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Smart Productivity Securing Sustainable Development in the English Regions 12993EEDA 27/6/06 10:05 pm Page 2
In just one year, the nine regional development agencies have:
Created/safeguarded 100,000 jobs Brought in £754 million from private sector investment Enabled 200,000 people to receive training opportunities Brought 1,000 hectares of brownfield back into use Helped start up 7,500 enterprises
These figures refer to 12 month period 2004/05.
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CONTENTS
FOREWORDS 4 INNOVATION 20
Richard Ellis I Chairman, East of England Development Agency Photovoltaics I One NorthEast John Healey I Financial Secretary to the Treasury Centres of Industrial Collaboration I Yorkshire Forward Ian Pearson I Defra, Minister of State, Climate Change and Composites Centres I South West of England Regional the Environment Development Agency/South East England Development Margaret Hodge I DTI, Minister of State for Industry and Agency/Northwest Regional Development Agency the Regions Centre for Sustainable Engineering I East of England Development Agency ENTERPRISE 6 Exmoor Sustainable Development Fund I South West of England Deliciouslyorkshire I Yorkshire Forward Regional Development Agency Renewables East I East of England Development Agency One Green Route I One NorthEast SKILLS 25
Mayor’s Green Procurement Code I London Development Agency Careers Northwest I Northwest Regional Development Agency Local Alchemy I East Midlands Development Agency COMPETITION 10 Bordesley Centre I Advantage West Midlands enhance I London Development Agency Regional higher education I East of England Development Agency ENWORKS I Northwest Regional Development Agency Diversity Works I London Development Agency Sustainable Business Partnerships I South East England Development Agency MEASURING SMART PRODUCTIVITY 30 National Industrial Symbiosis Programme I JOINT WindSupply I Advantage West Midlands
INVESTMENT 15
Kielder district heating I One NorthEast Temple Quarter I South West of England Regional Development Agency Biomass I Advantage West Midlands Transport I Yorkshire Forward/East Midlands Development Agency/South East England Development Agency blueprint I East Midlands Development Agency
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FOREWORD
Getting ‘smart’
While our 2004 publication, Building on the traditional a number of renewable initiatives purpose’ advice package rather Smart Growth, demonstrated that approach to improving labour including on the world’s first than regarded as an optional extra Regional Development Agencies productivity, ‘smart productivity’ 20MW Wave Hub, supported by the – something I, and the Financial (RDAs) are contributing to (a term coined for this report) South West of England Regional Secretary to the Treasury, sustainable development, recognises that longterm gains Development Agency, which has John Healey, hope to start to Smart Productivity, an initiative rather than short term fixes, the recently secured the first three address through the taskforce undertaken in partnership with flow of resources, and the ability of companies to use its facilities after on business energy efficiency. Defra, aims to bring together an innovation to get more from less it is installed in 2008. Progress is evidence base of RDA are critical if we are serious about needed to ensure that regional I hope you will agree that this interventions which support both increasing economic growth in line economic performance indicators report shows some encouraging regional economic growth and with sustainable development better capture the full range of work which demonstrates the sustainable development principles. In terms of resources, a sustainable development foresight of the RDAs in ‘doing principles at the same time. good example of this is underlined outcomes/outputs and strategic things differently’ and of the here in the East of England where added value. On page 30 we have dedication of the individuals The case studies have been it has been estimated that included some tools which could involved in delivering these grouped around the five drivers £229 million a year could be added be more widely used and initiatives on the ground. of productivity: enterprise, to our region’s economy through developed to support our Although we still have a long competition, investment, the improved use of resources by investment decisons. journey to make towards having a innovation and skills which also our businesses: a sum which low carbon economy, I am hopeful reflect the four priorities of the UK would require considerably more English RDAs would welcome the we are getting closer to removing sustainable development strategy: effort to achieve through business opportunity to work alongside the the barriers preventing us from sustainable consumption and growth alone. government to continue to improve making faster progress. production; climate change and the evidence base on ‘smart energy; natural resource The scope of the work showcased productivity’, enabling better protection and environmental is wide, although strong support alignment with the RDAs’ public enhancement; and sustainable for the renewable energy sector service agreements. We need to communities. Introductions to reflects the expected sector also be mindful of getting ‘smart’ each of the economic drivers growth rate of 25% over the next in terms of delivery of business aim to define ‘smart productivity’ five years. Since the publication of advice, ensuring that sustainable Richard Ellis and suggest ways in which it Smart Growth, I am delighted to development-related issues Chairman, East of England could be measured. see progress has been made on become part of an efficient ‘fit for Development Agency
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FOREWORD
Achieving a sustainable economy
In April 2006, the Government published Securing the Regions’ Futures, We welcome this publication. The case studies it includes contribute to our approach to strengthening delivery of sustainable development in the a growing evidence base about the way in which sustainable productivity English regions. It echoed the Government’s ambition, as set out in the can be pursued. This is not an easy task and we will work across UK sustainable development strategy, to achieve a sustainable economy, government and with Regional Development Agencies to continue to not as an end in itself but as a means of creating a strong, healthy and improve the evidence base on ‘smart productivity’. just society which lives within environmental limits. We hope that the case studies shown here will inspire further innovation Under Securing the Regions’ Futures, we committed to work with in every region in order to maximise investment in ‘smart productivity’. the Regional Development Agencies (RDAs) in order to publish Smart Productivity. This document follows an earlier publication called Smart Growth and so represents a further step in the progress being made to achieve a sustainable economy.
As part of reinforcing economic stability and long-term success, the Government is committed to enhancing the economic performance of all nations and regions in the UK through tackling market failures in the five drivers of productivity – enterprise, competition, investment, innovation and skills. ‘Smart productivity’ is sustainable productivity – it adds to rather than depletes the country’s environmental and social capital over the long-term. Our economic prosperity depends on these assets and as a society we are becoming increasingly aware of the pressures on them. Regional Development Agencies have a leading role to play in fostering and investing in ‘smart productivity’. This publication highlights some excellent practical examples of RDA-funded projects which, in line with regional economic strategies, generate economic value whilst also delivering a range of environmental and social benefits.
We face some profound challenges over the next decade: increasing John Healey Ian Pearson Margaret Hodge demographic change and globalisation, climate and environmental Financial Secretary to the Minister of State Minister of State for change as well as far-reaching changes in technology. These challenges Treasury Climate Change and Industry and the Regions demand innovation and new ways of working. None more so than the way the Environment we can harness enterprise, competition, investment, innovation and skills as drivers for more resource-efficient, productive businesses and a better quality of life overall.
