Conclusion and The project has achieved recommendations the following

Looking back over the last 12 months it is to a broader outcomes clear that some significant success has audience, with 2500 been achieved. visiting the site in 6 People into Jobs the period January The work that the Partnership has been to March 2005. 72 Learning Opportunities involved in has been varied and broad reaching. Enterprise is seen 30 New Business Start-ups as key to the The Partnership has organised and 10 Business Network events ■ economy and The Partnership Brokerage Report delivered 7 Business Network events. In Partnership was able 1 Website Established total nearly 200 businesses and organi- to support this with sations took the opportunity to attended, 3 Community Centres funding aimed at enabling us to make direct contact with connected to Broadband new businesses nearly 450 individuals and involve them starts and at helping 2 Networks Established in the Partnership. to establish a moped Connection The 186 delegates who attended the five lease scheme for Established themed events had the opportunity to get young people called advice from key business support wheels2work agencies and consider key activities that enabling young people to access jobs and innovation, skills and training affect business such as lean manufac- and training who would otherwise be requirement and access to information. turing, environmental issues and funding unable to do due to the availability of Learning from the experience of the availability. public transport. brokerage activity of last year it is The Development of the Partnershi[p Finally all of the work and the projects essential to build on the initial successes website provides access to support from delivered through the Partnership has of the business network events. agencies such as The LSC, Yorkshire begun to put in place the infrastructure From the feedback gained we are Forward, Business Link , to deliver a successful geographic reviewing the format of the events to Invest In and the Manufacturing brokerage and economic regeneration ensure we get more interaction with Advice Service as well as local education in Airedale delegates so that there is more and training provision, funding and The launch of the masterplan with its opportunity for them to discuss issues business support, Industry Cluster and broad economic focus has given us the together. Therefore with a future Sector Brokers and Local and Regional opportunity in Airedale to focus on what programme of events there will be a Strategic Partners. is required to develop the key clusters more varied content of delivery to include Through the website we have been able theme such as workforce development, a mixture of speakers, presentations, to publicise the work of the Partnership business support, increased motivation open and guided forums.

■ Acknowledgements Our thanks also to Amrez Bhatti Learning & Skills Council Robert Brough Network & Brokerage Saiqa Ramzan CBMDC Coordinator CBMDC/Airedale Diane Ramsden CBMDC Partnership Clive Howarth Learning & Skills Council Andy Taylor Regeneration Manager, Peter Brooks Learning & Skills Council CBMDC/Airedale Partnership Martyn Chesters Yorkshire Forward Phillip Tedder College Airedale Partnership Board Christine Peake Keighley College Margaret Robson Cllr Simon Cooke CBMDC Margaret Jackman Bingley Voluntary Action Cllr Lynne Joyce CBMDC Dani Mistry CBMDC William Jowitt Carnaud Metal Box Nicola Mawdsley Ex CBMDC Bob Gomersall Bradford Technology Group Ltd Clare Bussingham CBMDC Contents: introduction p2 Trevor Higgins British Telecom John Seed Bingley Voluntary Action Mick Milner Keighley Economy Group Toni Halliwell Airedale & Bradford the business network p3 David Gates Bradford Vision Manufacturing Alliance Jean McAllister the Learning Partnership Partnership projects p4

For further information please visit www.airedalepartnership.org Airedale online p7 To Contact the Airedale Partnership please call 01535 618 095 or email [email protected] conclusions p8 Britannia Bridge, Bingley Website Statistics ■ www.airedalepartnership.org The Airedale Partnership website is essential to the establishment of the business network. It aims to: ● Act as a single access point for businesses and other organisations to link into other beneficial and associated sites via the info links pages An introduction ● Publicise up-to-date news and progress of the work of the Airedale Partnership ● Enable organisations to publicise events

● Enable direct feedback on its work and activities to be received by the Partnership The website has been set up to the Airedale as a key aspect of the work ● Help develop a strong partnership approach to economic regeneration in Airedale of the brokerage/network.

