejustover£2.4million, withthe Agency providinga separateinvestmentof£3 million.

Designed toimprove visitors’firstimpressionsofthe city,and continuethe transformationof Liverpoolintoa worldvisitordestination,justover£2 millionofthe N W DA’s fundingwillbe spenton publicrealm improvementsaround the station,with£906,000 going towardsthe Highways Scheme, involvingthe demolitionofbuildingsthatcurrentlymask the main entrance tothe station.

The arched gableend ofthe listedVictorianstationwillbe revealed,and therewillbe improved pedestrianaccess toand from the station,as wellas betterlinkstothe city’sculturalquarter.

As Malpass explains:“Through improvinga majortransportgateway intoLiverpoolcitycentre,this projectwillimprove linkstokey areas ofthe city,includingthe commercialdistrictand waterfront,and importantly,itwillsupportplanstodevelopand grow the city’sknowledge corridor.”

The N W D A and ERDF are alsosharingthe costofthe firstprojectinCumbriatoreceiveinvestment from the programme, withthe buildingofa new £10 millionaccess road forthe WaterfrontBusiness Park inBarrow-in-Furness.

Designed toprovideaccess tothe new businessparkand helpremove trafficfrom surrounding residentialstreets,the road ispartofthe wider£200 milliondevelopmentofthe waterfront,which is expected tocreate1,500 new jobs.

BUSINESS SUPPORT SubstantialERDF investmentisbeing channelledintothe £140 millionVentureCapitalLoan Fund, tobe launched inApril2009,which isdesigned tostimulategrowth and innovationamongstSMEs, and a further£3 millionwillgo towards a High Growth Programme tohelpthe region’sbusinesses

achievehigherlevelsofgrowth.Thiswillbe matched by an additional£7 millionfrom the N W DA. Award-winningenvironmentalbusinesssupportserviceEN W O R KS has alsoreceiveda European boost,witha £2.5 millioninvestment,matched with£6.1 millionfrom the Agency.

The additionalsupportand investmentwillallow EN W O R KS toassist1,500 more Northwest companies,whilealsohelpingthe region’sbusinesses tosave a further£31 millioninenergy and waste costs.EN W O R KS willalsobe usingthe funds tocutthe region’scarbon outputby 125,000 tonnes,as wellas helpingindustrysave 760,000 tonnes ofwater.

Anotherofthe region’skey environmentalbodies,EnvirolinkNorthwest,willalsobe runningan initiativefunded through ERDF. As the N W DA’s regionalclusterbody forenergy and environmental technologies,EnvirolinkNorthwestwillbe takingthe NorthwestWaste TechnologyVirtualCentreof Excellencetoitsnextphase,with£2.7millionofERDF money,matched by £4.3 millionfrom the N W D A.

SAFEGUARDING JOBS The firstphase ofthe initiativesupportedthe developmentofthe waste management,recyclingand technologyindustrieswithinthe Northwest,and helped todivertmore than one milliontonnes ofwaste from landfill, as wellas creatingand safeguardingnearly450 jobs.

However,as withmuch ofthe Agency’scurrentwork,helpingthe regiontoridethe current economic downturnisthe most pressingconcern.

“The overridingpositionisthatthe ERDF fundingisstill tobe used forinnovationand as partofthe sustainableagenda,”explainsMalpass.“Butthereisthe realisationthatthe currenteconomic downturnmightmean thatthe focus isnow more around safeguardingjobsthan creatingnew ones.

“Inthe shortterm thatisgoing tobe the focusofthe programme butinthe medium term we obviouslywant ittobe nailedtothe originalobjectives.”

For furtherinformation: www.erdfnw.co.uk

Barrow Waterfront– N W DA and ERDF investmentisenablinga new access road forthe WaterfrontBusinessPark Lime StreetStation– An artist’simpressionofthe publicrealm work thatwilltransform the stationentrance

LO W CARBO N ECON O M Y GOAL Investmentfrom the NorthwestERDF Programme ishelpingtofund two initiativesthatwillhelpthe regioninitspursuitofa low carbon economy, and an overallcutinC0 2 emissionsof25%.

The Carbon ReductionCapitalPurchase Awards willstimulateand supportSMEs toinvestin carbon reducingtechnologies,with£2.2 millionfrom the ERDF programme, matched by £7.8 million from the Agency.

The Carbon ReductionDemonstratorAwards willconcentrateon SMEs involvedindeveloping carbon-reducingtechnologies,withgrantfundingof£1.1 millionfrom the ERDF and £4.1 millionfrom the N W D A. Both projectswillrun untilMarch 2012 and willdirectlycontributetowardsmoving the region towardsa low carbon economy, a goalthatunderpinsthe Agency’svisiontodeliversustainable economic development.The programmes willalsohelpthe regioncement itspositionas a centrefor world-classenvironmentaltechnologies.

PAGE 20-21 INFRASTRUCTURE NE W S TransportSecretaryGeoffHoon has announced governmentfundingofup to£165,000 toimprove access toManchesterInternationalAirport,the UK’s fourthlargest.The investmentwillfund the buildingoftwo new sectionsofroad:between the M56 Manchesterairportspurand the A555,and between the A555 and the A6.

Nelson’s£4.5 millionbus and railinterchange isup and running.A key partofthe town centre’s regeneration,the interchange isa jointscheme involvingLancashireCountyCouncil,Pendle Partnership,backed by £1 millionN W DA funding,and PendleCouncil.