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ENTERPRISE
Enterprise requires a ‘can-do’ attitude, plus the skills to apply East of England Development Agency it to business opportunities. Enterprise is measured by the number of VAT registrations: how many entrepreneurs turn their idea into business reality. Blown and grown Smart enterprise could be measured to reflect the number of new company start-ups that contribute to protecting natural The East of England is uniquely including wind, wave and tidal positioned to develop energy technologies. The East of England resources or integrate social principles. technologies from ‘blown and grown’ Development Agency is contributing sources. Its long shallow coastline £3.65 million towards the cost of offers great potential for harnessing constructing the £6.25 million centre. Yorkshire Forward wind and tidal power and its landscape contains a high proportion of arable On land, Renewables East is helping to land for growing fuel crops. The region bring bioethanol to market. This Helping sales rise under the Deliciouslyorkshire brand. has a thriving environmental renewable source of energy can be A Deliciouslyorkshire breakfast has technologies industry and, being near blended with petrol to improve engine A key aim of Defra’s sustainable food been created for the hospitality to large areas of demand, it is well efficiency and reduce air pollution. and farming strategy is to help small industry, helping save food miles by placed to help the UK secure energy Bioethanol can be produced from wheat regional producers develop new promoting locally-sourced from within its borders. By 2010, the or sugar beet, both of which are major markets. In the nation’s biggest food- ingredients. region aims to produce 14% of its crops for the East of England. Research producing region, Yorkshire Forward electricity from renewable energy. commissioned by EEDA in 2003 showed is turning the strategy into reality by RFGYH has created 466 jobs in total that the region has the potential to helping food and drink businesses and safeguarded another 900. It has In the driving seat is Renewables East, produce over one million tonnes of grow, export and diversify. helped set up 35 new businesses and founded in 2003 by the East of England bioethanol from its agriculture and attracted over £1 million of private Development Agency to bring in a full indicated a net job gain of 970 jobs per Yorkshire Forward funds the Regional finance. The group has generated range of low carbon energy solutions 100,000 tonnes of production. Since Food Group for Yorkshire and Humber turnover of £12.6 million as a direct and seize the opportunities presented then, with the support of Renewables (RFGYH), which acts on behalf of result of its activity. by an emerging global market for the East, British Sugar has begun companies producing or selling food region. construction of a £20 million bioethanol and drink in the region. The group Yorkshire Forward’s contribution plant in Wissington, Norfolk, capable of provides a support network for the to the RFGYH for 2002-2006 is The wind industry is currently investing producing 55,000 tonnes of bioethanol a food and drink industry. It acts as an £1.6 million, amounting to 59% of the £8-10 billion to establish almost a year. Renewables East is helping to information centre, holding funding. The rest is provided by Food dozen offshore wind farms, with the create a market, too, recently helping to exhibitions and ‘meet the buyer’ from Britain and the private sector. potential to generate 6,000MW of make bioethanol available to British forums to introduce producers to new energy, off the region’s coast. motorists for the first time. markets. Each of its 250 members, www.foodyorkshire.co.uk/rfg Renewables East will help harness the E85 ‘Harvest Bioethanol’, a fuel that ranging from brewers to sauce- economic potential that these reduces carbon emissions by 50% per makers, can market their produce RDA contribution = 59% developments bring to the region with mile, is now on sale at Morrisons the opening of OrbisEnergy, an offshore forecourts in Norfolk and Suffolk. The renewable energy centre located at UK Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation Ness Point in Lowestoft, towards the states that by 2010, 5% of all fuel sales end of 2007. Offering space for up to 30 must be biofuel, reducing vehicle small to medium-sized companies and emissions equivalent to removing one employing up to 150 people, million cars from the roads. OrbisEnergy is set to become a central hub for products and services in the www.britishbioethanol.co.uk offshore renewable energy sector, www.renewableseast.org.uk
RFGYH helped the Real Yorkshire Pudding Company expand its sales into a nationwide RDA contribution = 58% (OrbisEnergy construction) deal with ASDA. and 82% (Renewables East)
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Confidence and ability to build future businesses
Offshore wind turbines near Great Yarmouth
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ENTERPRISE
County Durham farmer John Seymour with his valuable fuel crop
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Confidence and ability to build future businesses
One NorthEast London Development Agency
Closing the loop targets on buying products made from Farm to forecourt recycled content. So far, signatories The Ford Motor Company now have spent over £221 million on Motorists in the North East can now up to 270 jobs will be created implements a closed loop policy on recycled products and there has been fill up with a cleaner, greener fuel – in the region in the funding period. all its office paper and cast iron a nine-fold increase in purchases of grown and processed locally. Around components. This means it uses only recycled goods made in the past year. 20 garages in the region are selling Until now, biodiesel has been recycled material and then recycles The Mayor’s Code has helped give biodiesel, a blend of conventional imported, but every part of the after use. Last year, Ford diverted 10 reassurances on technical quality. diesel and fuel derived from oils such process, from farm to forecourt, can tonnes of waste from landfill by The creation of a steady and reliable as rapeseed which can be used in any now be grown and produced locally in recycling its IT equipment. It has also stream of products back into diesel-powered vehicle. The number Teesside. A March 2006 assessment found a new market in sludge. Ground recycling is helping to encourage the of these specially-branded biodiesel of the biofuels supply chain says that up, it can be made into briquettes for development of innovative recycling garages is set to reach 30 in the next crops grown and processed into use in steelmaking and road technologies. two years under the One Green Route biodiesel in the region can deliver surfacing. Ford is also trialling project. This initiative to market carbon reductions of 66% compared recycled glass-based water filters for Nearly 500 organisations, as well as biodiesel to private and commercial with conventional ultra low sulphur industrial water recycling. all 33 London Boroughs, have signed drivers is supported by One NorthEast diesel. A well-developed biodiesel up to the Code. Signatories can and is helping to raise awareness and supply chain has the potential for net Ford, along with 51 FTSE 100 receive free advice from London
increase everyday use of the fuel. primary energy savings of 97%, CO2 companies, has signed up to the Remade brokers. In 2004/5, the Biodiesel is a market with potential: emissions savings of 94%, and total Mayor of London’s Green initiative helped divert 380,000 tonnes European demand for biodiesel has greenhouse gas emissions savings Procurement Code. Launched in 2001, of waste from landfill as well as more than tripled to three million of 57%, compared to the production the Mayor’s Code supports the creating or safeguarding a total of tonnes since 2002 and is predicted to of conventional diesel from crude oil. municipal waste strategy of tripling 480 jobs. The Mayor’s Code is being rise to nine million tonnes by 2010. recycling rates, helping stimulate the further improved and expanded. Northeast Biofuels is working with market for recyclates by encouraging Northeast Biofuels, a not-for-profit biofuels investors throughout the UK, purchasing of quality recycled The London Development Agency has group, was created four years ago to recognising both the Energy White products at competitive prices. invested £1 million over three years to keep the region at the forefront of an Paper and the UK Government’s Companies signing up to the Mayor’s support this project. emerging industry. Its members Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation Code can enter at a number of levels, range from farmers to fuel producers which requires 5% biofuels in petrol from registering interest to agreeing www.londonremade.com – biodiesel can benefit both the rural and diesel by 2010. and industrial sectors. Farmers are helped to see the potential of a One NorthEast is contributing around profitable fuel crop, and refiners, £180,000 to the Biofuels Development marketers and distributors of project and the One Green Route biodiesel are building up their initiative over three years and is also business: Europe’s largest biodiesel investing across a wide range of biofuel, complex for turning oilseed rape into bioenergy and biomass activities. fuel recently began operations at Seal Sands in Teesside and overall www.northeastbiofuels.co.uk
Waste sludge from Ford is now made into briquettes for steelmaking. RDA contribution = approx 33% (Northeast Biofuel activities)
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COMPETITION