Partnership To help to monitor and evaluate the website’s effectiveness monthly Most requested pages in March website statistics are sent to the Index Brokerage webpage manager. Masterplan Masterplan / Documents We look at a number of factors, such News / Output News The need to develop a business network/brokerage for Airedale eight members. Fifty per cent of the members are private sector as the average number of visitors per Projects was originally identified from research by consultants Evaluation representatives, with the remaining members representing Bradford day as a guide to the number of who Masterplan / Current Stage Events Research Strategies in 2002 and 2003 which looked at Vision, The Learning Partnership and Bradford Council. are people accessing the site. Resources employment skills and training issues in Airedale. Events / Future The Partnership aims to bring about the economic regeneration of The number of hits per day gives us an About Us

Pages About Us / Who It was also considered a priority by Yorkshire Forward and the Airedale by: indication of how many pages or files Events / Past / Output Learning and Skills Council for West Yorkshire (LSCWY) in the each visitor is looking at. Resources / Reports ● Bringing key employment sites into use About Us / Who / Board development of their skills strategy. Contact Us ● Stimulating the growth and development of key clusters such The knowledge that it can take about Events / Past Airedale was also identified in a strategic context in the Yorkshire as Advanced Manufacturing and Digital four minutes to download one Site Map Resources / Board / Minutes and Humber Regional Economic Strategy (RES), the West ● Promoting connectivity megabyte of information has proved to Links Yorkshire Action Plan and Bradford Metropolitan District Council’s ● Supporting the renaissance of the urban centres be invaluable in relation to the size of 000 100 200 300 400 500 600 ● Regeneration Strategy. Airedale was seen as a location for key Ensuring appropriate skills development and connecting local documents available on the site for the Hits companies and clusters, for investment opportunities and people to economic opportunities public and businesses to download. employments sites and also as having an attractive environment ● Developing initiatives for the rural economy Visitors per day in March Airedale Masterplan launch date March 15 The statistics show that many people with urban centres and recent road and public transport investment. ● Developing cross-boundary initiatives with Leeds and 120 have abandoned attempts to download as a corridor for investment 110 When the Urban Regeneration Company for Bradford centre documents because of the time it was 100 (now Bradford Centre Regeneration) was established, Bradford To help to achieve some of these aims and to establish a stronger taking. For example, in March there 90 Council’s Executive asked for additional proposals that met the partnership approach to economic regeneration in Airedale, were 362 hits on specific resources but 80 needs of the wider district, including urban centres and areas of funding was sought from Yorkshire Forward, through the LSCWY, nearly 80% - were abandoned or 70 brownfield and industrial development. to establish geographical brokerage and business network activity failed. 60 in Airedale.

After a major consultation between June and November 2002 the The ‘Most requested resources’ Visitors 50

Airedale Partnership was set up, with a shadow board being This would be managed by the Airedale Partnership to deliver skills information is useful to show what 40

formed in December 2002. Now fully constituted, the Board has and training projects, job outcomes and business network events. visitors to the site are using it for, such 30

as most visited page, graphic files to 20

download. (see figure 5) 10 Checking the least requested page 0 Projects Overview March March March March March March March March March 25 March March gives an indication as to whether 1 4 7 10 13 16 19 22 28 31 people are using the site the way in Bradford’s 2020 Vision ordinate business support, digital and advanced Plan 1 funding (SRAP1). Date which we hoped. identified Airedale as one of training and jobs match. manufacturing clusters. The project aimed to the keys to economic For example, our events page is used It would also develop cross- The brokerage project was undertake a range of actions from the homepage. needs to be signposted and linked from regeneration of the district. very little. This is clearly an area we boundary initiatives with developed in response to the to address the skills and both the homepage and the news page. need to develop as it is important in The statistics also showed that many The Airedale Partnership was Leeds and Craven for the recommendations of the training needs of businesses introducing the network to a wider people were exiting the site via the The single access page information established to act as a joint promotion and Employment, Skills and identified by the research and audience and publicising our events. To news page, indicating that because can also be used to promote other catalyst for the development development of the Aire Training Surveys undertaken connect local communities to overcome this and better promote what there was no up-to-date news at that areas of the website where you have of key employment sites, to corridor as a focus for the by Evaluation Research and economic activity and the site has to offer we can signpost time and all previous news items have information that you would like lead the renaissance of the growth of knowledge-rich Strategies (ERS) and funded employment opportunities. and link the events page and others been archived. The archive section people to see. town centres and to co- industries, particularly in the through Sub Regional Action Business network