ProjectACCESS ,the £20 millionscheme launched in2004 by the N W DA tosupplybroadband and fastInternetconnectionstoCumbriaand partsofNorthLancashire,has given access tohigh-speed Internettechnologyto99.8% ofbusinesses and citizensacrossthe sub-region.

Up to1,200 jobswillbe createdby the redevelopment,by the StobartGroup and HaltonBorough Council,of3MG, the Mersey MultimodalGateway atHalton,nearLiverpool.With £4.3 millionN W D A funding,work on the 43.8-acre siteshouldbe completedby 2010.

Twenty-fivehectaresofbrownfieldland inWest Derby,Liverpool,willbe transformed intoa woodland, featuringup to20,000 nativetrees.A legacyofthe city’syearas European CapitalofCulturein2008, the projecthas receivedover£700,000 ofregenerationfunding,including£440,000 from the N W DA. Architectshave been invitedtotake partinan internationalcompetitiontodesignan education, conference and seed productioncomplex atthe NationalWildflowerCentre,Knowsley.Supportedwith £100,000 fundingfrom the N W DA, the competitionisrun by the RoyalInstituteofBritishArchitects.

CANAL SCHE MES TRANSFOR M URBAN LANDSCAPE The completionoftwo majorcanalprojects– both backed by the NorthwestRegionalDevelopment Agency (NWDA) – isfurtherevidence thatthe region’shistoricnetworkofwaterways still has an importantroletoplay.

Two hundred yearsafteritwas built,a majormilestoneinthe restorationofthe Manchester,Bolton and Bury Canalhas now been achieved,withthe completionofthe firstsectionofrestoredcanalat Middlewood,Salford.

MeanwhileinresurgentLiverpool,a new canallinkatthe city’sfamous PierHead means thatforthe firsttime inovera century,canalboatswillbe abletonavigatethe Leeds & LiverpoolCanalstraight intothe heartofthe city.

As wellas bringingnew lifetothe waterways themselves,both projectsare settoplayan influential roleinthe widerregenerationofthe areas through which they pass.

“Canalshave transformed citiesand towns acrossthe whole ofthe Northwestoverthe last15-20 years,”explainsAlan Carter,BusinessDevelopmentManager atBritishWaterways,the national organisationwhich looksafterthe UK’s 2,200 milesofcanalsand navigablerivers.

“They playa pivotalroleinthe regenerationofcommunities,withmore and more town centresbeing builtaround the canalsinareas such as Stalybridgeand Failsworth.Today peoplewant tolive,work and socialisebesidewaterwhich isdemonstratedacrossthe whole ofthe Northwest.”

RESTORATION The 15.2-milelong Manchester,Boltonand Bury Canalisthe lastmajorwaterway inManchesterto be restored.Itwas once vitaltothe transportationofcoaland cottonduringthe IndustrialRevolution butwas filledinduringthe 1960s.

Although the firstsectiontobe reopened isjust437m long,restoringitwas a majorengineeringfeat and included the creationofa new tunnelunderthe SalfordInnerreliefroad and the constructionofa new seven-metredeep lock-the thirddeepestlockwithinBritishWaterways’whole network.

Costing£5.9 million,the Middlewood sectionreconnectsthe canaltothe restofthe UK’s inland waterway networkviathe RiverIrwell,and paves the way forthe restorationofthe canaltoits terminuses atboth Boltonand Bury.

Mark Hughes,ExecutiveDirectorofEconomic Developmentatthe N W D A, explains:“Restorationof thissectionofthe canalhas significantlyimproved the area forlocalpeopleand visitors,and isa step forwardtowardsgreaterregenerationinSalford.

“Waterways are alsoa partofourheritageand itisexcellentthatthispiece ofhistoryhas been restoredtobenefitthe localarea and futuregenerations.”

Carteragrees:“The restorationofcanalscan have an immense impactlocally.The revitalisedcanal willnow animatethe surroundingarea (and)inparticularthe Middlewood restorationwillbe the focus ofa £600 milliondevelopmentofhousingand leisurefacilities.”

InLiverpool,the £20 millioncanallinkwillopen inthe springand ispartofan ambitiousscheme to bringa new looktoLiverpool’sworld-famous PierHead.

INTERNATIONAL QUALITY The publicrealm works around the new linkwere completedlastautumn ata costof£8 millionand includenew paving,an area tostage eventsand improved lighting,whileCanada Boulevardhas been completelyreplantedwithsycamore and maple,replacingthe previousunhealthytrees.

A seriesofnew mooringfacilitiesforboatsarrivingalong the canalhave alsobeen added to Salthouse Dock,and two massivefourtonne lockgates,builtby localengineeringcompany Twinbridge,now form the centrepieceofthe Mann Islandbasin.

The regenerationofthe PierHead and Mann Island,home tothe new Museum ofLiverpool,ispart ofa developmentprogramme designed tocreatea visitordestinationofinternationalquality.Intotal these new developmentswilldeliver£260 millionofnew investment,attract1.2 millionvisitorsper annum and create913 additionaljobs.

“Transformingthe waterfronthas been one ofourmain prioritiesinregeneratingLiverpool,”says Cllr Warren Bradley,CityCouncilleader.

“At the heartofthatisthe PierHead.

Itisan area which isknown throughoutthe worldand isthe core ofour WorldHeritagesite.Ithas been under–used and notfulfillingitspotential.Itisa place which both localpeopleand visitorsshould regardas a must-see attraction.”