Competition is all about companies finding an edge over Northwest Regional Development Agency others, to help secure longer-term survival. Competition drives smart productivity when it encourages companies to innovate, adopt new technologies and minimise inefficiency to achieve growth more quickly. Office savings Competition is currently measured by the number of ENWORKS delivery partner further £10 million expected in the next Groundworks Blackburn helped two years. companies per head of population. A measure of smart office furniture manufacturer Senator competition could reflect success in terms of social and International knock £10,000 off its ENWORKS estimates that a total of annual electricity bill and save over 38,000 tonnes of waste have been
environmental impact, as well as profit. 100 tonnes of CO2, by suggesting a diverted from landfill, and 200,000 £25,000 initial investment in energy- tonnes of construction waste have efficient lighting. It also helped Senator been recycled in the region. From London Development Agency reduce waste disposal costs with a June 2004 to September 2005, 150% increase in recycling, and save ENWORKS helped companies cut
£110,000 by investing in computer- emissions of CO2 by 35,000 tonnes, Enhancing the supply chain enhance raises business awareness aided cutting equipment to maximise water use by 360,000 cubic metres of the need for quantified, quality material use. and avoided the need to purchase The Green Bottle Unit, a social processes, sustainable development 2.2 million tonnes of raw material. enterprise and offshoot of the Free policies, managed audited accounts Senator is just one of 1,000 businesses Form Arts Trust charity, aims to bring and health and safety certification. that have been assisted by consultancy ENWORKS has safeguarded a total beautiful, sustainable and saleable The enhance team of business experts members of ENWORKS, an organisation of 5,500 jobs and contributed to the 100% recycled glass products to the helps companies overcome barriers which helps businesses in the North region’s skill base, with 1,100 people building industry market. Green Bottle and provides mentoring and advice on West of England improve their training to attain formal qualifications is one of many London enterprises business development; funding; economic performance while reducing in environmental management. In listed on the Green Directory held by obtaining premises; marketing, their impact on the environment. October 2005, it was recognised by the enhance. This is a business support training and sector information. ENWORKS advisers use a range of tools European Commission as an example programme for the development of to audit a company’s environmental of best practice in clearly fostering the new and existing small and medium- Outputs to date include: 115 jobs performance, and then produce a principle of sustainable development. sized enterprises and social created or safeguarded: five tailored action plan. ENWORKS provides enterprises involved in recycling, businesses created: six businesses both immediate and ongoing support Supporting business in a region which reprocessing or remanufacturing. expanded/retained: 376 businesses to help turn good intent into practical contains over three-quarters of the enhance helps them exploit the advised and 486 business consultancy action. An award-winning online toolkit UK’s top 100 firms is one of the commercial opportunities presented sessions held. allows organisations to spot where Northwest Regional Development by the public and private sector supply resource efficiencies can be made and Agency’s top five priorities. The Agency chain, the potential of which has been The £1.8 million programme is 100% quantifies results afterwards. has funded ENWORKS with a total of increased by recent sustainable public funded by the London Development £5.4 million over five years. In the past procurement initiatives. Agency (from November 2004 to March In a region where, in 2005, the two years the Agency has funded 70% 2007) and is delivered by London manufacturing sector was estimated of ENWORKS’ activity. Funding also Remade and the London Community to contribute £19 billion to the region’s comes from European sources and the Recycling Network, with steering GDP, ENWORKS, liaising with Business private sector, notably United Utilities. group support from WRAP (Waste & Links, has steered firms towards Resources Action Programme). £8 million worth of savings, with a www.enworks.com
www.enhancelondon.co.uk
RDA contribution = 100% The Regent Canal towpath in Islington is marked by recycled glass signs made by the Green Bottle Unit. RDA contribution = 70%
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Equipping business for the markets of the future
Energy-saving lighting at office furniture makers Senator
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COMPETITION
Water-saving reedbeds encourage biodiversity
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Equipping business for the markets of the future
South East England Development Agency Joint Regional Development Agencies
Tomato source Both businesses are members of Water margin the National Industrial Symbiosis Tomato grower John Baarda Ltd has Programme (NISP), a business Sheepdrove is an organic farm that Business, Envirowise and the Carbon one of the most technologically- opportunity programme which means business. On 2,000 acres of Trust to co-ordinate sustainable advanced units in the UK, growing helps organisations to improve Berkshire downland, sheep, pigs, business activity in the region. In 360,000 plants at any one time. their resource efficiency. Started in cattle and poultry and a wide range of addition, the SESBG delivers, through It has now provided the first-ever the Midlands with funding from arable crops are farmed according to its four action teams, region-wide UK over-wintered tomatoes for our Advantage West Midlands, NISP is organic principles. A conference partnership projects such as supermarket shelves – with the aid of now a national programme, funded centre, built to award-winning egeneration, an internet-based centre Terra Nitrogen. Both companies are with £6 million in 2006/07 through sustainable principles, hosts business of excellence for building sustainable based in Billingham, Teesside. Terra the Business Resource Efficiency and educational events for up to 200 business, and Simple Utility supplies John Baarda with surplus and Waste (BREW) programme which
people. Sheepdrove is highly Management Seminars (SUMS). CO2 and waste steam (generated from helps businesses achieve the waste committed to the sustainable use of the manufacture of ammonia) to ripen reduction required by the additional water, making an annual saving of Since 2002, the Sustainable the tomatoes and heat the Landfill Tax. Regional Development over 1,600 cubic metres of water – and Business Partnerships (SBPs) greenhouses. This initiative removes Agencies have contributed further £229,000 – with its natural reedbed have directly engaged over 18,000 approximately 250,000 food miles by funding of £900,000 via a proportion water treatment and recycling system. businesses, helped provide over replacing imports of Spanish of their BREW funding. A range of water-saving devices are 8,800 training places, helped advise tomatoes and diverts 12,500 tonnes of
built into the conference centre. over 11,000 businesses, secured waste CO2 from the atmosphere each Since April 2005 the NISP programme £6.13 million of external funding, year. The new production site for the has helped to divert more than Sheepdrove Organic Farm is just one achieved £1.42 million of savings, over-wintered tomatoes has brought 1.6 million tonnes of waste from business in the South East of England promoted 2,870 environmental 80-100 jobs for the local community. landfill sites and created 342 new which benefits from the unique suppliers, diverted 48,633 tonnes of jobs overall. Nationally, there has network of organisations promoting a waste from landfill and created a been a reduction of 1.2 million tonnes
range of sustainable business total of 39 full-time equivalent jobs. of CO2 and savings of more than practices. A Sustainable Business £145 million to industry. More than Partnership within each of the seven Last year Sheepdrove Organic Farm – 238 jobs have been safeguarded sub-regions shares experience and along with two businesses supplying across the UK as a direct result of expertise, pools resources and the renewable energy industry – was a the programme and it has also seen develops innovative ways of engaging winner in SEEDA’s annual Sustainable £22.3 million of private capital businesses in best practice. Business Awards for the South East. investment in reprocessing and recycling. Member companies have An umbrella organisation, the South SEEDA contributes £70,000 to SBPs, generated an additional £65 million of East Sustainable Business Group £125,000 for the Sustainable Business sales. Industrial water use has been (SESBG), funded and chaired by the Awards, and £250,000 over three years reduced by 330,000 litres and South East England Development for egeneration. The SBPs also numerous brownfield sites have Agency (SEEDA) since 2001, brings receive £210,000 of funding per annum seen redevelopment. together those seven sub-regional to deliver the Agency’s Business partnerships as well as Business Links, Resource Efficiency and Waste (BREW) www.nisp.org.uk the Environment Agency, Programme. www.defra.gov.uk/Environment/waste Envirobusiness, Business in the /brew Community, the Federation of Small www.egeneration.co.uk RDA contribution = 15%
Tomatoes are grown with the help of the RDA contribution = 16% chemical industry.