One of the aims of the Airedale Partnership Brokerage was to establish a Breakdown of Organisation business network. It would support Type Attending businesses in the area and link them to services across the district through a website and network events. Staying Connected Seven events have been held in the last Funding was given to enable the Bolton year. As well as those launching the work Woods, Windhill and community of the Airedale Partnership and the centres in the Shipley area to continue to Airedale Masterplan and Strategy drawn be connected to broadband to enable and up by consultants Arup, there were also encourage the take-up of training amongst five individually-themed events aimed at The Wrose community local residents. local businesses. centre, Shipley Fifty two learners have so far benefited and Three events were organised in continue to take accredited qualifications. A partnership with the Airedale and Bradford local employers access to a wide range of further 77 learners have enrolled on often Manufacturing Alliance and were partic- Construction Network support services. substantial learning programmes as ularly aimed at manufacturing companies. Keighley College has been involved in the other functions. ‘informal learners’ without accreditation but development of a Construction Network to Davric Construction Green and/or environmental with an individual learning plan. Guest speaker was Professor David Little work within the construction industry to Management Training – The issues facing businesses of the West Yorkshire Manufacturing connect communities to economic activity, effectiveness of the trainer was excellent, Wrose Centre This event was held at the Bradford and Excellence Club. to develop better connections to local some topics were perceived to be more At the Wrose Centre there are specific Bingley Sports Club. Its purpose was to construction companies, to improve relevant than others including motivating crèche facilities which have been supported inform manufacturers in Airedale and Two other events dealt with the following education, learning and skills acquisition and managing people, teamwork, by the Partnership that have been extend to Bradford about current environment-related subjects: and improve the skills of existing planning, Health & Safety and stress cover three sessions per week to and now issues which may affect their businesses, What is the impact of employees and encourage new business management. Working to budgets, support a regular group of women. The including waste management, legislation, ‘digital’ technology start-ups. communications and understanding group are all interested in gaining computer grants and energy. This event was held at the Bankfield Hotel, customers was less relevant. There was skills to either find employment or further They represented 192 different organi- The Construction Network has so far Speakers included representatives from Bingley, and looked at the impact digital some perception that management training or education. sations and of those organisations 37% encouraged over 30 companies to join, Urban Mines, Business Link West technology is having on companies in the training was only for men in suits! attended two or more events. Breakdown they include wholesalers/retailers as well Bolton Woods Centre Yorkshire and the Carbon Trust media, digital and creative sectors. of sectors as follows: as companies providing services across Woollers Construction Alketa, Ajtene who live in Bolton Woods Business funding Guest speakers came from Yorkshire the range of skills including plumbers, Management Training – The staff found have been attending Wrose and Windhill ● Private sector businesses - 72% This event looked at the availability of Forward, Hallmark Cards, New Technology electricians and plasterers. The network the people side of things beneficial Centres whilst Bolton Woods is ● Public Sector organisations – 14.5% funding to support businesses and was Institute, Arup and bmedi@. held a launch conference in December including Health & Safety, budgets were refurbished, have completed Computer ● Business Support agencies – 5% held at Bradford City FC. 2004 and has since held several meetings less relevant and they felt that some of Literacy and Information Technology Connectivity ● Voluntary sector – 4% and delivered training for 30 employees as the general training was aimed at big (CLAIT) qualifications and have almost Guest speakers included representatives An event held to promote e-learning and ● Community Sector – 2.5% well as establishing contacts with the companies although they thought it could finished their European Computer Driving from Business Link West Yorkshire, Urban communications connectivity and to launch ● Political Parties – 1% Bradford Construction Network and giving be tailored. License (ECDL) qualification as well as Mines, Invest In Bradford, Sustainability the Connecting Airedale Survey in Airedale Feedback improving their language skills. (UK) Ltd and the Manufacturing Advisory with speakers from Palmedia and Reid IT Network event evaluation forms were Service. Services, British Telecom, the Airedale & Construction