Robin Evans,ChiefExecutiveatBritishWaterways,isconfidentthatdevelopmentslikethiscan bringmuch widerlocalbenefits.“The linkwillbringanimationtothe waterfrontand rejuvenate communitiesthe canalpasses through creatingjobsand bringingeconomic benefitstothe region,”he says.

And itisthe biggerrolethatcanalscan playinimprovingcommunitiesthatreallyexcitesCarter.

“Canalshave an integralroletoplayinthe 21stcentury,notonlyon the leisureside,where we’re encouragingthe healthyand environmentaluse ofthe canalsforwalking,cyclingand boatingbut inwatersideregeneration.

“We are influencingand enablingbillionsofpounds ofregenerationactivityalongsideour canalsand rivers.Waterways willcontinuetodevelop,despitethe more challengingeconomic climateoverthe nextyearor so.”

For furtherinformation www.britishwaterways.com

PierHead – Liverpool’snew canallinkwillbringa new looktothe PierHead when itopens inthe spring Restoredwaterway – The completedMiddlewood sectionofthe Manchester,Boltonand Bury Canal

PAGE 22-23 INFRASTRUCTURE

GREEN LIGHT FOR £30M SPORTS VILLAGE A £30 millioncommunitysportsvillagehas been given the go-ahead,intime toofferthose inspiredby the London 2012 OlympicGames and ParalympicGames the opportunitytobecome fitterand more active.

The masterplan forOrfordPark involvesthe provisionofa wide varietyofleisure,healthand educationfacilitieson one sitewhich willtransform 50 acresofa formerlandfill siteinWarrington,and has been approved afterconfirmationoffundingsupportfrom nationaland regionalsponsors.

The idea ofcreatinga “cuttingedge”sportsvillagewas firstmooted 14 yearsago by local councillors.Now OrfordPark,adjacenttothe A49 northerngateway tothe town,isscheduledtoopen inNovember 2011.

Led by WarringtonBorough Council,the public,privateand voluntarysectordevelopmentwill includefootballpitches,sportscentre,libraryand healthcentre.

Designed toassistthe key regionaland nationalaim ofincreasingthe number ofpeople participatinginphysicalactivityfrom 22.8% to34.9%, itwillalsohelptopromote healthylifestylesand improve lifelonglearning,the localskillsbase and employabilityoflocalpeople.

Steven Broomhead,ChiefExecutiveofthe NorthwestRegionalDevelopmentAgency (NWDA), which isinvesting£3.6 millioninthe project,says OrfordPark isan importantscheme forWarrington and the Northwestregionand somethingthe N W D A ispleased tosupport.

“Sportmakes a huge contributiontoour regionaleconomy withlatestfiguresshowing thatsport adds £3 billiontooureconomy everyyearand supports50,000 jobs.

“Duringtimes ofuncertaintyinthe economy I’m extremelyencouraged tosee significantprojects such as thisgoing forward.”

CUTTING EDGE The projectbuildson the experienceofotherdevelopmentslikeLeigh SportsVillage,alsosupported by the N W D A, accordingtoStewartKellett,formerRegionalDirectorSportEngland NorthWest.

He says:“Thisisa cuttingedge projectforthe sportssectorwhich buildson the experienceofother developmentsand goes beyond the conventionalapproaches tofacilitydevelopment.

“The counciland localpartnershave taken up the challengeofpromotingsustainableapproaches to growing and maintainingsportsparticipationby puttingsportatthe centreoftheirregenerationplans.”

“We are reallyexcitedaboutthe prospectsforthisproject.ItwillassistSportEngland todeliverour targetofone millionmore peopleplayingsportby 2012.”

PaulThorogood,ChiefExecutiveofThe FootballFoundation,the UK’s largestsportscharity,says: “Iam delightedthatthe FootballFoundationissupportingthe OrfordPark projectwithour maximum grantof£1 million.Sportisplayinga centralroleinhelpingpeopletostayfit,strengthen communities and promote responsibilityamong young people.”

The foundationhas investedover£44 millioninto832 communitysportsprojectsacrossthe Northwestsince itwas launched in2000.

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

Promotinghealth– The OrfordPark projectwillcreatenew leisureopportunitiesforthe localcommunity Regeneration– A new sportscentreispartofthe plansforthe new development

TICKET TO RIDE FOR BUSINESS AND TOURISM Businessand tourism inthe Northwestwillboth benefitfrom the improved raillinkswithLondon followingthe completionofNetworkRail’s£9 billionupgrade ofthe West CoastMain Line – Europe’s busiest.

More regulartrainsbetween London Euston and many Northwesttowns and cities,fasterjourney times and 13 millionadditionalseatseach yearacrossthe networkwillgivea significantboostto businesspassengersand visitorstothe region.

Cumbria,inparticular,willbenefitfrom the massiveinvestmentinthe West CoastMain Line (WCML) followingthe introductionofVirginTrains’new timetableinDecember 2008.

The fastesttrainsofthe day toLondon Euston willtake threehours,12 minutesfrom Carlisle,three hoursfrom PenrithNorthLakes and two hours37 minutesfrom Oxenholme Lake District.

NE W TIMETABLE The firsttrainofthe day toLondon now leaves Carlisleat5.43am, arrivinginLondon at9.09am, more than 40 minutesearlierthan itspredecessor.

Simon Caunt,AssistantRegionalDirectorofthe CBI,who visitedCumbriathreedays afterthe new timetablecame intoforceon December 14,says:“The new Main Line times are verysignificantfor Cumbriaand fortourism inparticular.