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COMPETITION
Advantage West Midlands
Making converters for the wind industry Winds of change Within 18 months of deciding to enter industry whose potential is reflected the wind energy industry, Rugby- in the growth of the project itself. based engineering company WindSupply began in the West Converteam had secured multi- Midlands in 2003, with the support of million-pound orders for its power Advantage West Midlands. Thousands converters and generators. This UK of UK companies are now working with business success in an industry the project and more than £250 million dominated by a strong mainland worth of orders will be delivered over European supply chain was achieved the next three years in the Midlands with the help of WindSupply, a project region alone. Unsurprisingly, other set up to help engineering companies regions have seen the potential and to diversify and apply their expertise to WindSupply is beginning to replicate the new and fast-growing global wind this success elsewhere with the energy market. support of the East Midlands Development Agency, the South East Wind turbines contain complex England Development Agency and with components and systems which offer input from the Northwest Regional British manufacturers and service Development Agency, One NorthEast companies many levels of opportunity. and Yorkshire Forward. WindSupply maps and recruits relevant UK companies through Current RDA investment in workshops and a strong presence at WindSupply is approximately £800,000, the major international wind energy representing 85% of the total trade events. WindSupply’s product monetary contributions. Further innovation groups are successfully funding is under discussion to take bringing together UK companies, the project through to 2008, when it universities and the existing market is expected that British firms will be leaders to develop the latest firmly established within the global technology. energy industry. WindSupply is also starting to link UK companies into The wind energy market is growing the evolving wave, tidal and micro- globally by almost 30% annually. With generation markets. the UK market estimated at over £1 billion a year, this is a valuable new www.windsupply.co.uk
RDA contribution = 85%
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INVESTMENT
Investment in physical capital (the buildings, equipment One NorthEast and facilities which support economic activity) is a key determinant of economic growth. A measure of smart investment could reflect the proportion Wood power of regional gross value added (GVA) spent on facilities which attain sustainable construction standards or the supply of As fuel prices continue to rise, to customers. At the core of the Kielder village in Northumberland project is a social enterprise, Kielder low environmental impact products to the market. enjoys heating provided by the community enterprises limited, renewable source of energy all whose activities have also included around it. Kielder, surrounded by reopening the local petrol station, England’s largest man-made forest, campsite and taxi-bus service. has the UK’s first wood-fuelled district heating scheme. The system This pilot project is part of a wider heats and supplies hot water to the regional biomass initiative in the Kielder Castle Visitor Centre, North East of England, aiming to business workshops, the village achieve a target of 50MW of power school, the youth hostel and to six produced from biomass by the end of new, three-bedroom homes. The the decade, enough to provide hot 1,200 cubic metres of woodchip it water for all the houses in takes annually to feed the system is Northumberland. provided by the Forestry Commission. One NorthEast has contributed The woodchip-fuelled power plant £250,000 to the £630,000 scheme, balances carbon emissions: trees and has worked on this and a absorb as much carbon when they range of related initiatives in are growing as they release when partnership with Tynedale Council, they are burned and this scheme is the Northumberland National saving 155 tonnes of carbon Park Authority, Powergen, emissions a year. The woodland Northumberland Strategic producing the woodchip is replanted Partnership, the Forestry with new trees. The technology for Commission – and the local the 300kW boiler and heating network community. is fully automated so needs little maintenance. Members of the local www.kielder.org community have been recruited and trained to manage the system, with full responsibility for delivering heat RDA contribution = 39%
Chair of One NorthEast, Margaret Fay, in the Kielder woodchip store.