Frances, Robyn and Becky are all issued at five of the events, each asking Broadband project. network progressing towards achieving their How to make ‘leaner’ four questions about the quality of the Session CLAIT qualifications. businesses Attendance event, the capability of the speakers, the ‘Lean’ was developed as a result of Overall more than 450 people have benefits gained and the quality of the Comments about the crèche: research work carried out in the attended the Business Network events. venue. ‘Callum and Lowrie go to Happy Tots, If it automotive sector, heavily influenced by The two Airedale Partnership launch wasn’t for the crèche… I hope it never Below is a summary of the feedback Japanese best practice. It involves the events attracted 283 people while the five closes… it’s like a lifeline. If you didn’t received. identification and elimination of waste from other events attracted 186 people, an have it we’d be struggling ‘cos there isn’t a company’s manufacturing processes and average attendance of 37.2 people. Both positive and negative comments were any one else to help.’ received from attendees at the At the Windhill Centre events for example: Kerry and Joanne are taking their CLAIT Summary of evaluations of Business Network events ● “Too specialist to be of benefit Plus and have enrolled on GCSE Maths to 28 February 2005 to my business” Course, both obtained part-time jobs and Poor Satisfactory Good Excellent ● “Need more involvement and had to stop, however Joanne has re- The overall quality of the event was 0% 11% 42% 47% interaction from attendees” enrolled to finish CLAIT Plus. ● “Thanks for an excellent and The capability of speakers was 0% 10% 39% 51% Kathryn and Shelley are using the IT informative seminar” facilities to support the work they are The benefits gained from attending 2% 35% 41% 22% ● “Good ideas, input and doing to complete their portfolios for Quality of the venue 0% 8% 63% 29% comments from Hallmark” Social Care NVQ’s Connectivity Feasibility Shipley College ICT Apprentices The appointment of consultants Palmedia and Reid IT Services to undertake an ICT The provision of 10 places for ● One learner has achieved Key Skills rather than being forced to do it, I feel Connectivity Feasibility Study to map the ‘Apprentices’ in ICT at Shipley College Application of Number Level 2 the course is a change of direction a geographical spread of broadband connec- to take up ICT training to support and ● Arrangements have been made to chance to do something I want to. It tivity in Airedale and to identify viable improve the capacity of local community complete the First Aid at Work has also enabled me to do Maths and solutions to connect those businesses and centres and to gain employment. module. English again, I feel as though I am communities not able to take up broadband. moving my life forward instead of This project had recruited 10 Placements include The report which was publicly launched at watching it go by’. apprentices to undertake training ● Shipley College ILT Services Dept the connectivity event in December 2004 towards completing a 22 hour ● Sure Start, Shipley Nicola 27 yrs old recommended a unified vision and strategy programme leading to an NVQ in ● St Joseph’s College NVQ Installing and Supporting IT and a single body promoting e-learning in Installing and supporting or Using IT, ● Windhill Community Centre Job History: Several ‘dead-end’ jobs the district, greater use of local facilities, plus achieving Key Skills and Wider ● Area Play Association between having children, voluntary mobile units and schools as venues for the Key Skills and work experience. ● Bradford Council work and training courses. delivery of e-learning, the use of blended Aim: To take a new opportunity to learning, minimal support networks and gain employment wireless e-learning gateways, many of the Achievements so far What the recommendations and ideas have been ● Four learners have passed Key learners say ‘I had planned on staying at home with incorporated into the Airedale Masterplan. Skills Level 2 Communications my youngest until starting nursery, but Craig 29 yrs old ● Six learners have achieved CLAIT this opportunity came up and with all NVQ Installing and Supporting IT Plus module BBC Webwise and the the support it seemed too good to Bingley Connection Job History: Factory work The establishment of the Bingley Learndirect Surf Direct miss. My confidence has improved as I Aim: initially to complete ECDL Connection a local learning outlet for programme have completed my maths and Shipley College in Bingley to further ‘Having been on the course only 3 communications exams at level 2. I am develop the ‘learning line’ concept along the months my self esteem and confidence on placement at Shipley College and Airedale rail route. have improved, studying is now more hope to stay there until December. At ■ Start-up case study enjoyable. I am doing the work for me last I feel my life is turning around... The Bingley Connection was opened to the None of this would have been possible public in July and officially opened in Vincent – attended the agency on a one to without financial support, it