“One hotelierpointedouttome thatvisitorscouldnow leave London at3pm – and sitdown for dinnerinAmblesidearound 7pm.”

FASTER SERVICES The benefitsare notconfinedtoCumbria. Trainservicestothe Northwestfrom London willincrease by 30% withManchesterlinkedtothe capitalby Pendolino“tilting”trainsevery20 minutes,including weekends,withjourneytimes cutby 13 minutesdown totwo hours5 minutes.

Average journeytimes toLiverpoolare reduced by 6 minutes,withadditionalpeak hourtrains stoppingatRuncorn.Wigan,Warringtonand Prestonwillallbenefit from fasterdirectservicesbetween London and Glasgow.

The CBI’sSimon Caunt,says:“The frequency ofjourneysand the shortertime are criticaltoour members and the region– they bringthe Northwestclosertothe cityofLondon’seconomic focus.

“There are businessesinthe Northwestwhich operateina globalmarketand transportlinks– the main railand airportlinks– are vital.”

He says a multip -artnerapproach from organisationsincludingthe CBI,inwardinvestmentagencies and touristboards,isneeded tocommunicatethe message thatthe Northwestis“an obviousplace to do business”,promotingitsimproved transportlinks.

Steven Broomhead,ChiefExecutiveofthe NorthwestRegionalDevelopmentAgency (NWDA), which has supportedthe upgrade ofthe W C ML sincework began,says:“Thisisa strategiclinkwithin the Northwest’spublictransportsystem and these improvementswillbringsignificantbenefits.”

The upgrade ofW C ML, the busiestarteryinthe UK, willalsobenefitfreightas well as passengers.

Tony Collins,VirginRailGroup’sCEO, says:“The successfulrunningofEurope’sbusiestmain line railwayisgoing tobe a huge challengeforthe trainoperatorsand NetworkRail.But Ibelievethat

withinsixmonths we shallhave a railwayofwhich the nationcan trulybe proud.”

For furtherinformation:www.networkrail.co.uk www.nwda.co.uk

New benefits– The completedWest CoastMain Line upgrade has createdfasterraillinksforcommuters

PAGE 24 QUALITY OF LIFE NE W S Manchesterhas been crowned the best‘SportsCity’inthe worldforitssuccessfulhostingofsix internationalsportseventsduring2008,includingthreeworldchampionships.The SportBusiness SportsCity‘Gold’Awards was presentedtoManchesterCityCouncilatthe SportBusinessSports EventManagement Awards 2008.

Cumbria’sLakes Alivesummer season ofartseventsgeneratedaround £1.25 millionforthe county.

The festival,which ran from June 14 untilAugust31,attractedover220 ofthe world’sleadingoutdoor performersand an audience ofover21,000.

StuartMaconie,BBC Radio 2 presenterand ardentLancastrian,spearheaded the N W D A’s autumn campaign topromote tourism inthe Northwest.Stuart’sShortStoriesforShortBreaks seriesfeatured seven traveldiary-stylepieceson the culturalhighlightsofthe region.

Prime,the N W DA’s freequarterlymagazine promotingthe region’sculturaleventsand attractions, won a bronze award atthe Design BusinessAssociation’sDesign EffectivenessAwards.The first threeeditionsgeneratedan estimated201,922 visitstoculturalvenues,worth£16 million.

Heritagesitesinthe Northwestattractedovertwo millionvisitorsin2007-08,making a significant contributiontothe £11 billiongeneratedby the region’svisitoreconomy accordingtothe annualreport ofNorthWest HeritageCounts2008.

Judges atthe LancashireExcellenceinTourism SkillsAwards citedcommitmentand dedicationas key qualitiesamong winnersinallnine categories.Organised by Lancashireand BlackpoolTourist Board and supportedby the N W D A, the event,staged inSt Annes,attracted67 nominations.

M O RE RESOUR CES TO BOOST NORTH W E ST TOURISM The UK tourism industryiswellplaced toweatherthe effectsofthe economic downturn– thatisthe message being deliveredby nationaltourism agency VisitBritain.

Accordingtorecentresearchundertaken by the organisation,90% ofpeoplesurveyed claim they are cuttingback on spending,butlessthathalf(45%) are planningtocutback on holidays,short breaks or day trips.

The researchalsosuggeststakinga break isso highlyvalued thatitisoftenthe lastthingtobe sacrificed.

These trendsinthemselveshave implicationsforthe widervisitoreconomy, butthe researchgoes

some way toshow thatthereare opportunitiestopromote holidaysathome, particularlyifthey are seen as offeringa qualityexperienceata good valueprice.

Inthe Northwest,qualityhas been a cornerstoneofthe region’sStrategyforTourism sinceits inceptionin2003,withthe region’sfivetouristboards workingcloselywiththe NorthwestRegional DevelopmentAgency (NWDA) toensure investmentischannelledintoa high-quality,distinctive tourism product.

VISITOR ECON O M Y Continued investmentisseen as essentialduringthese challengingtimes,particularlyifthe Northwestistomake the most ofthe changingface oftourism inthe UK, accordingtoFelicityGoodey, ChairofTourism England’sNorthwest.

“Whateverhappens we must notlosemomentum,”she says.“VisitBritainsay the recessioncould cost50,000 jobsand a £4 billionhittothe UK’s tourism industry.London may wellbe affectedbutthe evidence here inthe Northwestisthatinvestmentinquality,distinctivenessand valueformoney can attractthe visitoreven inadverse conditions.”