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INVESTMENT
Bristol’s Temple Quarter
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From rhetoric to reality, demonstrating sustainable growth
South West of England Regional Development Agency Advantage West Midlands
Green energy which is currently being built, will Regeneration Quarter use miscanthus or ‘elephant grass’ Advantage West Midlands is backing as a solid biomass fuel. The 2MW The South West of England Regional advantage of job opportunities arising two pilot renewable energy projects generator near Stafford will be Development Agency’s ambitions for from the development. and supporting rural diversity. In capable of supplying around 2,000 creating sustainable communities Staffordshire, it has provided £935,000 homes with electricity. The plant will
in the region are set out in its Temple Quarter will ultimately offer towards a £6.5 million scheme to save 8,000 tonnes a year of CO2 2005 proposals The Way Ahead. 2.5 million square feet of office space develop the UK’s first successful compared to fossil fuels. It has also This shows how plans to build which includes work space for 10,000 biomass power plant. The plant, enabled around 170 farms to diversify more homes across the region must people. To date, it has provided jobs for into energy crops. The project has go hand-in-hand with initiatives to 4,500 people and 200 homes. Forty received public sector capital grants strengthen the economy, enhance hectares of brownfield land have been from the DTI and Defra as well as environmental and social reclaimed. Temple Quarter’s private sector investment. performance and spread the masterplan includes 1,000 homes, benefits of sustainable economic a hotel, retail space and catering In Shropshire, Advantage West growth evenly across the region. facilities. The first major office Midlands co-funded the installation of development, occupied by an anaerobic digester to divert 5,000 The city of Bristol is one of five main government departments, has been tonnes per year of kitchen and garden centres identified by The Way Ahead. built to sustainable standards and waste from landfill through a In the eastern sector of the city centre, received a BREEAM rating of excellent. household separation scheme. Biogas a £750 million development provides a Pedestrian-friendly facilities, easy produced from the digester is being good demonstration of the proposal’s access to the Temple Meads transport used by 12 local businesses for heat aims to give people in new homes hub and a rapid transport system are and renewable electricity and access to good jobs in attractive towns all incorporated in the plan. A new pasteurised bio-fertiliser is being and cities, as well as improving multi-use 10,000-seater Arena for the offered to local farmers. The plant, transport infrastructure. city, arising from the regenerated site run by a community company, has of a former diesel depot within created six new jobs. The project, the Temple Quarter is a mixed-use city Temple Quarter, is also proposed. first of its kind in the UK, helps meet centre development on the major mandatory targets from the EU transport interchange of Temple The regeneration of Temple Quarter Landfill Directive as well as Meads, which encourages people to is showing a good financial return government targets for 30% live and work in the city centre while on the public sector investment. recycling and composting by 2010. contributing to neighbourhood Around £21 million of the South West renewal and quality of life indicators of England Regional Development Advantage West Midlands and Defra’s such as jobs, transportation, housing, Agency’s £30 million initial funding Waste Implementation programme and access to open spaces. has already been recovered. Temple are each providing around 50% of the Throughout its construction, the South Quarter is expected to bring in £1 total £3 million cost. West of England Regional billion of private sector investment Development Agency’s ‘West at Work’ and has drawn in £400 million so far. www.bical.net programme will help local people www.greenfinch.co.uk develop the right skills to take www.templequarter.com RDA contribution = 14% (Stafford), 50% (Ludlow)
New energy crop miscanthus grass. RDA contribution = 4%
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INVESTMENT
Yorkshire Forward/East Midlands Development Agency/ East Midlands Development Agency South East England Development Agency
Smart transport over eight years out of a total cost of £4 million. Blueprint for the future Smart productivity means smart transport solutions. A joined up and England’s south eastern ports blueprint was formed in May 2005 One of the first development accessible public transport system accommodate over a third of the UK’s with a remit to regenerate and opportunities, launched by blueprint which eases congestion and reduces imports and exports. The South East rejuvenate failing neighbourhoods. with a design competition in pollution also helps businesses. Some England Development Agency is the It comprises a public private November 2005, is the 12-acre site at Regional Development Agencies are lead partner in a European Regional partnership between the East Highfields in Nottingham, the second investing in selected schemes to keep Development Fund-funded project Midlands Development Agency, phase of the Nottingham Science and their regions moving. known as IMPACTE that unlocks rail English Partnerships and Morley Fund Technology Park. freight bottlenecks by enabling freight Management’s Igloo Regeneration Yorkshire Forward is investing more to stay off the roads and reducing air Fund. It is a unique partnership A key aspect of the development involves than £8 million to part-fund an pollution on the Dover to London and vehicle where investment, control, regenerating the site as a communal increase in train capacity by 6%, the Southampton to Midlands freight risk and profit are shared equally resource both for private companies and providing 12 extra carriages and corridors. The total UK investment between the public and private sector. the surrounding community. Design 375,000 extra seats on three of the package for the IMPACTE project, features such as open space for sitting, region’s busiest lines. The resulting supported by SEEDA, AWM and blueprint’s remit is to deliver meeting and relaxing have been planned reduced overcrowding on trains and SWERDA is around £3 million and economic and social benefits within a to restore a sense of common ground decongestion of roads, will, by 2013, consists of three major components; a commercial framework. Commitment between the local community and
have saved over 3,000 tonnes of CO2 first-stage Network Rail assessment to to deliver sustainable development is science park users, all set within an emissions. reconnect the port to the railway line core to all its activities and is ecologically-sensitive landscape using and establish a wagon-based freight embedded from project inception natural features such as new oak and The East Midlands Development service at Dover; investment at through to end use. Whilst the East birch plantings to complement the Agency is supporting a new bus Portsmouth to help build a freight Midlands Development Agency has existing biodiversity in the area. service between Nottingham, terminal and a rail gauge transferred property assets to the Leicester, Derby and Nottingham East enhancement between Southampton new vehicle, the Agency still retains The partnership is currently Midlands Airport. Piloted originally in port and the West Coast mainline. a role in evaluating development progressing six projects: two in Nottingham, the Derby and Leicester options for the assets and can Nottingham, one in Derby and three in services will begin this year. Working www.yorkshire-forward.com ensure that sustainability Leicester. blueprint is planning to start with a range of partners, the scheme www.emda.org.uk standards and social enterprise are construction on three of its projects in will reduce car journeys and help www.seeda.co.uk encouraged in the schemes that 2007, including a new scheme within improve access to jobs and training come forward. Projects are judged Derby’s Cathedral Quarter. opportunities at the airport for RDA contributions: on social and environmental as well residents of the three cities. The 50% (Yorkshire trains), as financial returns. blueprint represents a radically new Agency has provided £1.56 million 36% (bus link), 10% (IMPACTE) model for delivering regeneration and blueprint-sponsored properties are combines public assets with private ‘sustainable development-proofed’ money to fund innovative new solutions. via a 16-point assessment that covers Some £100 million of private funds reducing carbon emissions from the will be attracted to finance activities site, making use of renewable energy, within the East Midland’s six priority increasing the biodiversity of urban areas. brownfield land and accessibility considerations. www.blueprint.gb.net
Bus link to Nottingham East Midlands Airport. RDA contribution = 25%
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From rhetoric to reality, demonstrating sustainable growth
Blueprint for Highfields Science Park
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INNOVATION