has done December 2004. The Connection has been one basis to consider the possibility of my self esteem a power of good well received in Bingley not only as an starting his own business in mobile catering. ■ Start-up case study because I am working to support attractive addition to the main street but as We were able to assist with his enquiries my family’ an attractive venue restored and furnished and ensure that he had considered the Carol – attended the business plan course to a very high specification. legal as well as health and hygiene during March this year wishing to explore the issues. His business plan was improved possibility of setting up as a self employed It has enabled Shipley College to begin to and his pricing policy revised. He has trainer. The course was completed and Carol design and deliver courses locally for established a pitch and is turning over £400 started her business. Unfortunately she was Funding has been provided to businesses and to support the per week. Bingly Connection taken ill suddenly and spent a month in support and encourage new development of the Centre of Vocational ■ hospital. This did result in a slow Start-up case study business start-ups in Airedale Excellence in Care. down in the business but Carol is Stuart – is training to become a full time through the Airedale Enterprise now on the road to recovery and opera singer. After leaving university he tried Services. Positive feedback by users of the business is starting to progress to obtain sponsorship, but was unable to do the Bingley Connection: again. Currently her turnover is at This has enabled 30 more new Airedale Partnership so. As he was signing on for Job Seekers ● ‘Excellent value for money’ an average of £500 per month but is businesses start in the Allowance we assisted in the preparation of ● ‘Great tutors and excellent facilities expected to increase over time. area from sales, retail, a business plan. The business plan was to ● ‘The training received has been very, training and catering Projects teach and examine English to non- English very useful and it now means that we to opera singing. speakers. Stuart now spends a lot of his time can now offer our clients a fully away from home, his turnover for the first 2 Over the last twelve months the Airedale network events over the last year including functional web site’ months of business was £7000. He is still now he is happily an independent Partnership has been involved in delivering one consultation event and the launch of the With the opening of the Bingley Connection undergoing his training to become an opera traveller and His mother has a well a number of interventions aimed at Airedale Masterplan and strategy and five the future is now set for the further singer, but the need to find a sponsor is no earned lie-in. promoting connectivity, supporting skills themed events aimed primarily at expansion of training and workforce longer a priority. development, developing initiatives for the businesses. A 16 year old male living in development in Bingley. rural economy, supporting the renaissance is now working as an apprentice in The events have dealt with topics such as of urban centres and establishing its , again facing similar problems the promotion of environmental issues brokerage activity in Airedale: Wheels2work young people access with public travel and his mother now facing businesses, funding sources to help Wheels2work is a moped loan scheme jobs and training locations that unable to continue taking him to work This has included establishing the post of support and promote business growth, how managed by Bingley Voluntary Action. would otherwise be available to them. was facing the prospect of losing his Brokerage and Network Coordinator to to develop a leaner approach to business It has provided an affordable and apprenticeship. Now with the help of develop opportunities for businesses in development as well as looking at ICT accessible transport option for young A 22 year old male living in Denholme Wheels2Work he can continue his work Airedale to be linked with Yorkshire Forward connectivity and e-learning and the people aged 16 to 25 for whom no other starts work at 6.00am at a bakery which is and also undertake shift work. and LSC’s Cluster Broker activities and to development and impact of digital, creative form of transport is available in order to approximately 5 miles away. The first bus link them to the availability of business and media sectors in the Airedale. access jobs and training. does not arrive until 6.30am so he has A 16 year old female (pictured right) joined support services through the establishment The events also gave the opportunity to been dependant on his mother driving him the scheme in September 2004 to enable For just £3.50 per week plus cost of fuel of a programme of business network events. promote the services of a number of to work. After seeing the advert for the her to get from her home in Denholme to her and oil Wheels2work so far has enabled five The Airedale Partnership has held seven business support agencies in the area. project in The T&A he contacted John and work in Bingley as a trainee conveyancer.