James Berresford,DirectorofTourism atthe N W DA, agrees:“Itisnow more importantthateverfor us tocontinuetoinvestinthe region’svisitoreconomy. Marketsare changingand our competitorsare evolving;we need tomake sure thatEngland’sNorthwestiswellplaced tomeet the challengesofthis economic downturn.”

The Agency’scommitmenttothisaim was recentlystrengthened withthe announcement ofan additional£20.6milliontobuildon the work ofthe fivesub-regionaltouristboards:CumbriaTourism, Lancashireand BlackpoolTouristBoard,MarketingManchester,The Mersey Partnershipand Visit Chesterand Cheshire.

Itwillalsoenablethem tomaintainthe lead indevelopingand promotingthe visitoreconomy intheir area,creatinghigh-quality,high-valuevisitorexperiences.Investmentintrainingprogrammes,the provisionofvisitorinformation,productdevelopmentand targetedmarketingwillhelpensurethatthe region’stourism industryiswellplaced toface ongoingeconomic challenges.

The investment,which willbe made availabletothe fiveindustryfocused organisationsoverthe nextthreeyears,willensure the region’stouristboards are ina strong positiontosupporttourism businesses duringthe difficulteconomic climate.

For furtherinformation:www.nwda.co.uk/tourism

Visitoreconomy – New investmentaims tocapitaliseon changingtrendsintourism

W O RLD-CLASS VENUES LURE 2012 TEAMS Thailandand 15 PacificIslandcountriesfrom Oceaniahave chosen the Northwestas the training base fortheirOlympicand Paralympicathletesinthe run up toLondon 2012.

They are the firstcountriestocommittousingthe region’s“world-class”sportsfacilities,many of which were developed forManchester’s2002 Com monwealthGames.

The NationalOlympicCom mitteeand the SportsAuthorityofThailand– which won fourmedalsin Beijing,includinga boxingGold – signed a Memorandum ofUnderstanding(MoU) withthe Northwest RegionalDevelopmentAgency (NWDA),the WorldAcademy ofSportatManchesterBusinessCentre and ManchesterCityCouncil.

Duringtheirstay,ThairepresentativesvisitedSportcity(one ofthe largestconcentrationsofsports venues inEurope),the footballgrounds ofthe city’stwo PremierLeague clubs,the Universityof Manchesterand the WorldAcademy ofSport.

They alsoagreed towork withthe Academy todevelopeducationprogrammes,includingsports eventmanagement courses,forsportsauthoritiesintheirown country.

OceaniaNationalOlympicCom mittees,whose members visitedsportsfacilitiesinPreston,Crewe, Leigh,Wigan and Liverpool,signed a similarMoU withthe N W D A on behalfof15 Pacificislands.

Inadditiontomaking a commitmenttoprepareathletesinthe Northwest,signatoriestoboth agreementsare alsolookingtomaximisewiderlegacyopportunitiesfrom the relationship,inparticular exploringculturalexchanges linkedtothe CulturalOlympiad.

PeterMearns,ExecutiveDirectorofMarketingand Com municationsatthe N W DA, which has been workinghard withpartnersacrossthe regiontosetup Pre Games TrainingCamps for2012,says: “To includeso many countriesinone agreementmakes thisa unique understanding.Italsoprovides an opportunityforthe whole ofthe Northwesttobe inspiredby the 2012 Games as everysub-region has contributedtoit.”

And inJanuary,the Northwestsecured anothercoup withthe announcementthatManchesterhas been chosen as the trainingcamp forthe AustralianSwimming Team inthe run-up to2012.

Inthe Northwest,63 companieshad alreadysecured Games-relatedcontractsby mid January.

More than 2,800 had registeredtheirinterestinsupplyingthe Games viathe onlinebusinessservice CompeteFor,which matches businesses with2012 opportunities.

The N W D A, which isprovidingfundingof£2 milliontohelpcompaniestobidfor2012 contracts, hosted a two-day visitby John Armitt,the Chairman ofthe OlympicDeliveryAuthority.At a Business BreakfastatBolton’sReebok Stadium,he said:“London 2012 can offerNorthwestbusinesses ofall sizesopportunitiestohelpinthe currenteconomic climate.”

Determined topromote as many opportunitiesas possibleforbusinessestobenefitfrom the Games, the regionhas played hosttoa seriesofvisitsby Olympicchiefs.

They included SebastianCoe, Chairofthe London OrganisingCom mitteeofthe OlympicGames and ParalympicGames (LOCOG), who visitedsportsvenues inLancashireand Cheshiretosee how the regionwas engagingwithLondon 2012.

PaulDeighton,ChiefExecutiveofLOCOG, attended the NorthwestAnnual2012 Conference in Liverpool,which celebratedthe success ofthe region’sOlympians and Paralympiansand outlined work prioritiesforthe region’slegacyplans overthe next12 months.

CharlesAllen,Chairofthe Nationsand Regions Group ofLondon 2012,alsovisitedCumbriain November tosee how the countyisrisingtothe challengepresentedby London 2012.