Innovation is the development of new technologies, Yorkshire Forward products and production processes. It is linked to research and development (R&D) in both the private and public sectors, with higher education acting as a significant driver. Key to innovation is translating new ideas and inventions The power of sleep into opportunities, products and services. Sleep mode can provide a surprisingly gross more than £32 million in lively topic of debate. Early this year, research income as well as creating A measure of smart innovation could, for example, reflect MPs were told that Britons waste the or safeguarding 450 jobs. More than R&D spend on ‘future-proofed’ technologies. equivalent of two power stations’ worth 1,200 collaborative projects have of electricity annually just by leaving TV been undertaken with some sets and other appliances on stand-by significant successes. One NorthEast mode. That is about 7TWh of energy, emitting 800,000 tonnes of carbon. In Sheffield, the Materials Analysis Addressing this problem presents an and Research Services CIC worked Northeast sunshine a cluster of companies which is opportunity for business inventiveness, with local pharmaceutical company successfully establishing a PV based on an understanding of what Medical House to develop the first ever The market for solar power is supply chain. This has close links to measures people are practically needle-free insulin delivery system to increasing globally by 35% and in the Northumbria University’s Photovoltaic prepared to take to save money and be prescribed on the NHS. UK by 25% a year. In 2004, the UK Applications Centre, the site of the power. Enter the Savasocket. This increased the amount of power UK's first building-integrated device plugs into the mains electricity The Environmental Technologies CIC, generated by solar photovoltaic photovoltaic installation. Research socket and can change all the home’s formed to reduce waste, minimise the conversion (PV) by 2.26MW, carried out under NaREC’s umbrella appliances from standby into off mode use of raw materials and meet the bringing the UK total to 8MWp1 brought together Consett-based with a single touch of a TV remote demands of ‘green’ legislation, worked installed. By comparison, Germany Romag Ltd with BP Solar. This led to control button. The idea, developed by in conjunction with Yorkshire Water to installed 800 MWp in 2005. a £3 million investment (including Daletech Electronics, was turned develop lab-on-a-chip devices to analyse £400,000 from One NorthEast) by rapidly into a marketable prototype environmental pollutants such as iron, One NorthEast’s strategic Romag in a new production facility with the help of academics in Hull phosphate and ammonia in water. commitment to developing the with the capability of producing cells and Leeds Universities. The complete mini analytical devices are photovoltaics (PV) market has led it to with a total generating capacity of able to filter, manipulate and quantify support a number of innovative 6MW each year. The workforce has This is just one example of a new type the analytes in water streams. This work ventures. The Photovoltaic increased from 140 to 165 and of collaboration between industry and will lead to the development of a range Technology Centre for the testing and further expansion is expected in 2007. academia being enabled in Yorkshire of portable analysers able to separate development of solar products is one 1power generation under peak sunlight conditions and Humberside. Here, 14 Centres of and quantify a range of key analytes in of the enterprising organisations Industrial Collaboration (CICs) have natural water samples. located at the flagship New and www.narec.co.uk/technologies-solar- been created in the past three years to Renewable Energy Centre (NaREC) at pv.php harness the region’s academic Yorkshire Forward has invested Blyth, founded with support from One www.romag.co.uk scientific expertise to industry. £11 million in the CICs, in partnership NorthEast of £20 million over three These have accelerated growth and with the European Regional years. One NorthEast also provides RDA contribution = 100% (NaREC), innovation in key industries such as Development Fund. the secretariat to the PV-NE network, 15% (Romag new facility) pharmaceuticals, chemicals, advanced engineering and polymers, helping to www.yorkshirecic.com
Romag PV cells at the Gateshead International Business Centre. RDA contribution = 78%
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Reaping the rewards of doing more and better with less
The Savasocket could help save 800,000 tonnes of carbon emissions a year
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INNOVATION
Research at the Composite Structures Development Centre
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Reaping the rewards of doing more and better with less
South West of England Regional Development Agency East of England Development Agency
Neat meter are opening up routes to market for Lightweight solutions cleaner technologies. CSEng believes How can you save energy unless you it has found a clear gap in the The contribution of air travel to The Bristol facility is one of four know exactly how much you use – market, capitalising on rapidly- climate change is significant. One way centres of excellence forming the or need? A new smart meter will give increasing corporate sector interest of lowering damaging aircraft National Composites Network, which both consumers and utility companies which has seen equity listings in emissions is to reduce aircraft weight. is jointly funded by government and up-to-the second information about alternative energy ventures more Research initiatives into this area are industry to embrace the UK electricity and gas consumption. than double in one year. So far in therefore addressing an urgent composites industry and its supply The internet-linked meter will enable 2006, the centre has helped make problem. In Bristol, the Composite chain. The newest one opened in May utilities to match supply and demand, introductions that have secured more Structures Development Centre’s 2006 in Manchester. The Northwest potentially saving up to 2% of UK gas than £8 million of private investment investigations into the development of Composites Centre was launched with and electricity usage and cutting to develop a range of projects in the lightweight composite materials for £2.1 million from the Northwest annual UK carbon emissions by low carbon sector. It has brought use in the aerospace industry could Regional Development Agency. 2.5 million tonnes a year. The next over 90 companies into contact with play a key role in helping to reduce Drawing together scientific expertise stage is to bring the smart meter to universities and mentored 35 emissions. The South West of England in the region’s universities, it aims to market, and this where the Centre for companies developing cleaner Regional Development Agency become a centre of international Sustainable Engineering (CSEng) in technologies, helping to create high has invested £3.19 million in the scientific reputation, offering applied Peterborough comes in. value and wealth-creating jobs. £13 million project. Delivering an research leading to the development CSEng has a target of earnings over important part of its regional of new, low energy, rapid CSEng is a new national independent four years of £1.72 million and is economic strategy, the Agency’s manufacturing techniques. and not-for-profit centre dedicated to supported by the East of England support recognises the importance of helping innovative cleaner Development Agency with a the aerospace industry. Around 43,000 Meanwhile on the Isle of Wight, the technologies become commercially contribution of £500,000 of the total people are employed directly by the South East England Development viable. Combining a large knowledge costs of £850,000 over three years. industry in the region and another Agency is, together with the DTI, base, engineering capability and 100,000 jobs are dependent on it. The supporting a complementary centre, strong connections with City of www.cseng.org.uk centre has been built at the Airbus site hosted by global engineering company London finance, the centre’s team in Filton (with Bristol University GKN, to develop low-cost of engineers and network of over receiving some of the investment) and manufacturing techniques for 40 industry and academic experts RDA contribution = 62% forms the hub of a regional alliance of composites with the objective of companies, universities and colleges reducing the cost of carbon fibre in the South West, who together offer composite structures by 30%. a world-class capability in the field of The Agency’s contribution will be composites technology. It will also £1.25 million by the end of 2006. keep Airbus, a major employer locally, at the forefront of key technologies for A further centre for the validation of future generations of aircraft, as well materials is based in Wales. as carrying out development work for other transport sectors such as the automotive and marine industries. www.ncn-uk.co.uk
RDA contribution = 24% (Bristol), 100% (Manchester), Helping innovative cleaner technologies become commercially viable. 22% (Isle of Wight)
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INNOVATION
South West of England Regional Development Agency