For furtherinformation: www.london2012.com www.nwda.co.uk

Sportingheritage– Leading internationalathleteshave signed up totraininthe Northwestinthe run up to2012

PAGE 26-27 QUALITY OF LIFE JANUARY Opening extravaganza – CapitalofCulture08 began withthe People’sOpening on St George’sPlateau FEBRUARY New commission– Momentum’sproduction,Anima was partofthe ArtisticProgramme for08 MARCH ‘ArtsMatters:The PoolofLife’– Merseysideartiststhe Singh Twins launched thisspeciallycommissioned work at the Bluecoat APRIL

An audience withShankly– TributetoLiverpoolFC legend BillShankly MAY The LiverpoolCityscape – Ben Johnson’sartworkatthe WalkerArtGallery JUNE LiverpoolSound – Anfieldfootballstadium hosted the selloutconcert,featuringSirPaulMcCartney JULY TallShips – The fourday eventwas one ofthe highlightsof2008 AUGUST Livemusic– The Matthew StreetFestivaltooktothe streetsduringAugust SEPTEMBER SirSimon Rattle– the Liverpoolborn conductorreturnedtohishome cityfora seriesofconcerts OCTOBER King Lear– Pete Postlethwaitereturnedtothe Liverpoolstage toappearinthe Shakespeareplayatthe Everyman NOVE MBER Internationalspotlight– The Echo Arena staged the MTV Europe MusicAwards 2008 Photograph courtesyofDan Waite

DECEMBER Majorachievement– The BBC SportsPersonalityofthe Year Awards 2008 tookplace inLiverpool

LASTING LEGACY OF ‘A YEAR LIKE NO OTHER’ Liverpool’sYear as European CapitalofCulturehas finallycome toan end withthe vitalmessage that 08 may be gone, butnotforgotten.

The statisticsare impressive:the Merseysidetourism economy reached the £1 billionmark,the total economic benefitof08 amounted to£800 millionand the cityclocked up more than 15 millioncultural visits,recordingan average 30% riseon 2007,with3.5 millionvisitingLiverpoolforthe firsttime during the year.

The cityalsoexperienced unprecedentedmedia coverage,worthmore than £200 millionglobally, withmore than 12,000 articlesappearinginthe UK press and more than 20 hoursofprimetime programming on the 08 yearacrossthe majorTV platforms.

The landmark yearhas involvedmore than 10,000 artists,160,000 participantsand 67,000 schoolchildrenacross7,000 eventsinmore than 1,000 venues.Itincluded 60 Worldand European premieresinmusic,film,theatreand art,with30 new commissionsby the RoyalLiverpool

PhilharmonicOrchestra.

RECORD BREAKING Many venues broke box officerecords.Tate Liverpoolrecorded a 200% riseon 2007 and the Albert Dock attracteda recordone millionvisitorsforthe firsttime initshistory.The annualMTV Europe MusicAwards and BBC SportsPersonalityofthe Year Awards,both heldinthe city,attracted televisionaudiences ofmore than 40 million.

In‘The ImpactsofA Year LikeNo Other’,a book publishedby the LiverpoolCultureCompany reflectingon 2008,Bryan Gray,Chairman ofthe NorthwestRegionalDevelopmentAgency (NWDA) and the LiverpoolCultureCompany,says: “Liverpoolisexperiencingone ofthe greatestrenaissances ofany 21stcenturyEuropean citywith cultureplayingthe lead role.”

Ten days into2009,the citycelebrateditssuccess witha TransitionEvent,designed toensurethat Liverpoolbuildson everythingthat08 has achieved by arrangingan enhanced programme ofcultural eventsfrom 2009-2012 as a ‘lastinglegacy’.

HIGHLIGHTS LiverpoolCityCouncilLeaderWarren Bradleysays:“Much ofthe success oflastyearhas been down togreatpartnershipsand teamwork involvingmany ofthe city’sculturalinstitutionsand other organisations.But itisabsolutelycrucialthatwe buildupon the amazing achievementsof2008.”

Highlightsofthe yearincludedthe June LiverpoolSound ConcertatAnfieldwithSirPaul McCartney,the TallShips FestivalinJulyand La Machine’sspiderstreettheatreperformance through the citycentreinSeptember,which helped toattract5.2 millionpeopletothe cityduringthe year.

And around 500,000 peoplealsoattended the themed 08 eventsacrossthe Northwestincluding Manchester’sYear ofWorldofSport,Cheshire’sYear ofGardens,Cumbria’sYear ofAdventureand TasteLancashire,organisedtoensure the whole regionbenefited.

Some exhibitionscontinueinto2009,including‘Liverpool– Thresholdtothe Cornersofthe World’,a photography exhibitionatthe new £8 millionVictoriaGalleryand Museum thatruns tothe end ofMarch.

The ‘Onlya Game?’ exhibition,exploringEuropean footballfrom the 1950s tothe modern era, remainsatWorldMuseum LiverpooluntilMarch 1.

For ten weeks toNovember 30,the cityalsoenjoyed the LiverpoolBiennial,the International FestivalofContemporaryArt.Thisyearitscentrepiecewas MADE UP, an exhibitionofworks – halfof which were sitedinpublicspaces -which explored‘theecologyofthe artisticimagination’from artists acrossthe world.

SculptorRichardWilson’s‘Turningthe Place Over’,inwhich a chunk ofthe city’sformerYates’s Wine Lodge literallyturned insideout,was anothermajorsuccess.

LewisBiggs,Directorofthe LiverpoolBiennial,which was celebratingitstenthanniversaryduring 2008,says:“Liverpool’syearas European CapitalofCulturehas broughteven more culturaltourists from othercountries,as wellas reinforcingour appealtoresidentsinthe Northwest.Ithas been great tocontributetosuch a richmix ofcultureinone city.”

As a resultofLiverpool'ssuccess,CultureSecretaryAndy Burnham announced on a visitto LiverpoolduringJanuarythatthe Governmentwillconsiderintroducinga permanentBritishCityof Cultureprize,which would enableothercitiesaround the countrytobidtohostthe titleeveryfour years.

For furtherinformation:www.liverpool08.com

LIVERPOOL’S CULTURE OF SUCCESS Research funded by the N W D A toassess the changes inawareness and perceptionsofLiverpool between 2005,when the citywas awarded European CapitalofCulturestatus,and 2008,show that positiveimpressionsofthe cityfrom outsidethe regionhave risen.

The number ofpeoplefrom outsidethe Northwestwho see Liverpoolas a city‘onthe rise’has increased from 73% in2005 to79% in2008 and the number ofthose who agree thatLiverpoolisa

premierEuropean cityhas alsoincreased from 41% in2005 to47% in2008.

More peoplebased outsidethe region– 64% in2008 – expressan interestinvisitingthe area, compared with58% in2005.

The survey alsoshowed thatpeopleinLiverpoolare more likelytotake partinculturethan those in the Northwestand the UK as a whole,withnumbers remainingat10% above the nationalaverage.

Celebratingsuccess – Liverpool’slandmark yearas CapitalofCulture2008 provideda £800 millionboosttothe localeconomy

PAGE 28-29 NOTEBO OK

PEOPLE IN THE REGION AnilRuia toChairregionalarts council AnilRuia OBE, a trusteeofNationalMuseums Liverpool,has been appointedChairofArtsCouncil England,NorthWest forfouryearstoSeptember 2012.

Company directorAnil,appointedby the DepartmentofCulture,Media and Sport,has alsobecome a member ofthe nationalArtsCouncilEngland governingbody.

As wellas bringingextensivebusinessexperiencetothe role,he has experienceincultureand sportinthe Northwestas a formerchairman ofthe Com monwealthFilm Festivaland a formerBoard member ofthe NorthwestCulturalConsortium.

A governorofthe UniversityofManchester,he isalsoa formerBoard member ofboth the N W DA and the NorthWest SkillsPartnership.

New Head ofCulture ClaireMcColgan,a key figureinLiverpool’ssuccessfulcelebrationas European 2008 Capitalof Culture,has been appointedthe city’snew Head ofCulture.

Currentlya CultureCompany executive,ClairewilljoinLiverpoolCityCounciltolead a team of25 committedtocontinuethe ‘legacy’of2008.

The aim istocontinuetodelivera strongculturalprogramme forwhich the Councilhas earmarked £4.1 million.

Organisationswillbe invitedtobidforfundingin2009.

LeaderofLiverpoolCity

CouncilWarren Bradleysays Claire’strackrecordis“impeccable”.

HENS MA N’S NE W R OLE

Businessman PeterHensman, an N W DA Board member forfouryears,has been electedchairman of the CumbriaRuralEnterpriseAgency,which providedadvice toover5,000 businessesinthe lastyear.

CharteredaccountantPeterisa directorofKendal-based Lake DistrictEstates,a smallgroup of

companiesinvolvedintourism,leisureand propertyinCumbria,which includesthe Ravenglassand EskdaleSteam Railway and UllswaterSteamers.

He succeeds MichaelBell,who willcontinueas deputychairman.

NorthernWay appointsnew Senior Advisor ProfessorMichaelParkinson has been appointedas SeniorAdvisortothe NorthernWay’s Research Programme.

ProfessorParkinson isDirectorofthe European InstituteforUrban AffairsatLiverpoolJohn Moores Universityand leads the DepartmentofCom munitiesand LocalGovernment’sexpertpanelon Neighbourhoods,Citiesand Regions.He produced the ‘Stateofthe EnglishCities’Reportforthe Officeofthe DeputyPrime Ministerin2006.

The Research Programme willbe the cornerstoneofthe NorthernWay’s work overthe nextthree yearsand willdevelopevidence toinform long term thinkingaboutthe Northerneconomy inboth a nationaland globalcontext.

NE W N W D A BOARD ME M BERS APPOINTED Three new Board members – Anne Selby,Lord PeterSmithand John Stageman have been appointed tothe N W DA fora three-yearperiodtoDecember 2011.Currentmember Brenda Smithhas been

re-appointedforanotheryear.

ANNE SELBY Anne Selby,ChiefExecutiveOfficerofThe WildlifeTrustforLancashire,Manchesterand Merseyside, has worked inthe voluntarysectorforover20 years.

She has been involvedinregionalworkingforthe lasteightyears,mainlyas a member ofthe former NorthWest RegionalAssembly,now 4NW, the RegionalLeadersForum forthe Northwestlaunched in July2008.

Anne alsochairsEnvirolinkNorthwest,a partnershipofallenvironmentalvoluntarysector organisationsinthe regionand has a seaton the RegionalEnvironmentalProtectionAdvisory Com mittee(REPAC).

LORD PETER SMITH LeaderofWigan Councilsince1991,Lord PeterSmithcurrentlychairsboth the AssociationofGreater ManchesterAuthoritiesand the new 4NW RegionalLeadersForum.

He alsochaireditsforerunner,the NorthWest RegionalAssembly,from 2000-01 and has been a ManchesterAirportboard member since1986.

A lecturerineconomicsand governmentfrom 1969 to2000,Lord Smithwas firstelectedtoWigan Councilin1978.