Testing the water Rural innovation in Exmoor Reedbeds are a natural way of the 25 projects will safeguard or purifying polluted water and enabling create 15 jobs and involve up to ecosystems to survive and diversify. 420 people in training which improves A team of environmental experts in their literacy and numeracy skills. Somerset has now come up with a They will engage over 2,200 young way of making such reedbeds people and reach over 250 businesses, transportable, delivering this involving 17 community and voluntary environmentally-friendly solution to groups through 21 new partnerships. the door of rural businesses. Over the Grant aid has been offered to a total of next 18 months, Rentareedbed will be 73 projects since August 2002; 30 are trialling its unique mobile reedbeds still in progress. with local businesses including farmers, campsite owners and an The fund addresses one of the key ice-cream producer, with the aid of barriers to innovation in rural areas: a £30,000 grant from the Exmoor access to suitable finance in the form Sustainable Development Fund. of grant aid to enable good ideas to get to market. Projects are selected on On the eastern edge of Exmoor, an the basis of their long-term advance order of £10,000 by the fund contribution to furthering the Park helped Kleen Kutt Forest Products Authority’s statutory purposes to create two extra jobs. The company conserve and enhance its natural and makes timber products from trees built assets, provide education and (grown in accordance with Forest enjoyment of those assets, and foster Stewardship Council standards) on the social and economic well-being of Exmoor and makes its products such its communities and local economies. as picnic tables, benches and As part of its regional economic disabled-access birdhides available to strategy, regional environmental Exmoor community, voluntary and strategy and sustainable strategy for educational groups. farming and food, the South West of England Regional Development These are just two of 25 projects Agency is contributing £300,000 to the receiving assistance from the fund Exmoor Sustainable Development between April 2005 and 31 March 2006. Fund between October 2005 and From October 2005 to March 2006, March 2008. This tops up an annual 5.5 jobs have been created or Defra contribution of £200,000. safeguarded and four people helped to gain qualifications. Before March 2008, www.southwestrda.org.uk
RDA contribution = 38%
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SKILLS
Skills play a key role in increasing economic growth – Northwest Regional Development Agency skilled workers are more able to adapt to changing technologies and challenge traditional business processes. A measure of smart skills could be the proportion of the Careers on line workforce with qualifications and skills relating to environmental management or sustainable communities. ‘It’s like having your own personal and use a dynamic and interactive careers adviser!’ says Charles, a new careers matchmaker. They can also internet user who is finding the access fact sheets and case studies Careers Northwest website easy to about the prospects of the region’s navigate and useful, too. key sectors, including environmental technologies and regeneration. The Careers Northwest is a website website holds current information initiated, funded and managed by the about major strategic projects in the Northwest Regional Development region, for example, the £1 billion Agency to provide effective and Omega international business dynamic careers information and development in Warrington, which will advice on key employment sectors provide 12,000 new jobs before 2013. in the region. Set up in 2003, it has made a major contribution to the Careers Northwest, valued by schools development and retention of a skilled and universities for its live and and motivated regional workforce, relevant careers information, is with over a million people using the helping raise awareness and site to date – 1,300 a day. understanding of the labour market and employers’ needs in the North Careers Northwest provides advisers West of England. The Northwest and individuals with user-friendly Regional Development Agency has access to reliable and authoritative contributed £714,000 over three years intelligence and tools, ensuring and is working with Jobcentres Plus equality of opportunity for choice, this year to collect data on successful access and inclusion. It can be used by job applications through the site. all age groups from any location with internet access, reducing the amount www.careersnorthwest.com of travel and visits to careers advisers. Users of the site can build their own career profile online, upload their CVs RDA contribution = 100%
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SKILLS
Young Enterprise Club with their regeneration magazine, Bennerley, Derbyshire
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People prepared to take advantage of opportunity
East Midlands Development Agency Advantage West Midlands
Centre of opportunity England and Birmingham University. Gold from Alchemy With daycare facilities completed, It took 10 years of community effort to enrolment by women in courses has Chris Pienaar has a varied working public procurement budgets and save a Grade II-listed building from increased by 25%. Eleven jobs have week, one day helping Steve Waterall private sector investment can be used dereliction, but the Bordesley Centre been created at the Bordesley Centre start up his own garden maintenance to strengthen local economies. in Birmingham now offers people in project which is expected to deliver a company, the next mentoring Lea some of the poorest parts of total of 17 jobs, safeguard another Grant who gained NVQs to set up her To date, the Local Alchemy programme Birmingham the chance to improve 18, and help equip 1,500 people own daycare centre. Then he works has supported 220 new and existing their skills and access job with skills, some of whom have with Susan Smith on her community enterprises such as a book shop, a opportunities. The restoration of the been economically inactive until now. arts project, before his regular hairdressing salon and a childcare building was a community effort The construction of a business start- Young Enterprise Club where business (which is a social enterprise), spearheaded by the Muath Welfare up unit is ongoing and is expected teenagers are creating their own to name but a few. It has helped Trust, set up in 1990 to help to create 18 businesses. regeneration magazine. improve community assets communities live in harmony by (a community café and a sporting developing the skills of those living on Advantage West Midlands committed Chris is one of five coaches providing complex), as well as create new jobs the margins of society. In 2003, after £2.8 million to the total cost of the practical support and empowerment to and increase skill levels among local phase one of the restoration, £5.4 million Bordesley Centre through communities through Local Alchemy, communities. Advantage West Midlands and the its East Birmingham and North an initiative based on the belief that European Regional Development Solihull Regeneration Zone, in one of the failures of economic and Local Alchemy is a four-year Fund stepped in with capital funding partnership with the Government regeneration policy is that pilot programme working with 13 for a library, nursery, IT and training Office for the West Midlands and the communities have things done to communities across the East Midlands, facilities. This initiative is linking Muath Welfare Trust. Initiatives like them rather than being enabled to from the inner city (Sneinton in people to opportunities, and will this have ensured that 2,700 of the harness their own resources, skills Nottingham), to the rural help the local community benefit 5,000 jobs provided by the and passion. (Gainsborough in Lincolnshire), urban from the economic developments in Birmingham Bullring skills fringe (Corby in Northamptonshire) and Birmingham Eastside, one of Europe’s partnership were filled by the long- Local Alchemy offers economic literacy ex-coalfield (Cotmanhay in Derbyshire). largest regeneration projects. term unemployed. training and, using a customised toolkit, alongside ongoing coaching The East Midlands Development Over 800 students are enrolled on www.muathtrust.org support, the programme helps identify Agency’s investment in Local Alchemy is over 40 different courses offered opportunities for new and existing motivated by the desire to increase on site through Birmingham City businesses to grow. The toolkit helps to economic activity in the region’s less College, the University of Central RDA contribution = 52% raise awareness among local prosperous areas and to learn which communities and entrepreneurs about techniques and approaches work. Over the environmental and social impact of the next two years, learning from Local their economic choices. The Local Alchemy will be integrated into the Alchemy coaches help to create Agency’s broader economic regeneration networks of support to sustain local and development responsibilities. economic action. An important aspect of their work is to remove barriers to The East Midlands Development enterprise by brokering meetings with Agency is investing £8 million into the public bodies (and large private sector Local Alchemy programme between organisations) and local communities. 2003 and 2008. This is particularly relevant where