JOHN STAGE MAN John Stageman,Vice PresidentofUK Science AffairsatAstraZeneca,has recentlyreturnedtothe Northwest,and isnow based atthe company’sAlderleyEdge site.

John had previouslybeen seconded tothe postofGeneralManager ofthe Cambridge siteofAstraZeneca’smajorbiopharmaceuticalsubsidiary company,MedImmune.

A member ofthe NorthWest Science Councilsinceitsinceptionin2002,and a member of the Biotechnologyand BiologicalSciences Research CouncilsinceMay 2008,John isan Honorary ProfessorinLifeSciences atthe UniversityofManchester.

BRENDA SMITH The formerManaging Directorand DeputyChairman ofGranada Television,Brenda Smithisnow involvedinmany regionalorganisationsinsectorsincludingeducation,healthand the arts.

A member ofthe Board ofGovernorsofthe UniversityofManchesterand a Board member ofthe ManchesterInternationalFestival,she now works inan advisorycapacitytoprivateequityand recruitmentconsultants.

Brenda isalsoa Board member ofCentralManchesterand ManchesterChildren’sUniversity HospitalsNHS Trust,a member ofTourism England’sNorthwestand a non-executivedirectorof ManchesterAirportGroup.

She has chairedthe RegionalMarketingForum sinceDecember 2002.

PAGE 30 EVENTS

EVENT

HIGHLIGHTS For furtherinformationwww.nwda.co.uk/events FEBRUARY 3-5 FEB SKILLS NORTH W E ST Region’slargestcareerseventwithdemonstrationsfrom over70 organisations BoltonArena,Bolton

5 FEB CHINESE NE W

YEAR DINNER AND AWARDS Recognisingthe achievementsofNorthwestcompaniesdoing businesswithGreaterChina Haydock Park Racecourse,Merseyside

5 FEB CBI NORTH

WEST CUMBRIA DINNER

Keynotespeaker:Defence SecretaryJohn Hutton Low Wood Hotel,Windermere

9-15 FEB NATIONAL SQUASH

CHAMPIONSHIPS A feastofsportingexcellence NationalSquash Centre,Sportcity,Manchester

10-15 FEB EUROPEAN

BADMINTON CHAMPIONSHIPS Top playersfrom 30 nationsshare limelight Echo Arena,Liverpool

20 FEB CUMBRIA ECON O MIC

SUM MIT

Reviewing economic progressand consultationon the new RegionalStrategy Sellafield,Cumbria

20 FEB CHESHIRE POSITIVE BUSINESS AWARDS Highlightinggood corporateperformance inemploymentofdisabledpeople Crewe AlexandraFootballClub

MARCH 4-5 MAR

PRO W E SS ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE 2009 Key eventinthe women'senterprisesupportcalendar ImperialHotel,Blackpool

5 MAR

LANCASHIRE REGIONAL STRATEGY CONSULTATION Firststage consultationforLancashirestakeholders GuildHall,Preston

6 MAR

BE INSPIRED BUSINESS AWARDS

Lancashire’spremierbusinesscompetition WinterGardens,Blackpool

11 MAR

CHESHIRE & WA R RINGTON REGIONAL STRATEGY CONSULTATION Firststage consultationforCheshirestakeholders HolidayInn,Ellesmere Port

12 MAR

ETHNIC MINORITY BUSINESS FORU M Recognisingcontributionofblackand ethnicminoritybusinesses Old Trafford,Manchester

13 MAR- 1 MAY

LIVERPOOL ART PRIZE

Shortlistedworks from competitionforprofessionalartistsborn or based inthe region Novas ContemporaryUrban Centre,Liverpool

25 MAR

INSTITUTE OF DIRECTORS NORTH W E ST ANNUAL CONFERENCE Inspirationalwords forthe region’sbusinesscommunity The Lowry Hotel,Manchester

APRIL 1 APR

CBI NORTH WEST ANNUAL DINNER

Keynotespeaker:RichardLambert,DirectorGeneral,CBI Palace Hotel,Manchester

2-4 APR

GRAND NATIONAL

Annualmeetingculminatinginworld’sbeststeeplechase Aintree,Liverpool

30 APR

GREATER MANCHESTER CHA MBER ANNUAL DINNER Top eventinthe corporatesocialcalendar ManchesterCentral

MAY 8 MAY

RICS NORTH WEST AWAR DS 2009

Accolades forthe bestofthe builtenvironment CityofManchesterStadium PAGE 31

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

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

KEY CONTACTS

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

STEVEN BRO O M H E AD ChiefExecutive Tel:01925 400 133 Email:Steven.Broomhead@nwda.co.uk

BERNICE LAW

ChiefOperatingOfficer, (currentlyon secondment atthe LiverpoolCultureCompany)

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

ExecutiveDirector, Resources Tel:01925 400 116 Email:Ian.Haythornthwaite@nwda.co.uk MARK HUGHES ExecutiveDirector, Economic Development Tel:01925 400 531 Email:Mark.Hughes@nwda.co.uk PETER MEARNS ExecutiveDirector, Marketingand Com munications Tel:01925 400 212 Email:Peter.Mearns@nwda.co.uk PATRICK W HITE ExecutiveDirector, Policyand Planning Tel:01925 400 274 Email:Patrick.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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Designed and produced by Kaleidoscope ADM, Liverpool.www.kadm.co.uk N W DA KADM 02/09 21355