Enrolment in women-only courses increased by 25% this year. RDA contribution = 100%
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SKILLS
East of England Development Agency London Development Agency
Nurturing regional talent In Suffolk, the Agency has made its largest-ever contribution to a single Diversity works Mushroom-shaped floating dining project: £18.17 million towards areas, a giant red performance pod – University Campus Suffolk (UCS), a Londoners come from over ensuring that London’s diverse people the new campus of South East Essex joint venture between the University of 220 countries and speak over benefit from the capital’s success. College gave its students some truly East Anglia and Essex University. The 300 languages. One in 10 Londoners futuristic accommodation when it first stage, a waterfront development in is Muslim, one in five has a disability, The programme will enable 10,000 relocated to the centre of Southend in Ipswich, will open its doors to students and one in three is from a black, businesses (1,000 large corporations 2004. It also signalled the rejuvenation in September 2007. Two further higher Asian or minority ethnic background. and 9,000 SMEs) to benefit from of the town’s high street, which will be education hubs are planned alongside At least half a million London London’s unique access to diverse further boosted after the current the FE colleges at Lowestoft and Bury residents are lesbian, gay, bisexual, customer and labour markets. redevelopment of the Odeon Cinema by St Edmunds. The development of UCS or transgender. London is the most Diversity Works also partners the Essex University. The Odeon campus will increase participation and raise diverse city in the world; it is also voluntary sector, trade unions and the will provide education for up to 1,500 aspirations in a county with lower than consistently voted Europe’s number academic community. Its bespoke students of health and public sector- average participation in higher one business location. diversity support enables businesses related disciplines, as well as being the education. A specially-designed to increase employment and supplier site of business development and curriculum will complement the Diversity Works for London, the Mayor diversity. Products and services innovation centres. region’s main employment sectors: of London’s flagship programme run include a telephone advice line for transport, communications, health and by the London Development Agency, businesses and their employees and This venture by Essex University has education, and emerging sectors such was launched in March 2005 to an online diversity diagnostic tool, the been strongly supported by the East of as renewable energy. The new £150- improve business performance Diversity Dividend. This has been England Development Agency with a million campus will provide 7,050 full- through good diversity management. piloted by 27 multi-national contribution of £6.4 million. The time education places for students and Its fundamental principle is that companies which have gained campus is one of five new higher will help to create an estimated total of diversity is good for London’s people advice and guidance from London education sites to be developed in the 1,655 jobs and 19 new businesses. and good for London’s business. Development Agency consultants region over the next 10 years with the In addition, 5.4 hectares of brownfield Mainstreaming diversity into business to develop Diversity Action Plans. Agency’s support. This commitment land will be remediated and £29.72 activity improves product and service A good practice guide called Profiting recognises the crucial link between million of private sector investment development, generates creativity and from Diversity has been published easily-accessed higher education and will be leveraged by April 2007. innovation, aids recruitment and and 5,000 copies distributed to business success. In 2003, research by retention, improves brand image, companies and stakeholders KPMG showed that higher education The East of England Development assists in competing for public sector across London. The London was underprovided in the region, giving Agency, is partnering higher education contracts and fulfils corporate Development Agency is contributing impetus to develop new sites of higher institutions, local authorities, and responsibility aims. The result of the £10 million over four years. education. Now university-level other partners across the region with programme will be to create a change education will be widely accessible in an overall likely contribution of around in the way business values diversity, www.diversityworksforlondon.com Suffolk, Southend, Peterborough, £30 million out of over £220 million. Harlow and Thurrock in the next decade. RDA contribution = 14%
Students in the high tech i-lab ideas centre at South East Essex College RDA contribution = 100%
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People prepared to take advantage of opportunity
City recruitment consultants hold a regular clinic at the Employment Café, Brixton
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MEASURING SMART PRODUCTIVITY
There are a number of tools and existing data to help RDAs measure and evidence ‘smart productivity’. A number of examples included here show the value of the RDA network in piloting different approaches to gathering evidence and providing guidance which can then be shared and tailored to individual regional needs.
SCPnet – partnership project bringing together all the English regions, the Sustainable Development Assessment & GHG Forecasting and Inventory Tool – Environment Agency and WWF-UK to collect data and evidence relating to a two-module set of calculations covering a wide range of project types. sustainable consumption and production. RDAs are using it to revise and Focused on greenhouse gas (GHG) savings, but also covering wider sustainable implement Regional Economic Strategies (RES) and work out their regions’ eco- development impacts. footprints. Tools available through SCPnet include: REEIO, a computer tool Contact: [email protected] for regional strategy and policy appraisal which links economic policy to environmental impact; and REAP (Resource and Energy Analysis Program), National Sustainability Checklist for Developments – developed by global an integrated resource/environment modelling tool based on policy scenarios. conservation organisation WWF and BRE. Funding from ODPM has helped WWF- www.scpnet.org.uk UK produce a tailored Checklist for each region. WWF’s One Million Sustainable Homes campaign aims to bring sustainable homes from the fringes to the BREEAM (BRE Environmental Assessment Method) – widely-used means of mainstream across the UK. WWF has also created a Housebuilder reviewing and improving the environmental performance of buildings. Sustainability Toolkit. BRE also offers Ecopoints: a single score environmental assessment www.wwf.org.uk/sustainablehomes/toolkit.asp and The Green Guide to Housing Specification. www.bre.co.uk The East of England Toolkit – information source, development aid and audit record to highlight and help improve the economic, environmental and social ENWORKS online toolkit – monitoring and assessment tool, first used in the impacts of policies, development proposals and other new initiatives within North West, allowing users to enter identified resource efficiency opportunities. the region. It has also been rolled out in the North West and East Midlands. Automatically calculates potential cost savings and environmental benefits. www.toolkit-east.org.uk Defra is funding its roll-out to all regions under the BREW (Business Resource www.emtoolkit.org.uk Efficiency and Waste) Programme in 2006/07, with the intention of using its www.sdtoolkit-northwest.org.uk anonymised real-time data to assess some of BREW’s outputs at a regional level. www.enworks.com/resource_efficiency/toolkit.asp Design 4 Biodiversity – general guidance on biodiversity for developers to illustrate how to integrate ecologically-sensitive designs and features. Eastex – regional materials exchange actively matching one company’s waste with Developed by the London Development Agency, Greater London Authority another’s raw material. An online monitoring and modelling system feeds back and English Nature. real-time data. www.d4b.org.uk www.eastex.org.uk Sustainability Checklist for the South East –aims to ensure that all construction Open Strategy on Sustainable Procurement (SP) – pilot web-based tool industry players recognise the impact of new developments on natural resources, containing data on SP activities in the North West to evaluate strategic ecology and energy. multi-agency planning and partnership working to improve understanding www.southeast.sustainability-checklist.co.uk of sustainable procurement. www.openstrategies.co.uk www.actionforsustainability.org/tools/introduction.php
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Produced by the East of England Development Agency (EEDA) on behalf of the English Regional Development Agencies. For further copies or large text version please contact EEDA on 0845 456 9200. Printed by Beacon Press on paper that is 50% recycled and 50% totally chlorine free. Any views expressed are not necessarily those of EEDA. © Copyright 2006